Bristowia gandhii, Nilani Kanesharatnam & Suresh p. Benjamin, 2016

Nilani Kanesharatnam & Suresh p. Benjamin, 2016, Three new generic records and descriptions of four new species of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae) from Sri Lanka, European Journal of Taxonomy 228, pp. 1-23 : 4-9

Bristowia gandhii sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:46066597-9E86-483A-BB19-6D08EE6DF7C9

Figs 1, 2 A–B, 3 – 4

B. heterospinosa – Dobroruka, 2004: 14–17, Fgs 8–11, ♀ from India, Goa Province, S of Margao, Palolem env., leg. P. Sipek (specimens in the private collection of author), not examined. MisidentiFcation.

non B. heterospinosa Reimoser, 1934: 17 , Fgs 1–3.

Diagnosis

This species can easily be distinguished from B. afra Szüts, 2004 by the high carapace with steeper thoracic slope, a thicker and longer embolus, copulatory openings anterior to the spermathecae, a large distance between copulatory ducts and the presence of a posterior epigynal plate with a median depression, and from B. heterospinosa by broader copulatory ducts, a comparatively shallow median indentation of posterior epigynal plate and a thicker embolus.

Etymology

The species is named for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948). He was the pre-eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement in British-ruled India, eventually paving the way for independence of Sri Lanka as well.

Material examined

Holotype

SRI LANKA: Ƌ, Central Province, Kandy District, Balagola , home garden (L63) , 07°17′20.08″ N, 80°42′48.85″ E, 476 m, 10 Nov. 2013, leg. S.P. Benjamin ( IFS _ SAL 228 ) .

Paratype

SRI LANKA: 1 ♀, Central Province, Matale District, IFS Arboretum (Ll7) , 07°51′36.70″ N, 80°40′29″ E, 185 m, litter, 2 Nov. 2013, leg. S.P. Benjamin et al. ( IFS _ SAL 297 ) .

Other material

SRI LANKA: 1 ♀, Central Province, Matale District, IFS Arboretum (Ll7) , 07°51′36.70″ N, 80°40′29″ E, 185 m, litter, 19 Oct. 2015, leg. K. Kanesharatnam ( IFS _ SAL 543 ) ; 1 ♀, North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Wilpattu National Park (L38) , 08°24′37.98″ N, 80°03′03.99″ E, hand collection, 6 Apr. 2011, leg. S. Batuwita ( IFS _ SAL 157 ) ; 1 Ƌ, Sabaragamuwa Province, Udawalawe National Park (L65) , 06°28′25.41″ N, 80°53′54.35″ E, 109 m, litter, 30 Dec. 2011, leg. N. Athukorala ( IFS _ SAL 154 ) ; 3 ƋƋ, Uva Province, Badulla District, environs of Kalupahana village (L62) , 06°44′58″ N, 80°50′19.8″ E, 820 m, beating, 2 Jan. 2012, leg. S.P. Benjamin ( IFS _ SAL 357–359 ) .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. BL 2.58, CL 1.42, PW at PLEs 0.74, AL 1.12,AW 0.53. Eye Feld: Diameter of AME 0.24, PLE 0.19, ALE 0.16, PME 0.03, PME-PME 0.65, PLE-PLE 0.70, ALE-PME 0.30, ALE-PLE 0.68. Leg I: Tr 0.35, Fm 0.93, Pt 0.44, Tb 0.70, Mt 0.40, Ta 0.22; Leg II: Tr 0.10, Fm 0.44, Pt 0.22, Tb 0.35, Mt 0.26, Ta 0.22; Leg III: Tr 0.10, Fm 0.44, Pt 0.22, Tb 0.31, Mt 0.26, Ta 0.22; Leg IV: Tr 0.13, Fm 0.57, Pt 0.22, Tb 0.44, Mt 0.39, Ta 0.22.

COLOR AND BODY. Reddish brown carapace with punctured reticulate microsculpture ( Fig. 3 A). Chelicerae dark brown with two promarginal and four retromarginal teeth. Labium reddish brown with yellowish brown margin. Elevated ocular area blackish brown, median ocular quadrangle much broader than long and little wider behind than in front. Eye ratio AME> PLE> ALE> PME. Sternum oval-shaped, brownish yellow with sparse brown hairs, edges reddish brown. Prosoma longer than wide with thoracic fovea. Posterior margin of prosoma steep and slightly truncated ( Fig. 3 A). There are black stripes made up of minute tubercles behind PLEs.

LEGS. First pair of legs more strongly modiFed in males than females, with elongated coxa, trochanter and patella. Patella and tibia with fringe of thick, long, black bristles ( Fig. 3 A). Leg I dark brown except for pale yellow tarsus, other legs yellowish brown. Tibia I with 4 prolateral and 3 retrolateral spines, metatarsus I with 2 pairs of Fne, long spines. Legs III and IV spineless.

PALP. Relatively simple. Cymbium and palpal tibia pale yellow, but coxa, femur and patella dark brown. Pyriform tegulum ( Figs 3 C–D, 4 A–B). Thin and short embolus, tip of embolus slightly bent ( Figs 3 C, 4A), tibial apophyses hook-shaped and strongly bent towards venter.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. BL 3.20, CL 1.78, PW at PLEs 0.77,AL 1.40,AW 0.93. Eye Feld: Diameter of AME 0.24, PLE 0.14, ALE 0.11, PME 0.03, PME-PME 0.65, PLE-PLE 0.73, ALE-PME 0.30, ALE-PLE 0.46. Leg I: Tr 0.25, Fm 0.73, Pt 0.25, Tb 0.53, Mt 0.31, Ta 0.22; Leg II: Tr 0.12, Fm 0.46, Pt 0.15, Tb 0.31, Mt 0.25, Ta 0.22; Leg III: Tr 0.12, Fm 0.37, Pt 0.15, Tb 0.18, Mt 0.25, Ta 0.15; Leg IV: Tr 0.12, Fm 0.43, Pt 0.19, Tb 0.50, Mt 0.34, Ta 0.21.

COLOR AND BODY. Similar to male except abdomen with four light brown, longitudinal stripes converging near spinnerets; less strongly modiFed Frst pair of legs ( Figs 2 A–B, 3 B); leg spination resembles males except in tibia II which has a prolateral and a ventral spine.

EPIGYNUM. Circular hollow copulatory openings above the level of spermathecae ( Fig. 4 C–D). Long and broad copulatory ducts bent over 180°. Somewhat rounded accessory gland- like structures in front of spermathecae ( Fig. 4 C–D). Large and globe-like spermathecae. Posterior margin of epigynal plate with a median indentation ( Figs 3 E, 4C–D). Fertilization ducts lanceolate, originating from anterior wall of receptacles.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka.

Figures

Fig. 2. Live specimens of Bristowia Reimoser, 1934 and Habrocestum Simon, 1876. A – B. B. gandhii sp. nov., ♀ from IFS Arboretum, Dambulla (IFS _ SAL 543). C – D. H. kodigalaensis sp. nov., Ƌ from Ritigala SNR, Kodigala, Sri Lanka (IFS _ SAL 516).

Fig. 3. Bristowia gandhii sp. nov. A, C – D. Ƌ (IFS _ SAL 228). B, E. ♀ (IFS _ SAL 297). A – B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Palp, ventral view. D. Palp, retrolateral view. E. Epigynum, ventral view. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; MI = median indentation; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecae; SD = sperm duct; T = tegulum. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B = 0.5 mm; C – E = 0.2 mm.