Habrocestum Simon, 1876

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 : 9

Genus Habrocestum Simon, 1876

Habrocestum Simon, 1876: 132 , pl. 11, Fg. 8f. Type species Habrocestum pullatum Simon, 1876 .

Diagnosis

Small spiders. Prosoma longer than abdomen and broader behind PLEs. Anterior portion Fat, extending over 75–87% of prosomal length, posterior much steeper and slightly truncated ( Prószyński 2003). Short eye Feld. Third eye row located on the edges of prosoma. Chelicerae with two teeth on promargin and single bicuspid tooth on retromargin. Abdomen rounded or oval in shape, narrower than prosoma, with a pair of large white spots and chevrons posteriorly ( Prószyński 2003), fused medially in most species, dorsal view of cymbium with large, round spot of white scales ( Fig. 2 C). Third and fourth legs longer (tibia plus patella III ± tibia plus patella IV), femora III longer than others ( Richman 1981). Palp with single tibial apophysis which is hook shaped in most species. Bulbus elongated. Shape of embolus species speciFc, variable in length and originating under the tegulum. Conductor present or absent ( Wunderlich 2008). Epigynum with small pocket-like sclerotized vaginal roof and shallow notch at posterior edge near epigastric furrow. Copulatory openings large, located laterally along the midlength of epigyne. Large, transverse and membranous white “window”, with translucent dark internal structures, very complicated consisting of large channels running anteriorly and then reversing back, passing into spermathecae with thick walls connected by soft channels ( Prószyński 2003). Some species with distinct accessory glands. Fertilization ducts narrow, originating from top of receptacles.

Distribution

Algeria, Congo, East Africa, Eastern Mediterranean to Near East, Ethiopia, France, Greece (incl. Crete), Hong Kong, Israel, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Socotra, Solomon Island, South Africa, Libya, Pakistan, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Western Australia, Yemen, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka (new record).

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).