Carrhotus silanthi Caleb sp.n.

Figs 35–56, Map 1.

TYPES. Holotype ♂ (NZC-ZSI 6939 /18) and paratype ♀ (NZC-ZSI 6940 /18) from India, Chennai, Tambaram, Madras Christian College (12.9141°N, 80.1233°E), 32 m, a.s.l., 3.09.2016, J. Caleb & J. Daniel.

ETYMOLOGY. The specific name is taken from Tamil word ‘silanthi’ meaning ‘spider’. It is treated as a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS. The males of C. silanthi sp.n. can be distinguished from those of C. viduus (C.L. Koch, 1846) by their body colour pattern with no longitudinal stripes on the carapace and abdomen (present in C. viduus) (cf. Figs 35, 36 with Figs 57, 59 and fig. 8 in Jastrzębski [1999] and fig. 1 in Caleb [2016]). The palpal conformation of C. silanthi sp.n. closely resembles that of C. viduus as well, but can be distinguished by the thinner embolus, the longer palpal tibia and the claw-shaped RTA (cf. Figs 44, 45, 52–55 with Figs 61, 62, 65–69). The females can be readily distinguished from those of C. viduus by the internal duct system: viz., the insemination ducts move posteriorly towards each other to the copulatory openings (Figs 47, 51) (ducts move anteriorly and almost sub-parallel in C. viduus, see Figs 64, 82).

DISTRIBUTION. India (Tamil Nadu) (Map 1).

DESCRIPTION. MALE (holotype). Total length: 6.14; carapace: 3.02 long, 2.37 wide; abdomen: 3.12 long, 2.31 wide. Carapace reddish brown, covered with iridescent hairs providing a metallic sheen (Fig. 35); lateral margins of carapace lined by broad patches of white hairs; posterior region black. Clypeal region brownish; eyes surrounded by yellowish orbital setae (Fig. 38). Eye measurements: AME 0.56, ALE 0.33, PME 0.08, PLE 0.25, AER 1.91, PER 1.97, EFL 1.19. Clypeus height 0.16. Chelicerae dark brown, with curved outer margins and excavated inner margins; two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth (Fig. 37). Sternum oval, brownish; labium and maxillae dark brown, with paler outer margins. Leg I robust; femora I-IV black dorsally; patellae and tibiae dark brown; tarsi and metatarsi of all legs brownish (Figs 35, 36). Leg measurements: I 8.12 (2.27, 1.46, 2.03, 1.49, 0.87); II 6.30 (1.92, 1.11, 1.37, 1.18, 0.72); III 6.36 (2.09, 1.17, 1.16, 1.25, 0.69); IV 6.01 (1.99, 0.96, 1.16, 1.28, 0.62). Leg formula: 1324. Leg spination: femora I 0600, II 0700, III 0700, IV 0700; patellae I–IV 1010; tibiae I 3036, II 3034, III 3133, IV 3133; metatarsi I 2024, II 2024, III 3044, IV 4044; tarsi I–IV 0000. Abdomen ovoid, densely covered with rusty brown hairs; anterior margin covered by white scales; pattern present on black background with a pair of white spots anteriorly and pairs of transverse stripes following posteriorly. Mid-dorsum covered with scales of metallic sheen (Figs 35, 36); venter yellowish, with a broad dark brown median region. Spinnerets brownish, covered with a patch of white hairs dorsally (Fig. 36). Palps dark brown; embolus short and thick with blunt tip; bulbus with posterior protrusion; RTA curved, claw-like (Figs 44, 45, 48, 49, 52–56).

FEMALE (paratype). Total length 4.92, carapace: 2.32 long, 1.83 wide; abdomen: 2.60 long, 1.91 wide. Eye measurements: AME 0.50, ALE 0.27, PME 0.08, PLE 0.22. AER 1.63, PER 1.74, EFL 1.03. Clypeus height 0.14. Leg measurements: I 4.25 (1.36, 0.81, 0.86, 0.70, 0.52); II 3.98 (1.34, 0.79, 0.73, 0.64, 0.48); III 4.32 (1.49, 0.75, 0.76, 0.80, 0.52); IV 4.08 (1.33, 0.63, 0.78, 0.81, 0.53). Leg formula: 3142. Leg spination: femora I 0700; II 0700, III 0700, IV 0700; patellae I–IV 1010; tibiae I 3036, II 3034, III 3133, IV 3133; metatarsi I 2024, II 2024, III 4034, IV 4043. Coloration pattern as in the male (Figs 39, 40), but differs as follows: AMEs surrounded by yellow orbital setae; clypeus covered with white hairs (Fig. 43); carapace with white hairs making an arc behind PLEs. Legs with white border on the distal margin of femur I–IV; other segments covered with sparse white hairs and black annulations alternatively. Epigyne with a pair of simple copulatory openings placed in small oval, yellowish depressions; insemination ducts short and diverge to join the stomach-shaped spermathecae (Figs 46, 47, 50, 51).

LIFE COLOUR. Both sexes look similar in general body colour pattern and are clothed with iridescent hairs. Colour varies from metallic green to bronze-green as shown in Fig. 40.