Maratus sagittus, Schubert & Whyte, 2019

Schubert, Joseph & Whyte, Robert, 2019, A new peacock spider from the Cape York Peninsula (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch 1878), Peckhamia 177 (1), pp. 1-6 : 2-4

Maratus sagittus sp. nov.

Type specimen. The holotype male was collected near Laura, Quinkan Country , Cape York Peninsula , Queensland (15° 35' 18.6202” S, 144° 32' 15.5184” E, coll. J. McLean) on a Bush Blitz expedition on the 12th of March 2017 . This has been deposited in the Queensland Museum, Brisbane ( QM S107390 ) .

Etymology. The specific name ( sagittus, Latin m., noun, English translation: arrow) refers to the arrowshaped marking on the dorsal opisthosomal plate of the male.

Diagnosis. The male of this species is distinguishable from those of other species of Maratus by the presence of a central, arrow-shaped patch of yellow, squamous setae on the dorsal opisthosomal plate and the deep, plum coloured integument of the carapace. The structure of the male pedipalp and the presence of a dorsal opisthosomal plate support its generic placement.

Description of male ( Figures 1 -5). In life: Carapace dark reddish-brown, ocular quadrangle region darker, almost black; central, diamond shaped patch of white setae extends from rear slope of carapace to between the PLE; antero-dorsal carapace thickly covered with band of orange setae; bands of white setae on flanks of carapace extend from edges of ALE almost to rear rim of carapace, surface below these bands pale and glabrous ( Figure 1 :1). AME and ALE ringed with short, white setae on lower perimeter and short, orange setae on the upper perimeter; long white setae project downwards from below AME forming a triangular shape; two larger, off-white spines project upwards between AME; clypeus otherwise pale-brown and glabrous ( Figures 1 :3, 2:2); chelicerae dark brown to black and glabrous; paturon with two blunt promarginal teeth and one sharper retromarginal tooth ( Figure 3 ); coxae and labium dark brown and glabrous; endites dark brown with pale upper edges and glabrous; sternum dark brown with light covering of short, white setae ( Figure 4 :3).

Dorsal opisthosomal plate covered with iridescent blue to blue-purple or green scales ( Figure 1 :4); centre of dorsal opisthosomal plate with distinctive arrow-shaped patch of short, yellow, squamous setae ( Figure 1 :2); dorsal opisthosomal plate rounded and sharp-edged without lateral flaps; fringe of long, white setae encircling anterior and lateral opisthosomal plate, but breaking at posterior part of plate; tuft of white setae above black spinnerets ( Figure 1 :4); lateral and ventral opisthosoma dark brown and scattered with short, cream-coloured setae ( Figures 3 :3, 3:4).

Legs I and II subequal; legs III and IV longer; legs III by far longest; legs I and II mostly dark brown, almost black; tarsi and metatarsi on all legs pale-brown to orange; all legs with light cover of long light and dark setae; legs III and IV mostly brown, almost black; femora and tibiae on legs III and IV adorned with pale, almost white bands and lightly covered in long white setae ( Figure 1 :3). Pedipalp covered dorsally with long off-white setae; relatively large palpal bulb with retrolateral sperm duct loop, large retrobasal tegular lobe, finger-like RTA ( Figure 2 :1), anticlockwise coiled embolus ( Figure 2 :2).

Dimensions. Total length 4.08. Carapace length 2.32. Opisthosoma length 1.76. Leg I length 2.83. Leg II length 2.85. Leg III length 4.37. Leg IV length 3.79.

Female. Unknown.

Remarks. Maratus sagittus sp. nov. is the northernmost occurring species in the genus ( Otto & Hill 2017). We predict that M. sagittus sp. nov. is endemic to far-northern Queensland and that there may be other undescribed species of Maratus that occur in the largely unexplored far-northern Australia.

cheliceral dentition. Paturon with two blunt promarginal teeth and one sharper retromarginal tooth.

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of living holotype male Maratus sagittus sp. nov. (Photos 1-6: Robert Whyte). 1, Note paler integument beneath white setae on carapace, glabrous surface beneath the bands of white setae on flanks of carapace. 2, Distinctive yellow arrow-shaped patch of setae on dorsal opisthosoma. 3, Note orange-brown tarsi and metatarsi. Longer leg III ornamented with white banded femur and tibia. 4, Iridescence of the short, squamous setae on opisthosomal plate visible here. 5, Note lack of ornamentation on left leg III due to regeneration. 6, Deep, plum coloured integument of the carapace shown here.

Figure 2. Automontage images of left pedipalp of preserved holotype Maratus sagittus sp. nov. 1, Retrolateral view showing finger-like retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) and retrolateral sperm duct loop (RSDL). 2, Ventral view showing embolic disc (ED) and tegular lobe (TL). 3, Prolateral view.

Figure 3. Automontage image of left paturon showing

Figure 4. Automontage images of the habitus of holotype. 1, Dorsal view. 2, Anterior view. 3, Ventral view. 4, Lateral view.