Thorelliola tualapa, Zhang & Maddison, 2012

Zhang, Jun-Xia & Maddison, Wayne P., 2012, New euophryine jumping spiders from Papua New Guinea (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae) 3491, Zootaxa 3491, pp. 1-74 : 53-55

Thorelliola tualapa sp. nov.

Figs 249–260

Type material. Holotype: male, PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Southern Highlands Province: Tualapa, near Wanakipa , 5.283° S, 142.498° E, elev. 1000–1100 m a.s.l., 11–22 July 2008, forest interior and river side, coll. W. Maddison & Luc Fimo Tuki, WPM#08-008 ( UBC-SEM AR00104 ) . Paratypes: 1 female, same data as holotype ( UBC-SEM AR00105 ) ; 5 males and 2 females in three vials, same data as holotype .

Etymology. A noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Differs from other species with a truncus on the male clypeus by the wide retrolateral sperm duct loop, the shape of the embolus and the embolic disc of the male palp ( Figs 255–256). Resembles Thorelliola pallidula Gardzi ṅska, 2009 in female epigynum, but can be distinguished by the opening to the copulatory duct which is far anterior to the epigynal groove ( Figs 259–260).

Description. Male (holotype, UBC-SEM AR00104). Carapace length 2.4 (variation 1.8–2.4, n=6); abdomen length 2.5. Clypeus with a long truncus in the middle armed with two relatively short macrosetae at the tip. Chelicera ( Figs 257–258): dark brown, distal end red brown; with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth of six or seven cusps; with a distal process on front surface. Palp ( Figs 255–256): dark red brown. Bulb and embolic disc oval; embolus short and not curved; retrolateral sperm duct loop about three quarters of bulb width. Tibia of palp with multiple macrosetae, the prolateral distal macroseta of tibia on top of a protuberance. Palpal tibia with a clump of long and curved stiff setae retrolaterally in front of retrolateral tibial apophysis. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively wide and flap-like with a curved longitudinal ridge. Tibia of first leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae; metatarsus with two pairs. Measurements of legs: I 7.8, II 5.3, III 5.8, IV 6.1. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 253): carapace dark red brown; abdomen sandy yellow, with gray and dark brown markings, anterior part with long and stiff setae; ventral abdomen pale yellow with irregular gray brown markings; first pair of legs dark red brown, other legs dark brown to light yellow brown.

Female (paratype, UBC-SEM AR00105). Carapace length 1.8 (variation 1.7–1.8, n=3); abdomen length 2.6. Chelicera: with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth of four or five cusps. Tibia of first leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae; metatarsus with two pairs. Measurements of legs: I 3.6, II 3.3, III 3.9, IV 4.2. Epigynum ( Figs 259–260): window not obvious; opening to copulatory duct far away from the epigynal groove. Copulatory duct short and thin, without accessory gland; spermatheca almost spherical. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 254): similar to that of male, but dorsal abdomen with two pairs of dark brown patches, carapace and legs paler.

Natural history. Specimens were collected by beating forest understory.