Macaroeris nidicolens (Walckenaer, 1802)

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 : 19-21

Macaroeris nidicolens (Walckenaer, 1802)

Figs 1, 10

Diagnosis

This species is easily distinguishable from known congeners by the prosoma being broader at midlength, its massive front legs, and its broad and posteriorly tapered abdomen with an anterior white band with blotches laterally and medially and chevrons posteriorly. It has a long and gently curved embolus ( Fig. 10 B–D), its tegulum is distended prolaterally and the tibial apophysis bent forward. ( Merrett & Milner 2004).

Material examined

SRI LANKA: 1 Ƌ, Central Province, Matale District, IFSArboretum (L17) , 07°51′36.70″ N, 80°40′29″ E, 180 m, litter, 1 Dec. 2011, leg. S.P. Benjamin et al. ( IFS _ SAL 330 ) .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. BL 3.42, CL 1.54, PW 1.25 at PLEs, AL 1.88, AW 1.20. Eye Feld: Diameter of AME 0.4, PLE 0.16, ALE 0.24, PME 0.04, PME-PME 1.32, PLE-PLE 1.36, ALE-PME 0.16, ALE-PLE 0.64.

Leg I: Tr 0.40, Fm 1.16, Pt 0.72, Tb 1.12, Mt 0.60, Ta 0.48; Leg II: Tr 0.36, Fm 0.88, Pt 0.48, Tb 0.52, Mt 0.52, Ta 0.44; Leg III: Tr 0.40, Fm 0.88, Pt 0.40, Tb 0.52, Mt 0.52, Ta 0.44; Leg IV: Tr 0.36, Fm 0.96, Pt 0.52, Tb 0.72, Mt 0.52, Ta 0.44.

COLOR AND BODY. Carapace dark reddish brown with black marking in middle of cephalic area, black colour around eyes and brown hairs surrounding AMEs. Clypeus with a few long white hairs. Chelicerae dark brown. Sparse white hairs on lateral sides of prosoma. Posterior margin of prosoma gently inclined with black colored striped pattern. Sternum dark yellow-brown. Short, trapezoid shaped eye Feld ( Fig. 10 A). Cephalic region almost square and slightly elevated. Prosoma oval shaped, broader laterally behind eyes. Abdomen: long and broad in shape, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum with yellowish brown blotches and chevrons. Anterior margin with white colored net-like pattern extending laterally. Posterior margin with yellowish brown chevrons ( Fig. 10 A). Venter whitish grey with brown broad median longitudinal stripe from spinnerets to epigastric furrow. Spinnerets dark brown.

LEGS. Legs I and II darker brown than the others. Front legs, strikingly massive with enlarged coxa, trochanter, femur, patella and tibia ( Fig. 10 A). Tibia I with 3 pairs of short stout ventral spines, tibia II with 2 pairs, metatarsi I and II with 2 pairs. Femora I–IV with 2–3 long curved dorsal spines and additionally, femora I–II with 2 short stout spines distomesally.

PALPS. Dark brown, densely clothed with pale hairs at distal end of cymbium. Retrolateral tibial apophysis strong, tip slightly bent forward, base straight ( Fig. 10 E). Tegulum bulbous, distended prolaterally. Long embolus with a wide basal part, originating anterolaterally on anterior part of bulbus and gently bent to form a curve that runs along depression in cymbium ( Fig. 10 B–D).

Distribution

Cyprus, Portugal, Sri Lanka (new record), Turkey.

Figures

Fig. 10. Macaroeris nidicolens (Walckenaer, 1802). A. Ƌ, habitus, dorsal view. B, D. Palp, ventral view. C, E. Palp, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: CY = cymbium; CYD = cymbial depression; E = embolus; EB = embolic base; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis SD = sperm duct; T = tegulum. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B – E = 0.2 mm.