Kelawakaju leucomelas Maddison & Ng, 2022

Maddison, Wayne P., Ruiz, Gustavo R. S., Ng, Paul Y. C., Vishnudas, Ettukandathil Haridas & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil V., 2022, Kelawakaju gen. nov., a new Asian lineage of marpissine jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Marpissina), ZooKeys 1130, pp. 79-102 : 79

Kelawakaju leucomelas Maddison & Ng sp. nov.

Figs 14 , 55-63 , 79-81

Type material.

Holotype: male (JK.20.11.13.003) in LKCNHM from Singapore: Lorong Pang Sua 1.3833°N, 103.7567°E, 13 xi 2020, J.K.H. Koh & P. Y. C. Ng. Paratypes: Two females (JK.20.11.13.0001 and JK.20.11.13.0002) with same data as holotype. One male (JK.13.12.10.0001) from Singapore: Pulau Tekong, 1.4072°N, 104.0283°E, 10 December 2013, J.K.H. Koh.

Etymology.

Refers to the longitudinal bands of white scales (leuco, Greek for white) on either side of the body contrasting against the black median (melas, Greek for black), formed not as an adjective but more simply as the two colours themselves (and thus without an expectation of agreement with the genus name).

Diagnosis.

Carapace wider and ocular quadrangle shorter (Fig. 14 ) than in other species. Embolus differs in shape from that of the similar K. sahyadri : embolus tip with retrolateral flange more distinct and larger (Figs 55 , 57-59 , 61 ), and prolateral edge of embolus curves abruptly to the distal to make the embolus appear more erect (Figs 55 , 61 ). Long brush of white hairs projecting prolaterally from male palp tibia is lacking (present in K. frenata and K. sahyadri ). In the specimens we have, the body’s white side bands are more distinct than in K. frenata and K. sahyadri , and the posterior legs more uniform coloured, lacking distinct annulate markings.

Description.

Male (based on holotype). Carapace length 3.6, width 2.6; abdomen length 4.2. Carapace: Relatively flat, broad, depressed around fovea. Integument black to dark brown, clothed loosely with white scales in two broad longitudinal bands along sides, below and behind PME. Below these bands, thorax is black, without marginal white scales. Clypeus very narrow, dark, with some black hairs. Chelicerae diverging, projecting forward slightly, with a bulge anteriolaterally (as in K. frenata , Fig. 4 , but more prominent). Bulge covered with hair-bearing tubercles. Dark brown to black, with narrow and dense line of white scales appearing as an inverted V (Fig. 79 ). Two promarginal and one triangular retromarginal teeth, as in K. frenata (Fig. 8 ). Palp dark brown. Patella and distal part of femur clothed with long white hairs and a few white scales. Embolus erect, with retrolateral flange separated from the tip by a distinct cleft (Figs 57-59 ). Endite subrectangular, with no projection, dark brown. Legs: First pair dark except tarsus, slightly paler, with some patches of white scales and hairs (Fig. 79 ). Remaining legs medium brown, lightly dusted with white scales, without annulate markings. Length of femur I 2.7, II 1.9, III 1.6, IV 2.0; patella + tibia I 4.1, II 2.4, III 2.0, IV 2.9; metatarsus + tarsus I 2.4, II 1.6, III 1.7, IV 2.0. Leg spination reduced: femur I d1-1-0, p0-2-0, II d1-1-0, p0-0-1, III d1-1-1, p0-0-1, IV d1-1-0, 0; patella I-IV 0; tibia I v2-2-2 (asymmetrical), II v1r-1r-1p, III v0-0-1p, IV 0; metatarsus I-II v2-2, III v0-0-1p, IV v0-0-1p. Abdomen narrow and long, dark above except for band of white scales on either side, continuing the longitudinal band of the carapace (Fig. 81 ).

Female (based on paratype JK.20.11.13.0001). Carapace length 3.2, width 2.4; abdomen length 4.3. Carapace: As in male, but narrower. Clypeus as in male. Chelicerae with bulge and tubercles, but less prominent than in male. Dark, with black setae. Two promarginal and one unident retromarginal tooth, similar to those of K. frenata (Fig. 9 ). Legs: First pair of legs medium brown; posterior legs honey-brown, without annulate markings. Length of femur I 1.9, II 1.6, III 1.4, IV 1.7; patella + tibia I 2.7, II 1.9, III 1.7, IV 2.5; metatarsus + tarsus I 1.6, II 1.3, III 1.4, IV 1.9. Leg spination reduced: femur I d1-0-0, p0-2-0, II d1-1-0, p0-0-1, III d1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0-0-1, IV d1-1-0, r0-0-1; patella I-IV 0; tibia I v2-2-2 (asymmetrical), II v1r-1r-1p, III 0, IV 0; metatarsus I-II v2-2, III v0-0-1p, IV v0-0-1p. Abdomen narrow, long, dark medially but with pale longitudinal bands on either side. Epigyne with two crescent shaped openings posteriomedial to a pale desclerotized area (Fig. 62 ). (Although this specimen has the openings more medial than shown for K. sahyadri , another female of K. leucomelas , JK.20.11.13.0002, has them placed much as in K. sahyadri .).

Additional material examined.

Male (JK.19.08.18.0010) in LKCNHM from MALAYSIA: Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi , Panti Recreational Forest , 1.7872°N, 103.9425°E, 18 August 2019, P.Y.C. Ng .

Natural history.

Approximately ten adult and juvenile specimens were seen on tree bark at the type locality, including the holotype. The male from Kota Tinggi was found on tree bark in a sunny area near the entrance of Panti Recreational Forest.

Figures

Figures 10 - 15. Carapaces of Kelawakaju males 10 K. mulu holotype 11 K. intexta holotype 12 K. singapura holotype 13 K. frenata from Guangxi, Dongxing 14 K. leucomelas holotype 15 K. sahyadri holotype. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

Figures 46 - 72. Kelawakaju frenata species group, genitalia 46 - 54 K. frenata 46 male from Dongxing, palp, ventral 47 same, retrolateral 48 same, dorsal 49 male from Hong Kong, embolus, ventral 50 Simon's (1901 a) figure, reversed 51 female d 224 from Dongxing, epigyne, ventral 52 second female from Dongxing, epigyne, ventral 53 same, vulva, ventral 54 same, dorsal 55 - 63 K. leucomelas 55 holotype male palp, ventral 56 same, retrolateral 57 same, embolus, oblique 58 paratype male JK 13.12.10.0001, embolus, oblique 59 male JK. 19.08.18.0010, embolus, oblique 60 same, palp, retrolateral 61 same, ventral 62 female paratype JK. 20.11.13.0001, epigyne, ventral 63 same, vulva, dorsal 64 - 72 K. sahyadri 64 holotype male, palp, ventral 65 same, retrolateral 66 same, embolus, oblique 67 paratype male from Kerala, embolus, oblique 68 same, ventral 69 same, palp, ventral 70 same, retrolateral 71 paratype female AS 19.4934 epigyne, ventral 72 same vulva, dorsal. Oblique views of embolus are between ventral and prolateral. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figures 79 - 81. Kelawakaju leucomelas 79 - 80 male from the type locality 81 female from same locality. Photographs © Chris Ang 2021. Specimens not examined microscopically; inferred as K. leucomelas by appearance and locality.

Figures 2 - 9. Chelicerae of Kelawakaju species 2 - 4 oblique view with carapace 5 - 9 ventral view 2 K. mulu male holotype 3 K. intexta male holotype 4 K. frenata male from Guangxi 5 K. mulu male holotype 6 K. intexta male holotype 7 K. singapura male holotype 8 K. frenata male from Guangxi 9 K. frenata female from Guangxi. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.