Freyina

Edwards, G. B., Baert, L. & Fdacs, 1903, New Species, Combinations, and Records of Jumping Spiders in the Galápagos Islands (Araneae: Salticidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 67, pp. 1-27 : 1-27

Subtribe Freyina

Nycerella vestita ( Taczanowski, 1878) comb. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:858FA64D-34AB-49B5-8123-31BF2B330277

Figs 14 , 15

Euophrys vestita TACZANOWSKI, 1878: 293 (Description male & female).

RECORDS: Isla Santa Cruz: Tortuga Bay , 16.VI-25.VII.1991, 1 male (S. Abedrabbo) . Isla Española: Punta Suárez, 4-7. VI .1998, 1 male (X. Salazar), same location, el. 10 m, litter of bushes in seabird rookery, 10. VI .1985, 2 females (S. & J. Peck, AMNH) ; Isla Pinzón: Playa Escondida, 19-27. VI .1991, 1 male (L. Baert); Unknown locality: 1991, 1 male. All male specimens were taken from pitfall traps .

DIAGNOSIS: Generally similar to other Nycerella species in size, carapace shape, and palp and epigynal conformation, but the palpal bulb differs by having an extension from the embolus base that projects as a large retrolateral lobe, unlike what occurs in other freyines, but possibly homologous with the freyine terminal apophysis. The only other somewhat similar freyine genus, with a much larger projection, is Tullgrenella Mello-Leitão, 1941 , but the other palpal characters of N. vestita are similar to Nycerella . The RTA is slender and curved slightly inward, unlike the robust, strongly laterally curved RTAs of most other species in the genus. The relatively slender RTA is most similar to N. delecta (Peckham & Peckham 1896) , which has a much longer embolus lacking a basal lobe. The female epigyne is very similar to typical Nycerella (see GALIANO, 1982; EDWARDS, 2015), with submedial spherical spermathecae and very short narrow anteriorly-directed copulatory ducts opening at the anterior end of short narrow atria. The color pattern is simpler than other Nycerella species, lacking the assortment of colorful spots and transverse bands usually present. However, the conspicuous white lateral marginal bands and median thoracic stripe are present as in typical Nycerella ( GALIANO, 1982; EDWARDS, 2015).

NOTES: Possibly this species represents an undescribed genus due to its unusual embolus base projection, simplified color pattern, and apparent ground dwelling habits, therefore its placement is considered tentative, although its morphology suggests it is more closely related to Nycerella than to any other known freyine genus. Since there exists an apparent group of close relatives, we again hesitate to erect a monotypic genus. Other than the distinctive features described above, the species seems to be similar to other Nycerella species, which normally occur on low vegetation ( EDWARDS, 2015).

The type specimens of N. vestita were taken from Peru ( TACZANOWSKI, 1878), so this is one of the species shared with continental South America. Since most species of Nycerella have an Andean or Central American distribution, the distribution of other Nycerella seems compatible with the type locality of N. vestita . As noted by MADDISON (2015), salticids often have geographic distributions that reflect their phylogenetic relationships.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks to Gustavo R. S. Ruiz and Wayne P. Maddison, who graciously advised on aspects of dendryphantine and thiodinine taxonomy, and who gave pre-submission reviews. Abel A. Bustamante also advised on thiodinine taxonomy. Gustavo Ruiz examined and sent sketches of the genitalia of the male and female types of Euophrys vestita , which helped establish placement of this species. Lou Sorkin ( AMNH) loaned additional Galápagos specimens. Thanks also to Camille Locatelli for providing some photographs ( Fig. 5A & C ), and to Marylise Leclercq ( Figs 4 , 7 (G-I) and 9) and Julien Caudron ( Figs 1-3 ), for the drawn illustrations .

Figures

Fig. 14. Nycerella vestita comb. nov. Male: A. palp ventral, B. palp dorsal, C. palp retrolateral, D. face, E. dorsal. Female: F. dorsal, G. ventral, H. epigyne dorsal cleared, I. epigyne ventral cleared, J. epigyne ventral.

Fig. 5. Titanattus cordia sp. nov. Male: A. palp ventral. B. palp retrolateral. Female: C. epigyne ventral (Julien Caudron).

Fig. 4. Titanattus cordia sp. nov. Female paratype: A. dorsal, B. ventral, C. epigyne ventral, D. epigyne dorsal cleared. E. Different female with prominent surface guanine deposits. Male holotype: F. dorsal, G. face, H. chelicerae ventral, I. palp retrolateral, J. palp ventral.

Fig. 7. Cerionesta pacifica comb. nov. A. major male face, B. major-intermediate male ventral chelicerae, C. minor male face (Photo credit: A, C: Camille Locatelli).

Fig. 1. Sitticus pintanus sp. nov. Male holotype: A. dorsal, B. face, C. ventral, D. palp retrolateral, E. palp dorsoretrolateral, F. palp ventral, G. palp ventroretrolateral.

Fig. 2. Sitticus trisetosus sp. nov. Male holotype: A. dorsal, B. ventral, C. anterior venter showing cheliceral teeth; D. palp dorsal, E. palp retroventral (arrow at distal hook), F. palp ventral, G. palp retrodorsal, H. palp retrolateral, I. ventral fourth metatarsus showing three sets (right arrows) of lateral macrosetae.

Fig. 3. Sitticus pintanus sp. nov. Male: A. right palp ventral, B. right palp retrolateral. Sitticus trisetosus sp. nov. Male: C. left palp ventral. D. left palp retrolateral (Julien Caudron).