Vailimia ajmerensis Caleb & Jangid, 2020

Basumatary, Paris, Caleb, John T. D., Das, Sangeeta, Jangid, Ashish Kumar, Lita, Jatin Ka- & Brahma, Dulur, 2020, First record of the genus Vailimia Kammerer, 2006 from India, with the description of two new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina), Zootaxa 4790 (1), pp. 178-186 : 180-182

Vailimia ajmerensis Caleb & Jangid sp. nov.

Figs 1–11

Note: This species was misidentified as Ptocasius strupifer Simon, 1901 in Kaur et al. (2014: 503 , figs 2A–G): ♂ from India, Rajasthan, Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Indraprastha University collection, not examined .

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (NZC-ZSI 6590/18): Ajmer (26.50747°N, 74.68112°E), 490 m a.s.l., Rajasthan, India, 06 June 2017, leg. Ashish K. Jangid.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality (Ajmer, Rajasthan) from where the holotype was collected.

Diagnosis. The species is similar to Vailimia jianyuae Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2013 in having a long palpal tibia, but can be distinguished by the thicker distal embolic region pointing retrolaterally (tapering uniformly and directed apically in V. jianyuae ); shorter and wider apical portion of cymbium and the proportionately larger bulb, occupying 3/4 of the cymbium (narrower and longer cymbium; bulb occupying 1/2 the cymbium in V. jianyuae ) (cf. Fig. 8 herein with Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold 2013: fig. 139); RTA with a ridge at the base and gently curving distally (RTA with a small notch at the base, sharply bending and slightly curved at the apex in V. jianyuae ) (cf. Figs 9–10 herein with Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold 2013: fig. 141).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 7.06; carapace: 3.56 long, 2.99 wide; abdomen: 3.50 long, 2.18 wide. Carapace dark brown, covered with pale greyish hairs ( Fig. 1 ); two pairs of tubercles present along the margin of the ocular area, a smaller one between the ALEs and PMEs and a larger one near the PLEs ( Fig. 4 ). Anterior eyes surrounded by white setae. Clypeal region brown, covered with long dark brownish setae ( Fig. 3 ). Eye measurements: AME 0.69, ALE 0.37, PME 0.11, PLE 0.36, AER 2.42, PER 3.04, EFL 1.36. Clypeus height 0.16. Sternum oval, brownish. Chelicerae reddish-brown, two teeth (one small and one big) on the promargin and one uneven bifid tooth on the retromargin, with a small ridge at the base ( Figs 5–6 ); labium and maxillae brown with pale margins. Legs reddish-brown; leg I & II with fringe of hairs ventrally on patella, tibia and metatarsus. Leg measurements: I 9.61 (2.71, 2.14, 2.31, 1.59, 0.86); II 6.78 (2.07, 1.57, 1.37, 1.10, 0.67); III 7.48 (2.64, 1.45, 1.39, 1.27, 0.73); IV 6.53 (2.10, 1.22, 1.23, 1.39, 0.59). Leg formula: 1324. Abdomen reddish-brown; covered with pale hairs; mid dorsal region lighter with chevron-shaped markings; venter dark brown with lateral yellow-brown longitudinal stripes; spinnerets brown ( Figs 1–2 ). Palps yellow-brown; palpal tibia and patella covered with long white hairs laterally; cymbium with a dorsal scopula and white hairs present at the base; embolus long arising from the retrolateral margin encircling the bulb; RTA strong and long, tapering toward the tip, directed anteriorly ( Figs 8–11 ).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from Rajasthan ( India).

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Vailimia ajmerensis sp. nov., male. 1 dorsal view; 2 ventral view; 3 frontal view; 4 lateral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (1–2, 4); 1 mm (3).

FIGURES 5–7. Vailimia ajmerensis sp. nov. 5–6 male chelicerae, retrolateral view; 7 chelicerae and fangs, apical view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (5); 1 mm (7).

FIGURES 8–11. Vailimia ajmerensis sp. nov., right male palp. 8 ventral view; 9 retrolateral view; 10 dorsal view; 11 retrolateral view, with tibia and patella. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.