Icius jacksoni, Haddad & Wesołowska, 2024

Haddad, Charles Richard & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, On some new and poorly-known Chrysillini from arid western South Africa (Araneae, Salticidae), African Invertebrates 65 (2), pp. 127-159 : 127-159

Icius jacksoni sp. nov.

Figs 10 , 11

Material examined.

Holotype: South Africa • ♂; Northern Cape Province; Richtersveld National Park, Sendelingsdrift camp; 28 ° 07.494 ' S, 16 ° 35.454 ' E; 40 m a. s. l.; 8 Jan 2021; C. Haddad & R. Booysen leg.; hand collecting; NCA 2021 / 28.

Diagnosis.

This species has a male palp similar to that of Icius hamatus (C. L. Koch, 1846) , but differs in the absence of the anterior lobe of the bulb at the base of the embolus (present in I. hamatus ), as well as the notch between the two branches of the apophysis, which is V-shaped in I. jacksoni sp. nov., while U-shaped in I. hamatus (cf. Fig. 10 B with fig. 2 in Andreeva et al. 1984). Icius jacksoni (Fig. 10 B ) also differs by the shape of the tibial apophysis from I. pulchellus Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 (fig. 61 in Haddad and Wesołowska 2011) and I. minimus Wesołowska & Tomasiewicz, 2008 from Ethiopia (fig. 73 in Wesołowska and Tomasiewicz 2008). Icius jacksoni sp. nov. is one of the smallest species in the genus.

Description.

Male: Measurements: Cephalothorax length 1.7, width 1.3, height 0.6. Abdomen length 1.3, width 1.1. Eye field length 0.8, anterior width 1.1, posterior width 1.2. General appearance in alcohol as in Fig. 10 A, B , diminutive spider. Carapace light brown with two darker streaks on thoracic part, eye field black, clothed in white hairs. Anterior median eyes surrounded by white hairs from bottom, clypeus also with white hairs. Mouthparts light brown, sternum yellow. Abdomen oval, brownish, with two thin white strips laterally, sides brownish with light marks, end of abdomen blackish, venter and spinnerets light yellow. Legs yellow. Palpal organ as in Figs 10 C, D , 11 A, B , bulb oval, embolus short, tibial apophysis wide, with deep V-shaped notch.

Female: Unknown.

Etymology.

This species is named for Robert Jackson, in recognition of his unparalleled contribution to our understanding of jumping spider biology over a career spanning five decades.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 10. Icius jacksoni sp. nov., male, holotype: A general appearance, dorsal view B same, lateral view C palpal organ, ventral view D same, retrolateral view.

Figure 11. Icius jacksoni sp. nov., male, holotype: A palpal organ, ventral view B same, lateral view.