Chrysilla Thorell, 1887

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & P. Benjamin, Suresh, 2019, Multilocus genetic and morphological phylogenetic analysis reveals a radiation of shiny South Asian jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae), ZooKeys 839, pp. 1-81 : 1

Chrysilla Thorell, 1887

Type species.

Chrysilla lauta Thorell, 1887

Diagnosis.

Carapace low, twice as long as eye field, gently sloping behind eye field, broader behind PME. Cephalic region slightly broad anteriorly, flat above. Hairy narrowed clypeus. Anterior eyes in a straight line. Chelicerae elongate, directed diagonally forwards, slightly diverging distally with prominent retrolateral tooth. Sternum broadly truncate in front. Legs IV longer than legs III. Abdomen longer and narrower than prosoma. Long dark spinnerets.

Furthermore, Chrysilla can be separated from Phintella by the bright, metallic colouration of body, narrower and longer abdomen, comparably slender, quite longer and gently bent embolus, elongated oval-shaped apical tegulum, much longer than wide genital bulb, elongated cymbium ( Ahmed et al. 2014), single and strong RTA nearly half of the tegulum, copulatory openings separated by ca. one diameter, and pyriform or rounded spermathecae of epigyne ( Caleb 2016; Wang and Zhang 2012). For a detailed diagnosis and description see Ahmed et al. (2014), Dyal (1935) and Prószyński and Deeleman-Reinhold (2010).

According to Prószyński (2016) Chrysilla may be best recognised by its colouration. Further, Caleb (2016) also claimed that the presence of a colourful body with shiny scales separates Chrysilla from Phintella . However, as several species of Phintella such as P. vittata and P. argentea , also have a shiny body colouration and as shown in this study over reliance on body colouration could lead to ambiguities.

Remarks.

Caleb (2016) suggested that C. lauta and C. volupe might be conspecific, as he was unable to differentiate them due to the minor differences in their somatic and genital morphology. However, we are able to diagnose C. lauta and C. volupe , based on our material from Sri Lanka as given below.