Kelawakaju Maddison & Ruiz gen. nov.

Type species.

K. mulu Maddison & Ruiz, sp. nov.

Species included.

K. mulu species group:

Kelawakaju mulu Maddison & Ruiz, sp. nov.

Kelawakaju intexta Maddison & Ruiz, sp. nov.

K. singapura species group:

Kelawakaju singapura Maddison & Ng, sp. nov.

K. frenata species group:

Kelawakaju frenata (Simon, 1901)

Kelawakaju leucomelas Maddison & Ng, sp. nov.

Kelawakaju sahyadri Vishnudas, Maddison, & Sudhikumar, sp. nov.

Etymology.

The name means tree spider in the Berawan language from the area of Long Terawan, Sarawak (kelawak = spider; kaju or kajuh = tree; Syria Lejau Malang, pers. comm.), where the first specimens of K. mulu were found. To be treated grammatically as feminine.

Diagnosis.

Elongate and flat-bodied salticids, unusual among marpissines for the elongated or enlarged male chelicerae. Retrolateral tibial apophysis of palp long, blade-like, more or less straight and parallel to axis of palp. Embolus relatively short among marpissines, arising more or less terminally on the bulb (9-12 o’clock in ventral view of left palp). Markings cryptic on tree trunks, either mottled or with low-contrast longitudinal bands.

Description.

Carapace flat, narrower ( K. mulu group, Figs 10, 11) to broader ( K. leucomelas, Fig. 14). Lower part of the thorax in some species with 1-3 distinct narrow vertical lines of pale scales ( K. mulu: Fig. 27; K. intexta: Fig. 32; K. singapura: Figs 43, 45), resembling similar stripes in the baviine Piranthus Thorell, 1895 (Maddison et al. 2020: fig. 263) and the gophoine Cotinusa Simon, 1900 (Rubio and Baigorria 2016). Chelicerae with seta-bearing tubercles on paturon of males and some females (Figs 2-4). Males of all but two species have narrow stripes of white scales on the front face of the chelicerae, forming an inverted V (Figs 3, 4, 74, 79, 83). Two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth (sometimes with a second cusp, Fig. 6). Palp’s RTA a long blade. Embolus appears freely movable, separate from functional tegulum. Cymbium modified at ventral-retrolateral-proximal corner (e.g., Figs 17, 21, 47). Abdomen long and narrow.

We recognize three species groups in the genus.

Kelawakaju mulu species group

The Kelawakaju mulu species group includes K. mulu, K. intexta, and a third as-yet-undescribed species from Singapore. They are smaller-bodied than other Kelawakaju, with mottled markings, and narrow chelicerae that project forward in the male. The embolus is narrow and forms a smooth curve bending toward the retrolateral. The lower part of the thorax has three vertical stripes of pale scales on each side. Epigynal openings are delicate and the edges difficult to discern (Fig. 18). Retromarginal tooth of chelicera with small second cusp basally (Figs 5, 6). Members of this group may prefer more shaded habitats than those of the Kelawakaju frenata group, having been found only inside forests.