Ballus, C. L. KOCH, 1850

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2004, Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic hypothesis for the jumping spider subfamily Ballinae (Araneae, Salticidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 142 (1), pp. 1-82 : 24-32

BALLUS C.L. KOCH, 1850

Type species: Ballus chalybeius (Walckenaer, 1802) .

TAXONOMY AND PHYLOGENY OF BALLINAE 25

Monophyly and phylogenetic placement: Monophyly of the genus is supported by the presence of a prosoma as long as wide (21-1) and of reticulate markings on the opisthosoma (26-1).

Diagnosis: Ballus can be separated from all other Ballinae genera by the presence of a prosoma as long as it is wide ( Figs 21A , 22A, C ).

Description: See Alicata & Cantarella (1987) and below.

Composition: Ten recognized species; see Platnick (2003) for a listing.

Remarks: Platnick (2003) provides a full list of synonyms. Ballus was revised by Alicata & Cantarella (1987), and is therefore not dealt with in detail here. Alicata & Cantarella (1987) recognized that the European members of Ballus constitute a homogeneous group.

Distribution: Africa, Asia and Europe.

BALLUS CHALYBEIUS (WALCKENAER, 1802)

( FIGS 4A , 17A- D , 18A- C , 19A- E , 20A- D )

Platnick (2003) provides a full list of synonyms.

Diagnosis: The stout rta and absence of reticulate markings on the opisthosoma ( Figs 17A, C, D , 20C, D ; Alicata & Cantarella, 1987: 19–36), separate the male of B. chalybeius and those of other European species from that of B. segmentatus . Females can be distinguished by the presence of an enlarged, sac-like translucent septum ( Fig. 18B, C ; Alicata & Cantarella, 1987: 3–18).

Description: For a detailed description see Alicata & Cantarella (1987), Roberts (1995), Proszynski (2003), and Locket & Millidge (1951). European species of Ballus have been revised by Alicata & Cantarella (1987). Illustrations for most species can be found in Proszynski (2003).

Distribution: Europe, North Africa to Central Asia ( Platnick, 2003).

Material examined: SWITZERLAND, Umgebung Basel , 9♂ 11♀, 5.1888 –6.1891, leg. F. Müller, Schenkel, Menth., Knecht, G. Müller, NMB 76 a; Umgebung Basel , 36♂ 8♀, 1949, leg. E. Schenkel, NMB 76 d; Tessin, Losone, Piano d’Arbigo, 700.780/114.360, Hochmoor , angrenz. Wälder. CV, 275 m; 1♀, 24.7.1991, leg. F Rampazzi, NMB 76 h; Jura, Lisière xérotherm.struct. (a.our.), Chevenez , Trou du Creugenat. Koord: 568900/249800 470 m; 1♂, 4.6.1988, leg. UVP Transjurane, NMB 76 i; Jura, Lisière à préman. de Rubus, Bressaucourt , Dos Chalembert. Koord: 570400/249800 510 m; 1♀, leg. UVP Transjurane, NMB 76 j; Choulex , 14♂ 22♀, coll. De Lessert, MHNG ; Airelaville 6E; 1♀, coll S. Pozzi, m. 5.1996, det. S. Pozzi, MHNG . GERMANY, Baden-Wuertemberg, Ober-Baden , 6♀, 9.1888, leg. F. Müller, NMB 76 b; Baden-Wuertemberg, Müllheim , 1♀, 12.10.1889, leg. F. Müller, NMB 76 c; 3♂ 3♀ (probably from East Germany ), coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; NSG Leutratal , 1♀, 8.1974, coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; Kreis Dresden, Borsbarggbiet , 3♀, 28.6.1980 coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; Kreis Dresden, Borsbarggbiet ; 1♀, 24.5.1980 coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; Kreis Dresden, Borsbarggbiet, Ober. Pillnitz , 3♀, 9.5.1981, coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; Kreis Dresden, Borsbarggbiet, kahlschlag a.d. Rüsselkappe ; 1♀, 11.7.1980, coll. S. Heimer, MHNG ; Sächs. Schweiz, umg. Wehlen, Hanke bruch; 1♀, 28.5.1980, coll. S. Heimer, MHNG . SLOVAKIA, Weisse Karpaten (Stara Tura), Waldsteppe , Sträucher ; 1♀, 17.8.1991, leg. J. Svaton, NMB 76 f; Buchenwaldrand, Sträucher , 1♂ 1♀, leg. J. Svaton, NMB 76g; Bratislava, Donauniederung, Extensivweide , 2♀, 6.1979, coll. S. Heimer, MHNG .

BALLUS SEGMENTATUS SIMON, 1900

( FIGS 21A- C , 22A- D , 23A, B , 24A- I )

Ballus segmentatus Simon, 1900: 389

Remarks: Types probably in MNHN, but not found (Tamas Szûts, pers. comm.). Simon (1900) described B. segmentatus and B. sellatus Simon, 1900 , from Sri Lanka. The type of B. segmentatus is a male specimen whereas that of B. sellatus is a female. The presence of two species in Sri Lanka has been doubted ( Alicata & Cantarella, 1987). Judging from Simon’s (1900) description and my material it is in fact likely that a second species exists. Taking into consideration the information available, my specimens are identified as B. segmentatus with some reluctance.

Diagnosis: The male is separated from European Ballus spp. by the presence of a pseudo-conductor, reticulate markings on the opisthosoma, and tapering rta ( Figs 21A, C , 22A, C , 24G, H ). The female can be distinguished by the absence of an enlarged, sac-like translucent septum ( Fig. 23A, B ).

Male: Total length 2.8; prosoma length 1.2, width 1.2. Leg I: femur 1.0 patella 0.3, tibia 0.5, metatarsus 0.3, tarsus 0.2. Markings as in Figure 21A . Prosoma rounded, wide as long, dark brown, laterals and eye region darker, anteriorly two black spots. Opisthosoma rounded, wide as long, lighter in colour, with reticulate markings. All legs light yellow and laterally without dark markings. Eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicerae dark brown, with three retromarginal, small teeth, labium triangular, light brown. Leg formula 1423. Tibia I with 2/0/0/2 spines, metatarsus I with 2/2 spines. Palp: cymbium oval. Retrolateral tibial apophysis stout, tapering to a pointed end. Tegulum bilobed, projecting outwards, path of sperm duct as in Figure 21B, C ; embolus stout, coils once ( Figs 21B, C , 24G, H ).

Female: Total length 3.4; prosoma length 1.5, width: 1.3. Leg I: femur 0.7, patella 0.3, tibia 0.5, metatarsus 0.3, tarsus 0.2. Prosoma rounded, wide as long, dark brown, laterals and eye region darker, anteriorly with black spots. Opisthosoma rounded, wide as long, lighter in colour, with reticulate markings ( Fig. 22A, C ). All legs light yellow and laterally without dark markings. Eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicera dark brown, with three small, retromarginal teeth, labium triangular, light brown. Leg formula 1423. Tibia I with 2/0/0/2 spines, metatarsus I with 2/2 spines. Epigynum and vulva as in Figures 22B, C , 23A, B .

Distribution: Sri Lanka: Agrapatana, Hakgala and Horton Plains.

Material examined: SRI LANKA: Central Province, Hakgala, Hakgala forest , 1700 m; 1♀, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin, 27.7.1996, MHNG ; Agrapatana, Agrabopath forest , 1100 m, 1♂ 1♀, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin, 8.3.2000, MHNG ; Horton Plains, Horton Plains National Park , 1 (on a sputter coated SEM stab) 2 juveniles, leg. Suresh P. Benjamin, 7.3.2000, MHNG .

Figures

Figure 4. Photographs of live Ballinae species. A, Ballus chalybeius (Barbara Knoflach). B, Indomarengo sarawakensis sp. nov. (Christa L. Deeleman-Reinhold). C, Afromarengo coriacea (John Murphy). D, Leikung porosa from Malaysia, Gunung Trus Madi (Peter Koomen).

Figure 17. Male palp of Ballus chalybeius. A, B, Basel, Switzerland (NMB 76d). C, Chevenez, Switzerland (NMB 76i). D, Stara Tura, Slovakia (NMB 76 g). A, retrolateral and B, ventral view. C and D, rta. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 18. Female genitalia of Ballus chalybeius (NMB 76d). A, epigynum, ventral view. B, vulva, ventral view. C, same, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 19. SEM, Ballus chalybeius (NMB 76d). A–C, prosoma, dorsal view. D, E, tibia of left leg I, lateral view. Scale bars = 10 Mm (B); 30 Mm (C, E); 100 Mm (A, D).

Figure 20. SEM, Ballus chalybeius (NMB 76d). A, male palp, ventral view. B, ec and embolus. D, male palp, retrolateral view. C, rta. Scale bars = 30 Mm (B); 50 Mm (D); 100 Mm (A, C).

Figure 21. Ballus segmentatus. Male from Agrapatana, Sri Lanka (MHNG). A, habitus, dorsal view. B, male palp, ventral view. C, same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B, C); 2.0 mm (A).

Figure 22. Ballus segmentatus (MHNG). A, female from Agrapatana, Sri Lanka; habitus, dorsal view. B, epigynum, ventral view. C, female from Hakgala, Sri Lanka; habitus, dorsal view. D, epigynum, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (B, D); 2.0 mm (A, C).

Figure 23. Ballus segmentatus (MHNG). Female from Hakgala, Sri Lanka. A, vulva, ventral view. B, same, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 24. SEM, Ballus segmentatus (MHNG). A-F, female from Horton Plains, Sri Lanka. A, prosoma. B, ordinary setae. C, ps. D-F, tibia I. G-I, male from Agrapatana, Sri Lanka. Retrolateral views of: G, right male palp. H, ec and embolus. I, setae on apex of cy. Scale bars = 3 Mm (F); 10 Mm (B, C, H, I); 30 Mm (E, G); 100 Mm (A, D).