Portia taiwanica, Zhang & Li, 2005

Zhang, J. X. & Li, Daiqin, 2005, Four New And One Newly Recorded Species Of The Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Lyssomaninae & Spartaeinae) From (Sub) Tropical China, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 53 (2), pp. 221-229 : 226-227

Portia taiwanica , new species

( Fig. 4 A-G)

Materials examined. – Holotype: Male ( ZRC •ARA•506), Kenting National Park , Taiwan, coll. D. Li, 8 Jun.2001.

Paratypes: 1 female (NMNH-Ar-95-00339), Taiwan Phoenix valley Bird Park, coll. J. D. Lee, 27 Sep.1995 ; 1 female (NMNH-Ar-95- 00214), Mt. Lanran , Taiwan, coll. J. D. Lee, 26 Jun.1995 .

Diagnosis. – The new species resembles Portia assamensis Wanless, 1978 ( Wanless, 1978: 105, Figs. 10D-F, 11D-F) in the shapes of male palp and female epigynum, but differs from the latter in the membrane at the base of embolus (labeled as “M1” in Wanless, 1984a) large, embolus shorter, retrolateral tibial apophysis finger shaped ( Fig. 4B ), and the posterior depression of female epigynum with oblique lines and thickened border ( Fig. 4F ). It is also similar to Portia fimbriata (Doleschall, 1859) ( Wanless, 1978: 99, Figs. 7A- G, 8A-F) in the shape of male palp, but can be distinguished from the latter by female clypeus with white beards; embolus of male palp shorter, retrolateral tibial apophysis thin and finger-like ( Fig. 4B ). It also differs from Portia quei Zabka, 1985 (Zabka, 1985: 438, Figs. 497-501; Peng et al., 1993: 188, Figs. 660-666) in the shorter embolus and retrolateral tibial apophysis of male palp ( Fig. 4B ), and the shape of posterior depression of female epigynum ( Fig. 4F ).

Description. – Males. Length of holotype 9.00: cephalothorax 4.40 long, 3.44 wide, 2.72 high; abdomen 4.56 long, 2.08 wide. Carapace ( Fig. 4A ) deep red brown, with grayish lateral and mesal bands composed of short hairs. Clypeus lacking white beards. Eye sizes: AME 0.88, ALE 0.40, PME 0.28, PLE 0.40. First eye row 2.60 wide, second row 2.28 wide, third eye row 2.36 wide, eye area 1.94 long. Clypeus height 0.50. Chelicerae red brown, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium deep red brown, with distal margins in lighter colour. Sternum yellow brown, with darker margins, covered with numerous white fine hairs and a few black long setae. Legs deep brown, with many spines. Tibiae and patellae with ventral fringes, tibiae III and IV with short dorsal fringes. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 4.04 (1.40+0.52+0.48+1.64); I 19.60 (4.64+6.80+6.08+2.08), II 12.80 (3.52+4.48+3.52+1.28), III 10.72 (3.20+3.52+2.96+1.04), IV 16.56 (4.32+5.20+5.76+1.28). Leg formula: 1423. Abdomen oval; dorsum yellow brown, with black lateral margins and some indistinct patches; venter deep brown, with a dark wide band behind the epigynal groove. Retrolateral tibial apophysis of male palp ( Fig. 4 B-D) finger shaped; cymbium with a prolateral flange; embolus long and slender.

Females. Total length 9.50-9.75. A female total length 9.75: cephalothorax 4.50 long, 3.75 wide, 2.38 high; abdomen 5.25 long, 2.75 wide. Carapace red brown, with a few indistinct brown stripes. Clypeus with lots of white beards. Eye sizes: AME 0.88, ALE 0.41, PME 0.28, PLE 0.41. First eye row 2.69 wide, second row 2.50 wide, third eye row 2.63 wide, eye area 2.28 long. Clypeus height 0.53. Palps with many white hairs. Chelicerae ( Fig. 4E ) red brown, promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 4 small teeth and 2 denticles. Measurements of legs: I 14.19 (3.88+5.00+3.75+1.56), II 11.76 (3.38+4.00+3.00+1.38), III 10.77 (3.13+3.63+2.88+1.13), IV 16.64 (4.38+5.38+5.50+1.38). Leg formula: 4123. Dorsum of abdomen deep brown, with three yellow brown patches composed of long hairs, posterior part with a mesal rectangular grayish patch, with its centre dark brown; venter yellow brown, with two pairs of deep brown patches behind the epigynal groove. Other characters similar to those of male. Epigynum ( Fig. 4 F-G) weakly sclerotized, the posterior depression with dark margins; spermatheca large and round.

Remarks. – Chang & Tso (2004) reported the species Portia fimbriata (Doleschall, 1859) from Taiwan. But judging from the illustrations they provided, we believe that Chang & Tso’s specimens are probably Portia taiwanica , new species, rather than P. fimbriata .

Etymology. – The specific name refers to the type locality.

Figures

Fig. 4. Portia taiwanica, new species. A, male; B, left palp, ventral view; C, same, retrolateral view; D, same, dorsal view; E, cheliceral teeth of female, retrolateral view; F, epigynum, ventral view; G, same, dorsal view. Scales: A = 1.0 mm, B-G = 0.2 mm.