Neon taylori, Richardson, Barry J., 2013

Richardson, Barry J., 2013, New unidentate jumping spider genera (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia, Zootaxa 3716 (3), pp. 460-474 : 470-471

Neon taylori n. sp.

Figs 30–37

Type material. Holotype: M, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.26°E, 36.60°S, R.W. Taylor and C. Brooks, 9 Dec.1967 (ANIC 42 000711).

Paratypes: 1F, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.26°E, 36.38°S, R.W. Taylor, 5 Jan. 1967 (ANIC 42 000931); 1M, Brown Mountain NSW, 149.37°E, 36.60°S, R.W. Taylor and R. Bartell, 11 Apr.1967 (ANIC 42 001268); 15M&F, 6imm., Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.42°E, 36.60°S, M. Upton, 9 Jan.1968 (ANIC 42 000929); 1M, 1imm., Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.42°E, 36.60°S, R.W. Taylor and C. Brooks, 9 Dec.1967 (ANIC 42 001728); 10M&F, 3 imm., Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.42°E, 36.60°S, S.R. Curtis, 15 Jan.1969 (ANIC 42 000702); 8M&F, 4 imm., Glenborg State Forest, Brown Mountain, NSW, Rutherford Creek, Brown Mountain, NSW, 149.38°E, 36.58°S, S. Cameron, K. Domes, 8 Nov.2007 (ANIC 42 001195); 6F, 10 imm., Brown Mountain, 2700ft, NSW, 149.47°E, 36.58°S, R.W. Taylor, 5 Jan.1967 (ANIC 42 001418).

Other material examined. 1M Macquarie Falls, NSW, 150.66°E, 34.57°S, I.D. Naumann, 6 Feb.1986 (ANIC 42 001422); 3F, 1 imm., Cambewarra Mountain, NSW, 150.57°E, 34.78°S, E. Britton, M. Upton, 5 May.1969 (ANIC 42 000961); 1F,1 imm., Clyde Mountain, NSW, 149.95°E, 35.55°S, E.F. Riek, 14 Apr.1970 (ANIC 42 000965); M, Bendoc Bonang State Forest, Bonang Hwy, 50km NNE Orbost, Vic., 148.12°E, 37.30°S, C. Lambkin, N. Starick, 11 Jan.2005 (ANIC 42 001295);1M, 1F, Cumberland Valley Reserve, Vic., 145.75°E, 37.47°S, R.W Taylor, R. Bartell, 4 Nov. 1970 (ANIC 42 001424).

Etymology. Named for Dr R.W, Taylor, the type collector and active participant in the CSIRO program to collect litter faunas from as many habitats as possible.

Diagnosis. The long, thin embolus has an origin behind a posterior distal tegular lobe and then passes laterally across the distal edge of the tegulum before moving distally unlike the complex pattern in N. australis . As well, there are no patches of guanine on either the dorsal cephalothorax, abdomen or clypeus as found in N. australis . The spermatheca is externally subdivided into two parts by a strongly marked crease starting on the lateral edge and moving towards the midline. Internally however the spermatheca is divided into three chambers with the fertilization duct coming off the first side chamber. The species bears some similarity to N. sumatranus and N. kovblyuki . It differs from the former in having a very short blunt apophysis rather than a long thin one and in the round shape of the tegulum. It also has short rather than long insemination ducts and a differently structured shape to the three chambered spematheca. The rounded shape of the tegulum and the structuring of the second and third chambers of the spermatheca also differ from those found in N. koyblyuki .

Description. Male: Cephalothorax mid orange with central area somewhat lighter. Surrounds of ALE, PME and PLE, black. Clypeus narrow, orange, without a fringe of hairs. Chelicerae orange, strong and straight. One medium sized, unidentate, sharp retromarginal tooth, no apparent promarginal teeth. Endites and labium orange grading to yellow distally. Sternum orange. Dorsal abdomen yellow with a brown pattern. Spinnerets yellow. Ventral abdomen similar in colour pattern to the dorsal abdomen. Legs yellow without markings, femurs flattened vertically and spines only on the tarsi and metatarsi, without fringes on patella or tibia of any leg. L1 is a little more robust and larger than the other legs, Palp: yellow, cymbium mid-brown, tibia yellow, with single short blunt apophysis. The brown tegulum is oval with a medium sized, proximal lobe. The thin embolus has a lateral origin and moves sideways across the distal edge of the tegulum finishing in the mid line. Dimensions: CL 1.6, EFL 0.8, CW 1.2, AEW 1.1, AMEW 0.8, PEW 1.1, AL 1.6, P1+T1 1.5, L1 3.6 (1.1+0.7+0.9+0.5+0.4), L2 2.4, (0.8+0.4+0.5+0.4+0.3), L3 2.9, (0.8+0.5+0.7+0.6+0.3), L4 3.1, (1.0+0.5+0.7+0.7+0.3).

Female: As for the male except L1 no more robust than other legs and shorter than L4. Epigynum: There are no discrete fossae. The copulatory openings are obvious and placed in the centre of each spiral guide. The spermathecae are posterior to the guides. The insemination ducts move posteriorly and there is a small diverticulum or gland immediately behind the copulatory opening followed by median narrow ducts leading to the spermathecae. The insemination ducts then move on to form a two chambered diverticulum. Fertilization ducts are on the posterior median corner of the spermathecae. Dimensions: CL1.3, EFL 0.7, CW 1.0, AEW 1.0, AMEW 0.7, PEW 1.0, AL 1.7, P1+T1 1.0, L1 2.4 (0.8+0.4+0.5+0.4+0.3), L2 2.1 (0.7+04+0.4+0.3+0.3), L3 2.1 (0.7+0.4+0.4+0.5+0. 2), L4 2.7 (0.8+0.4+0.6+0.7+0.3).

Distribution and biology. Occurs widely in litter in south eastern NSW and Victorian rainforests ( Fig. 30 ).

Predicted to also occur at higher altitudes in northern NSW. Widespread in National Parks, likely IUCN Red List Category LC.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 30. Neon. Neon australis n. sp. 25 dorsal view (male); 26 anterior view of face showing cypeal ‘ moustache’ of guanine crystals; 27 – 29 male palp (27 posterior lateral view, 28 ventral view, 29 anterior lateral view); 30 map showing the geographical distribution of Neon australis (■) and Neon taylori (▲). The predicted distribution of N. taylori is also shown. Scale: total body 1 mm; remainder 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 31 – 37. Neon taylori n. sp. 31 – 32 dorsal view (31 female, 32 male); 33 – 34 female genitalia (33 ventral view of external characteristics, 34 dorsal view of cleared specimen); 35 – 37 male palp (35 posterior lateral view, 36 ventral view, 37 anterior lateral view). Scale: total body 1 mm; remainder 0.2 mm.