Sceliraptor raffrayi ( Simon, 1893 ) Sankaran & Tripathi & Kadam, 2024

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Tripathi, Rishikesh & Kadam, Gautam, 2024, A new species of Steriphopus Simon, 1887 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Chediminae), with the proposal of a new combination, Zootaxa 5474 (1), pp. 97-100 : 99-100

Sceliraptor raffrayi ( Simon, 1893) comb. nov.

Fig. 3

Sarascelis raffrayi Simon, 1893: 313 (♂).

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( MNHN AR1703 ) from SINGAPORE, date unknown, collector unknown, examined based on photographs.

Diagnosis. The male of S. raffrayi comb. nov. are most similar to those of S. murphyorum Zonstein & Marusik, 2022 from Kenya as both have a slender prolateral branch of tegular apophysis, and a similarly long tegular process, but it can be distinguished by the absence of a tegular spur (vs. present), slightly curved distal part of retrolateral branch of tegular apophysis (vs. U-shaped), and inclined basal process of embolus (vs. directed upward) ( Fig. 3E–F cf. Zonstein & Marusik 2022: figs 11, 29).

Supplementary description of the holotype male ( Fig. 3A ). After Simon (1893): carapace blackish red, legs rufous chestnut, opisthosoma tawny chestnut; carapace wrinkled, covered with setae; sternum rugous; opisthosoma oblong, hirsute; body length 7.00. Palp ( Fig. 3E–H ). Tibia swollen ( Fig. 3H ). Cymbium narrow, with short retrobasal projection ( Fig. 3H ). Bulb ovoid, without tegular spur ( Fig. 3F, H ). Tegular apophysis (TA) stout, slightly curved, with narrow, slender, slightly curved prolateral (Tp) and retrolateral (Tr), and flat, strongly curved intermediate (Ti) branches ( Fig. 3E–F ). Dorsal tegular process (Dp) moderately long, broader at base, gradually narrowing towards apex, distally curved; embolus (E) thin and fragile, with short and inclined rod-like process (Ep) at base ( Fig. 3E ).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality. The record of this species from India ( Gravely 1921) is doubtful and refers most likely to a different species (see Tripathi et al. 2023).

Justification of the transfer. An examination of the holotype male of S. raffrayi revealed that Simon (1893) misplaced this species in Sarascelis Simon, 1887 as its male palp has partly fused tegular sclerites, which are completely fused and integrated in Sarascelis species ( Fig. 3E–F cf. Zonstein & Marusik 2022: figs 25–26). Instead, it shows similarities with the species of Sceliraptor : cymbium with a retrobasal projection, stout tegular apophysis with several branches, and thin embolus with a basal process ( Fig. 3E–H cf. Zonstein & Marusik 2022: figs 8, 20, 26, 35). Based on these observations, we consider the transfer of Sarascelis raffrayi to Sceliraptor justified.

Figures

FIGURE 3A–I. Holotype male of Sceliraptor raffrayi (Simon, 1893) comb. nov. A habitus, dorsal; B same, ventral; C prosoma, dorsal; D eye group, dorsal; E–H left palp: E prolateral, F ventral, G retrolateroventral, H retrolateral; I labels found along with the specimen.Abbreviations: Dp, dorsal process of tegular apophysis; E, embolus; Ep, acute process of embolar base; Rb, retrobasal projection of cymbium; TA, tegular apophysis; Ti, intermediate branch of tegular apophysis; Tp, prolateral branch of tegular apophysis; Tr, retrolateral branch of tegular apophysis. Scale bars: A–B = 1 mm; C = 0.5 mm; D–H = 0.25 mm.