Salsa neneba, Framenau & Castanheira, 2022

Framenau, Volker W. & Castanheira, Pedro de S., 2022, Revision of the new Australasian orb-weaving spider genus Salsa (Araneae, Araneidae), ZooKeys 1102, pp. 107-148 : 107

Salsa neneba sp. nov.

Figs 15A-C , 16

Type specimen.

Holotype female, Neneba (8°45'S, 147°30'E, Papua New Guinea), 9 November 1896 (QM S111920).

Other material examined.

Only known from holotype.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Diagnosis.

Males of S. neneba sp. nov. are unknown. Genitalia of female specimens of S. neneba sp. nov. can be recognised by the somewhat sinuous antero-lateral edges of the epigyne plate and the transverse edges in the atrium (Fig. 15C ).

Description.

Male. Unknown.

Female (based on holotype, QM S111920): Total length 10.5. Carapace 4.5 long, 3.2 wide; dark reddish brown and covered by white setae anteriorly from fovea (Fig. 15A ). Eye diameter AME 0.23, ALE 0.18, PME 0.20, PLE 0.16; row of eyes: AME 0.68, PME 0.56, PLE 2.25. Chelicerae reddish brown, four promarginal teeth (apical and second basal largest) and three retromarginal teeth (apical smallest). Legs yellowish brown, femora slightly darker (Fig. 15A, B ). Pedipalp length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + tarsus = total length): 1.2 + 0.5 + 0.8 + 1.1 = 3.6. Leg formula I> II> IV> III; length of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): I - 3.8 + 1.7 + 3.2 + 2.8 + 1.0 = 12.5, II - 3.5 + 1.6 + 2.6 + 2.6 + 0.9 = 11.2, III - 2.1 + 1.0 + 1.2 + 1.3 + 0.7 = 6.3, IV - 3.3 + 1.4 + 2.3 + 2.3 + 0.8 = 10.1. Labium 0.58 long, 0.77 wide, reddish brown; endites reddish brown (Fig. 15B ). Sternum 2.0 long, 1.8 wide, reddish brown (Fig. 15B ). Abdomen 6.1 long, 5.0 wide; posterior hump distinct (Fig. 15A, B ); dorsum colouration poorly preserved, beige with indistinct greyish folium pattern (Fig. 15A ); venter olive-brown with two spindle-shaped pale lateral bands (Fig. 15B ). Epigyne ca. as long as wide, with sinuous antero-lateral borders and transvers ridges within the atrium (Fig. 15C ); scape slightly longer than half the length of the epigyne base, slightly narrowest centrally (Fig. 15C ); epigyne not dissected to investigate posterior and internal morphology as only known from fragile holotype.

Variation.

Only known from holotype.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Currently only known from type locality, Neneba in Papua New Guinea (Fig. 16 ).

Figures

Figure 15. Salsa neneba sp. nov., female holotype (QM S 111920) A dorsal habitus B ventral habitus C epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: 5 mm (A, B); 0.1 mm (C).

Figure 16. Distribution records of Salsa neneba sp. nov.