Habronattus empyrus Maddison

Maddison, Wayne P., 2017, New species of Habronattus and Pellenes jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Harmochirina), ZooKeys 646, pp. 45-72 : 49

Habronattus empyrus Maddison sp. n. Figs 26-37

Holotype.

Male in CNAN- IBUNAM, with data: México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.293 - 31.295°N 113.456 - 113.459°W, 17 August 2013, Maddison/Proctor/Evans/Leduc-Robert/Meza, WPM#13-084.

Paratypes

(5♂♂ 4♀♀). Same data as holotype (1♀ specimen AZS13-7828 in CNAN- IBUNAM, 1♂ 1♀ in UBC-SEM, 1♂ 1♀ in MCZ, 1♂ 1♀ in AMNH). México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.293 - 31.294°N 113.456 - 113.458°W, 1 m elev., 16 August 2013, Maddison/Proctor/Evans/Leduc-Robert, WPM#13-079 (2♂♂ in UBC-SEM specimens AZS13-7562 [Fig. 30] and AZS13-7582 [Fig. 31]).

Etymology.

From the Greek empyros, burning, referring to the male’s flaming colors: a brilliant red face against a pale yellow-orange body and legs. Also, to the author’s synesthesia, the dominant letters of the name match the colours of males perfectly: “e” for the green first legs, “r” for the red face, and “y” and “s” for the pale yellow-orange of the body and legs.

Diagnosis.

A member of the coecatus group distinctive for its pale colours. The male’s red face and form of the third legs (Figs 29-31, 33, 34) distinguish it from all other members of the coecatus group except Habronattus pyrrithrix , from which it differs in having a much paler body, the green first legs paler in life, and the red facial band narrower. The third leg is much like that of Habronattus pyrrithrix , Habronattus carpus and Habronattus mexicanus , with an orange tuft on the dorsal distal side of the femur and a dark patella with pale speckles, a bright white dorsal-basal tuft, and a moderate but thin thumb-like dorsal-distal apophysis (Figs 29-31; compare to Griswold 1987 figures 84-85). However, the femur of Habronattus empyrus has an additional black streak just ventral to the prominent macroseta on the prolateral distal face of the femur (Fig. 29). Typical Habronattus pyrrithrix were found only 6 km away from the type locality, lessening concerns that Habronattus empyrus might be a only a geographical variant.

Description.

Male (focal specimen: holotype). Carapace length 2.2; abdomen length 2.1. Palp typical for coecatus group, with sickle-shaped TmA. Embolus arises at 180° (Fig. 26). Colour and ornaments in alcohol: Chelicerae dark at base, paler at tips. Palp femur and tibia pale except dark patch prolaterally and ventrally. Cymbium pale yellow-brown with long white hairs. Legs pale yellowish except for dorsal black stripe on first femur and markings of third leg. First leg with fringes and modified spatulate setae typical of coecatus group. Third femur with longitudinal black lines on dorsal and ventral edges of prolateral face, up to the expanded distal area which bears two black spots and a dorsal tuft of orange setae (Figs 29, 30). Third patella with a typical expanded triangular ridge above and a thumb-like apophysis distally. Clypeus red, transitioning abruptly to black between the AME and ALE. The black is a fairly narrow region beneath the ALE. Otherwise, the carapace is covered fairly uniformly with cream to light yellowish-brown scales, with the usual coecatus -group markings indistinct. Abdomen with standard coecatus -group markings of a central pale chevroned longitudinal band with a transverse band cutting across it, but less distinct than usual, because the background is light brown rather than black. In life (Figs 30-34), the palp femur is light brown, not red as in Habronattus pyrrithrix . The integument of the first leg is light green. The third tibia is also green.

Female (focal specimen: paratype, specimen AZS13-7828; Figs 28, 36-37). Carapace length 2.6; abdomen length 2.7. Structure (including epigynum, Fig. 28) typical for coecatus group. Colour (Figs 35-37) typical for coecatus group, pale beige to light brown. Clypeus white (Fig. 37). Abdomen shows only a trace of the markings of the male.

Additional material examined.

10♂♂ 7♀♀ in UBC-SEM: México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.293°N 113.452°W, 1 m elev., 16 August 2013, S.C. Evans, WPM#13-078 (1♂). México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.293 - 31.294°N 113.456 - 113.458°W, 1 m elev., 16 August 2013, Maddison/Proctor/Evans/Leduc-Robert, WPM#13-079 (3♂♂). México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.293 - 31.295°N 113.456 - 113.459°W, 17 August 2013, Maddison/ Proctor/Evans/Leduc-Robert/Meza, WPM#13-084 (3♂♂ 7♀♀). México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Morúa, 31.296 - 31.297°N 113.487 - 113.493°W, 17 August 2013, Maddison/ Proctor/Evans/Leduc-Robert, WPM#13-085 (2♂♂). México: Sonora: Puerto Peñasco, Estero Cerro Prieto, 31.418°N 113.626°W, 1 m elev., 18 August 2013, W. Maddison & A. Meza López, WPM#13-086 (1♂).

Natural history.

Found with Habronattus aestus in the negative tidal estuaries of Sonora, México. Habronattus empyrus , however, was found in the flatter areas with short salt-tolerant plants including Salicornia (Fig. 97), unlike Habronattus aestus which was associated with large salt-tolerant plants along the tidal channels. Individuals of Habronattus empyrus were found on the wet sand/mud, or hopping from one short plant to another like little monkeys. A portion of courtship was observed, and appears typical for the Habronattus coecatus species group (https://youtu.be/Lwa678NVC3U).