Emertonius shelfordi (Peckham & Peckham, 1907), 2018

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2018, Review of genera Evarcha and Nigorella, with comments on Emertonius, Padilothorax, Stagetillus, and description of five new genera and two new species (Araneae: Salticidae) *, Ecologica Montenegrina 16, pp. 130-179 : 171-173

Emertonius shelfordi (Peckham & Peckham, 1907)

Figure 19D , 21 G-J1, 25J, 26A

Myrmarachne shelfordii Peckham & Peckham, 1907: 603 (Dm).

Myrmarachne shelfordii Yamasaki, 2010: 64 , f. 8-12 (m).

Myrmarachne shelfordii Yamasaki & Ahmad, 2013: 549 , f. 39A-G, 40A-E (m, Df).

Emertonius shelfordi Prószynski, 2017b: 99 , f. 45C3, 46G (f).

Material. 1) Lectotype male Borneo, Peckhams leg. 2) 2 males, 9 females Poring Hot Springs, Kinabalu Park , Sabah, Borneo. T. Yamasaki leg. Interpretation based on Yamasaki papers listed above.

Diagnosis. Key characters are shown on Figs 19D , 21 J-J1, comparative background on Fig. 21 A-F, K-P.

Description. Classification based on shape of spermathecae ( Figs 19D , 21 J-J1), supported by color pattern in male and female, consisting of blackish brown and creamy whitish areas, documented heretofore only in Emertonius exasperans and E. koomeni , the shape of thorax, however, does not resemble these species and there are no "petal-like" spots on abdomen. Fragments of original descriptions – see Fig. 25J . Male chelicerae, long and flat, conform to type species. Palps shape agree with remaining genera of MYRMARACHNINES.

African species not included to Emertonius . Due to differences in internal structure of spermathecae " Myrmarachne " kilifi Wanless, 1978 from Kenya ( Figs. 21 W-Z) and " Myrmarachne" laurentina Bacelar, 1953 from Mozambique and South Africa ( Figs 21 S-V) cannot be classified into Myrmarachne . Their shape of spermathecae resemble some "lesser genera", but they are not Emertonius . Chelicerae of males are different from both Emertonius and Myrmarachne by being short and bent, teeth are concentrated on prominent anterior extension of cheliceral edges. Body has weakly developed ant-likeness, with traces of compression on carapace and abdomen, but petiole is short. Shape of palp corresponds with generalized MYRMARACHNINES, but without developed additional thin loop of spermophor, tibial apophysis is small

7 Matching of males and females without any proof of real biological relationships, only because of fantasies of an authors, especially improbable when collected in distant localities, is a plague of taxonomic publications, similarly as identification of incidental specimens as conspecific. Conclusions in science require proofs and are subject of repeated checks. (See also case of " Neaetha" aegyptiaca " above - Fig. 10 L-O).

and bent. They probably should be described as two separate new genera, but available documentation is insufficient for that.

Genera Padillothorus , Padillothorax and Stagetillus

Remark. Simon (1901-1903: 460) included poorly known genera Padillothorax Simon, 1901 and Stagetillus Simon, 1885 to a group of genera Bavieae, characterized by long, thin and pointed abdomen, somewhat broader carapace ( Fig. 28 ) and multiple, small teeth on retrolateral margin of chelicerae. Prószyński (1984: 95, 1987: 103-105) revised genitalic characters of three species of these genera and discovered that epigyne of Padillothorus elegans Reimoser, 1927 is incompatible with type species of that genus - P. semiostrinus Simon, 1901 (compare Figs 28D with 28K-L), so these species are not congeneric. At the same time he has interpreted palps of the latter, together with habitus appearance, as sufficiently similar to the monotypic genus Stagetillus (what ultimately appeared wrong) as to transfer P. semiostrinus to Stagetillus (compare Figs 28 F-H with 28A-C). Since data of P. elegans were insufficient to reclassify it to other, or describe as a new genus, he left it temporarily in Padillothorax .

Separation of a species from its type species is unacceptable in the light of International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and Editor of the previous version of the Spider Catalog - Dr. N. I. Platnick - arbitrarily moved P. elegans also to Stagetillus , obliterating its specific properties. In this way, accordance with nomenclatorical rules was restituted, for the price of discordance with result of research, and a common sense (see also "imposed impractical nomenclatorical rules" - in Prószyński 2017b: 10). That created, however, a danger of overlooking by the future revident essential differences between " Stagetilus " species " elegans " and " opaciceps ". Usual all species of a genus are assumed to resemble their type species, in this case " opaciceps ", so why to check whether one "recently" revised species is not standing out? We have lost now illusions that classification of Salticidae could be stabilized within mere 60 years of research, present day research discontinuity may last decades, so we should bequest future Salticidologists with as neat knowledge as possible.

The problem is that no new data were added after 1987 revision of these spiders by Prószyński, to place " elegans " correctly then, and now. To convey sense of diversity of these genera we have no other choice left as to delimit new genus for " elegans " now, in spite of grossly incomplete data. Therefore it is proposed now to: a) reinstate genus Padillothorax from synonymy with Stagetillus , with two species P. semiostrinus Simon, 1901 and P. taprobanicus Simon, 1902 , b) to describe a new genus Padillothorus (note two letter difference from Padillothorax ) for Padillothorax elegans (Reimoser, 1927) , c) to leave genus Stagetillus as monotypic, with single species S. opaciceps Simon, 1885 . All in hope that future research will bring new species into each of these genera.

SOURCES: A-C, F-L - Proszynski 1987. Atlas ...: Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoly Rolniczo- Pedagogicznej, Siedlce, 103; 104-105, D-E - Proszynski 1984 c: Atlas ...: Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoly Rolniczo- Pedagogicznej, Siedlce, 95. By permission.

SOURCES: Simon, E. (1901a). Histoire naturelle des araignées. 2, 472, f. 538.

Figures

Figure 10-I. For figure caption see under Figure 10-II.

Figure 19. Diagnostic criteria of genera of informal group MYRMARACHNINES. A - Emertonius exasperans - type species, A1 - Edward's opinion on identity of Emertonius with Myrmarachne, B - Myrmarachne melanocephala - type species, C - Emertonius exasperans, D - Emertonius shelfordi, E - Myrmage, F - Myrmatheca, G - Toxeus epigealis, H - Toxeus maxillosus, I - Myrmavola, J - Myrmarachne acromegalis, K - Myrmarachne assimilis, L - Myrmarachne biseratensis, M - Myrmarachne cornuta, N - Myrmarachne macrognatha, O - Myrmarachne hanoi. For characters of more species see Figs 21 and 22.

Figure 21-I. For figure caption see under Figure 21-II.

Figure 25-I. For figure caption see under Figure 25-II.

Figure 28-II. Diagnostic characters of genera Padilothorus, Padilothorax and Stagetilus. A-C - Stagetillus opaciceps Simon, 1885, D-E - Padillothorus elegans (Reimoser, 1927) (comb. n.), F-L - Padillothorax semiostrinus (Simon, 1901).