Marengo nitida Simon, 1900

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2006, The male of Marengo nitida with the description of M. rattotensis new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 1326, pp. 25-36 : 27-28

Marengo nitida Simon, 1900

Figs 1 A, B, E, 2 A –E, 3 A –E, 4 A –C Diagnosis. The males of Marengo nitida are distinguished from that of M. crassipes and M. rattotensis by the thick, stout RTA ( Figs 2 A, B; Benjamin, 2004: fig 65 C). Further, males and females of M. nitida can be separated from all other Marengo spp. by the round opisthosoma. Separated from M. rattotensis by the gradually sloping posterior border of the prosoma ( Figs 1 E –F). Distinguished from M. striatipes by the flat prosoma and enlarged femur I (Benjamin, 2004: fig 67 A; Wanless, 1978: figs 5 a, b).

Description. Male. Total length: 2.8; prosoma length: 1.6, width: 1.0. Legs I: femur 0.6, patella 0.3, tibia 0.8, metatarsus 0.5, tarsus 0.2. Markings as in Fig 1 B. The male specimens examined were darker than M crassipes , but are much lighter than males of M. rattotensis . Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE ( Fig 1 B). Opisthosoma relatively rounded, red brown, no visible markings. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings ( Fig 1 B). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula 1432. Tibia I with 2 / 2 /0/ 2 spines, metatarsus I with 2 / 1 spines. Palp: tibia short, RTA short, stout ( Figs 2 A, B, 3 B, D, C). Cymbium oval, tip excavated ( Fig 3 D), bulb bilobed, embolus short, coils 1.5 times ( Figs 2 A, B, 3 A –C).

Female. Total length: 3.0; prosoma length: 1.5, width: 0.6. Legs I: femur 0.5, patella 0.2, tibia 0.5, metatarsus 0.3, tarsus 0.2. Markings as in Fig 1 A. Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE ( Fig 1 A). Opisthosoma round, light brown, dorsally with very characteristic markings. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings ( Fig 1 A). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula 1432. Tibia I with 2 / 2 /0/ 2 spines, metatarsus I with 2 / 1 spines. Epigynum and vulva as in Figs 2 C –E.

Remarks. Simon (1900) gives the type locality as Kandy but the museum labels give the type locality as Galle (original labels give no details of the exact locality). Simon (1901: fig 574 a) illustrates a specimen that has a rounded opisthosoma similar to the material from Galle and material examined for this study. I have no doubt that the current specimens examined by me are conspecific with type material.

Distribution. Known only from lowland rainforest in Sri Lanka.

Other material examined. SRI LANKA: Ratnapura district, Gilimale, Induruwa Jungle, 25 February 1979, leg. KV Krombein, PB Karunaratne, T Wijesinghe, S Siriwardana, T Gunaawardana, 1 Ψ; same locality, 13–15 March 1979, leg. KV Krombein, T Wijesinghe, S Siriwardana, L Jayawickrama, 1 ♂; Kegalle district, Kitulgala, Makande mukalara, 3–4 February 1979, leg. KV Krombein, 1 ♂ 1 Ψ. All specimens have been deposited in the USNM.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of Marengo nitida (A, B, E) and M. rattotensis sp. n. (C, D, F). A, D, female and B, C, male dorsal view. E, F, male lateral view. Note shape of prosoma; compare Figs E and F.

FIGURE 2. Marengo nitida. A, ventral view and B, retrolateral view of male palp. C, D, epigynum ventral view and E, Epigynum dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 3. SEM, Marengo nitida (USNM). A, B, male palp, ventral view. C, embolus, ventral view. D, male palp, retrolatera view. E, tibia, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 10 µm (E, C); 20 µm (B, D); 30 µm (A). e = embolus, ec = embolic coil.