Kelawakaju singapura Maddison & Ng sp. nov.

Figs 7, 12, 35-45

Type material.

Holotype: male (JK.21.08.02.0001) in LKCNHM from Singapore: Labrador Nature Reserve, 1.2653°N, 103.8019°E, J.K.H. Koh & P.Y.C. Ng, 2 August 2021. Paratypes: One female (JK.21.05.14.0001) in LKCNHM from Singapore: Labrador Nature Reserve, 1.2664°N, 103.8014°E, J.K.H. Koh & P.Y.C. Ng, 14 May 2021. One male (90.10.21.0002) in LKCNHM from Singapore: Simpang, 1.44°N, 103.85°E, J.K.H. Koh, 21 October 1990. One female (AS19.0023) in UBCZ from Singapore: Adam Road, 1.336°N, 103.816°E, 10 m elev., 1-2 June 2019, W. Maddison & P.Y.C. Ng WPM#19-030.

Etymology.

From name of the type locality, Singapura in the Malay language, a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Distinctive for the abdomen’s central pale longitudinal band with wavy edge (Figs 41, 43, 45), short and stout embolus (Figs 35, 36), long tibia on the male palp (Figs 36, 40), and broad rounded retromarginal tooth on the male chelicera (Fig. 7). The male’s chelicerae are relatively more robust than in other species, which in contrast have narrower and more projecting or diverging chelicerae.

Description.

Male (based on holotype). Carapace length 3.1, width 2.3; abdomen length 3.9. Carapace (Figs 12, 41, 42): Distinctly wider just behind PLE. Depressed around fovea. Integument black to very dark brown. Thorax with dark setae near lower margin, interrupted by a fine vertical line of pale scales on each side at posterior corner; upper thorax clothed with pale scales; a few scales in ocular quadrangle. Narrow band of white scales along margin posterior to PLE. Clypeus narrow, dark, with black hairs. Chelicerae projecting only slightly, robust. Dark brown, with black hairs, many of which arise from tubercles. Retromarginal tooth a broad rounded flange, broadening from base. Palp tibia long. Embolus erect but short, broad, bifid at tip (Fig. 35). Integument black to brown, with black setae except white setae on last third of femur. Long black setae project laterally along length of tibia (not as a narrow brush). Endite subrectangular, with no projection, dark brown. Legs medium to dark brown. First leg dark brown except slightly paler at base of patella, which has white setae, and the honey-coloured tarsus. Patella with some white scales above and fringe of white hairs below, which continues onto the distal portion of the femur. Posterior legs with somewhat annulate markings. Length of femur I 2.0, II 1.5, III 1.5, IV 1.6; patella + tibia I 3.0, II 2.1, III 1.7, IV 2.5; metatarsus + tarsus I 1.8, II 1.4, III 1.6, IV 1.8. Leg spination reduced: femur I d0-1-0 (or 0-1-1), p0-2-0, II d1-1-1, p0-0-1, III d1-1-1, p0-0-1, IV d1-1-0, r0-0-1; patella I-IV 0; tibia I v2-2-2 (asymmetrical), II v1r-1r-2, III v0-0-1p, IV v0-0-1p; metatarsus I-II v2-2, III v0-0-3, IV v0-0-1p. Abdomen narrow. Dorsum with a medial pale band having scalloped edges; darker laterally.

Female (based on specimen AS19.0023). Carapace length 3.2, width 2.2; abdomen length 3.9. Carapace: As in male, but not quite so wide, and with two fine vertical lines of pale scales on lower posterior thorax (Figs 43, 45). Clypeus narrow, dark, with black hairs. Chelicerae black to brown, with black hairs. Two promarginal and one unident retromarginal tooth, similar to those of K. frenata (Fig. 9). Legs honey-coloured to dark brown, first pair darker, posterior somewhat annulate. Length of femur I 1.7, II 1.5, III 1.4, IV 1.7; patella + tibia I 2.4, II 1.9, III 1.7, IV 2.6; metatarsus + tarsus I 1.5, II 1.4, III 1.5, IV 1.8. Leg spination reduced: femur I d1-1-0, p0-1-0, II d1-1-0, p0-0-1, III d1-1-1, p0-0-1, IV d1-1-0, r0-0-1; patella I-IV 0; tibia I v2-2-2 (asymmetrical), II v1r-1r-2, III v0-0-1p, IV v0-0-1p; metatarsus I-II v2-2, III v0-0-2, IV v0-0-1p. Abdomen as in male. Epigyne with openings crescent-shaped, at posterior and medial side of pale desclerotized patch.

Natural history.

The holotype and females from the type locality were found under bark of both small and large trees in open areas at the edge of coastal forest. Female AS19.0023 was found under bark of large tree in roadside clearing.

Kelawakaju frenata species group

The Kelawakaju frenata species group includes the relatively large-bodied K. frenata, K. leucomelas, and K. sahyadri . They differ from other Kelawakaju in having pale longitudinal bands on the sides of the body, a proportionately shorter ocular quadrangle, and longer first legs in the male. The male chelicerae diverge but do not project as forward as in the Kelawakaju mulu group. A narrow band of white scales descends along the front face of the male chelicerae (Figs 4, 73, 79, 83), also seen in K. intexta . As in K. singapura, the embolus is terminal on the bulb, and more or less erect, similar to those of many Dendryphantina . Two to three macrosetae on anteriolateral face of first femur are displaced ventrally and basally toward the middle of that face (as in Padilla Peckham & Peckham, 1894 and Padillothorax Simon, 1901 [Maddison et al. 2020], and more so than in K. singapura). Kelawakaju sahyadri and K. leucomelas have been found on large trees exposed in clearings.