Evarcha tsipikafotsy, Murray & Escobar-Toledo & Pett, 2024

Murray, Katie I., Escobar-Toledo, Jaime & Pett, Brogan L., 2024, Three new species of plexippine jumping spiders (Salticidae, Salticinae, Plexippini) from dry forest in Boeny region, north-western Madagascar, African Invertebrates 65 (2), pp. 61-74 : 61-74

Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov.

Figs 2–11 , 12, 13 , 14–19

Material examined.

Holotype • ♂: Madagascar; Mahajanaga province, Mariarano classified forest, Antafiameva camp ; 15.46°S, 46.74°E; 12 July 2017, 20: 06; “ Savannah next to dry forest ”, Jonas Merckx leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247698 ) . Paratypes • 1 ♀ Madagascar; Mahajanaga province (all), Mariarano classified forest (all), Mariarano camp ; 15.48°S, 46.69°E; 17 June 2018, 20: 06; “ Savannah next to dry forest ”, Jonas Merckx leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247699 ) Mariarano camp, • 1 ♂; 15.29°S, 46.41°E; 20 June 2023, 09: 00; “ Margin of tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247700 ) Mariarano camp, • 1 ♀; 15.29°S, 46.41°E; 22 June 2023, 20: 30; “ Margin of tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247701 ) Mariarano camp, • 1 ♀; 15.29°S, 46.41°E; 23 June 2023, 8: 30; “ Margin of tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247702 ) Matsedroy camp, • 1 ♂; 15.29°S, 46.39°E; 3 July 2023, 10: 00; “ Open tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247703 ) Matsedroy camp, • 1 ♂; 15.29°S, 46.39°E; 9 July 2023, 21: 00; “ Open tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247704 ) Matsedroy camp, • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; 15.29°S, 46.38°E; 11 July 2023, 19: 45; “ Tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247705 ) Mariarano camp, • 1 ♂; 15.29°S, 46.41°E; 16 July 2023, 08: 00; “ Margin of tropical dry forest ”, Jaime Escobar-Toledo leg. ( BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara.247706 ) .

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, amalgamating the Malagasy words for " stripes " (tsipika) and " White " (fotsy) (this is the correct conjugation of the words in Malagasy). Reference is made to the stripes of white setae on the lateral parts of the carapace.

Diagnosis.

Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. is distinctive in palpal conformation from most Evarcha , with a similar body form and colour pattern. Evarcha tsipikafotsy is most similar in palpal conformation to E. madagascariensis Prószyński, 1992 ( Madagascar) and E. patagiata (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (The Levant) in sharing a singular large RTA, an embolus running clockwise along edge of cymbium for over 1 / 3 cymbium length and a moderate posterior tegular expansion. Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. is clearly separated from those species by (i) posterior tegular expansion that is projected distinctly at 4 o’clock position with a separate finger-like protrusion (vs. projected at 5 o’clock position without finger-like protrusion or small projection at 6 o’ clock position, respectively); (ii) embolus that is about 2 / 3 length of cymbium and follows margin (vs. just under ½ length of cymbium in both species, additionally embolus is projected a small distance away from tegulum in E. patagiata ); (iii) RTA that is sinuous at apex (vs. not with sinuous apex); additionally, Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. is further separated from E. madagascariensis by having only a small RL cymbial expansion (vs. very large), and an RTA that does not make contact with RL cymbial expansion (vs. does make contact). Females are most similar in epigynum conformation to E. arcuata ( Clerck, 1757) (Most of Europe, Northern Asia, Libya and Mexico) with coiled CD and moderately large epigynal atria (separated by a distinctive arch). Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. is clearly separated from E. arcuata by: (i) thick tightly coiled CD (vs. thin, less tightly coiled); (ii) FD approximately halfway up the epigynal region (vs. ¾ vertically high), (iii) epigynal arch long and thin (vs. short and broader), (iv) atria large and deep, about ¾ entire surface of epigynal region (vs. much smaller, about ¼ surface of epigynal region).

Taxonomic notes.

Carrhotus harringtoni Prószyński, 1992 external epigyne resembles E. tsipikafotsy sp. nov., but the internal ST and CD are markedly different from species of Evarcha s. s., with large oval ST and a simpler CD pattern that is closer to Carrhotus species than to that of Evarcha . However, we consider the generic identity of C. harringtoni to be unclear and require further investigation.

Description.

Male (holotype). Measurements. TL 6.48, CL 3.48, CW 2.96, CH 2.2, SL 1.36, SW 0.92, AL 4, AW 2.04, chelicera length 1.2, chelicera width 0.64. Legs. I: 2.56, 1.88, 1.8, 1.16, 0.96. II: 2, 1.24, 1.36, (remaining segments missing). III: 2.84, 1, 1.28, 1.08, 0.92. IV: 2.36, 1.04, 1.4, 1.04, 0.56. Eyes: AME – 0.62, ALE – 0.32, PME – 0.1, PLE – 0.26, ORW – 0.236.

Colouration: Carapace generally orangish-brown, dark brown in vivo, with lateral fringes of white setae just ventral to PER, band of sparser black setae ventral; chelicerae brown; legs 1, 2 brownish; legs 3, 4 orangish; coxae pale beige both dorsally and ventrally; abdomen generally beige with a mostly contiguous white band down abdomen centre, venter beige with sparse brown spots (figs 12, 13). Carapace: High, flat, declining sharply just posterior to fovea, foveal depression very shallow; several very long setae projected anteriorly just ventral of PME; fringe of white setae mid-length and appressed to carapace; sparse patches of white setae between eyes. Sternum: Oval shape, widest around midpoint. Legs: Legs 1, 2 slightly broader; dense fringe of setae on patellae & tibiae I & II. Chelicerae: One tooth on retromargin, two teeth on promargin, retromarginal tooth larger than largest promarginal tooth, promarginal teeth close together with apical one three times the size of smallest one. Abdomen: Ovoid, widest halfway along length; several longish thick white setae protrude at a 45 ° — 30 ° angle at anterior margin; venter dull. Leg spination: I: F 3 d 2 pl, P 1 d 2 pl 2 rl, Ti 2 pl v 3-3, Mt v 2-2. II: F 3 d 1 pl 2 rl, P 1 pl 1 rl, Ti 3 pl 3 v, Mt v 2-2. Pedipalp: Cymbium orange to brown; RTA thick, comparable length to the tibia, protrudes along edge of cymbium without another point of contact; tegulum circular with sperm duct dark red to brown, follows curve of tegulum clockwise from 9 o’clock to behind the tegular expansion at 5 o’clock; long embolus originating from 5 o’clock behind tengular expansion in ventral view and contours the edge of the tegulum before branching off at 10 o’clock and up towards apex of the cymbium (figs 14–19).

Female. Measurements. CL 4.12, CW 3.28, CH 2.42, AL 7.08, AW 4.20, SL 1.72, SW 0.86, Leg measurements: I: 2.24, 1.32, 1.72, 1.20, 0.68. II: 1.92, 1.20, 1.42, 1.00, 0.76. III: 2.80, 1.32, 1.50, 1.72, 0.88. IV: 2.56, 1.08, 1.72, 1.76, 0.84. Eyes: AME 0.64, ALE 0.38, PME 0.12, PLE 0.32.

Leg spination: I: F 4 d 2 pl, P 1 d, Ti v 3-3, Mt v 2-2. II: F 3 d 2 pl, P 1 d, Ti pl 2 v 3-3, Mt v 2-2.

General colouration, pattern and somatic morphology the same as in male. Except; carapace slightly lighter and mottled, dark brown-black patches around eyes from ORW to fovea, much sparser fringe of white setae and no band of black setae on carapace, no vertical stripes on abdomen, instead beige with interspersed patches of beige, brown and black setae.

Epigyne: epigynal region longer than wide by about 1.5 ×; copulatory openings at anterior margin directed anteriorly, CD long and thin, directed straight posteriorly, suboval ST moderately large, separated by about half their width.

Figures

Figures 2–11. Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. 2, 4, 6 male holotype habitus 3, 5, 7 female paratype habitus 8, 9 male pedipalp 10, 11 female epigyne 2, 3, 11 dorsal 4, 5 lateral 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 ventral 9 retrolateral. Scale bars: 1 mm (2–7); 0.5 mm (8–11).

Figures 12, 13. Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. in vivo images, male. Photo credits: J. E. T.

Figures 14–19. Evarcha tsipikafotsy sp. nov. S. E. M micrographs 14–17 male left pedipalp 18, 19 leg I 14, 15 - retrolateral 16, 17 - ventral to prolateral 18 prolateral dorsal 19 prolateral dorsal detail of tibia.