Onomastus maskeliya, Benjamin, Suresh P. & Kanesharatnam, Nilani, 2016

Benjamin, Suresh P. & Kanesharatnam, Nilani, 2016, Description of three new species of the tropical Asian jumping spider genus Onomastus Simon, 1900 from high altitude cloud forests of Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 4205 (5), pp. 431-453 : 440-442

Onomastus maskeliya sp. nov.

( Figs. 7 A–D, 8A–D, 9A–E)

Type material. Holotype: Male (IFS_ SAL 564 ), Sri Lanka, Central Province, Nuwara Eliya District, Maskeliya , Upcott , 1850 m, 0 6°46’N, 80°36’E, hand collection, 2 Feb. 2011, S.P. Benjamin & S. Batuwita . Paratype: Female (IFS_ SAL 565 ), same locality and collection data, 14 Feb. 2012, S.P. Benjamin & N. Athukorala.

Other material examined. 1 male, 2 females (IFS_ SAL 566–568 ), same locality and collection data, 14 Feb. 2012, S.P. Benjamin & N. Athukorala.

Etymology. Named after the type locality; used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males are distinguished by the unbranched MA, curved tip of MA, shape of the conductor spur ( Figs 8 A, 9A–E). Females are distinguished by the comparably broader epigyne, inverted pear-shaped, thick walled, highly sclerotized, spermathecae ( Figs 8 C–D). This species is related to O. quinquenotatus and O. pethiyagodai by the presence of a smooth and tapered MA and inverted pear-shaped spermathecae. However, it differs from both species by the globular-shaped terminus of MA, absence of prominent apical hump of MA in males and presence of atrial rim, broad AEB and large receptacles in females.

Description. Male holotype: yellowish green carapace, pale green color laterals in live spiders ( Figs 7 A–B). Spiders preserved in ethanol faded yellow in color. Pale green chelicerae, fawn color tip, 3 promarginal and 7 retromarginal teeth. Labium yellowish green, wider than long. Scutiform sternum with vague margins. Ocular region sparsely clothed with white hairs. All eyes black in color, placed on low tubercles, except for greenish yellow, anterior medians. Eye field with prominent black patches in the center ( Figs 7 A–B), broader anteriorly than posteriorly, occupying about half of the prosoma. PMEs much smaller, positioned on black tubercles. Median ocular quadrangle wider than long. Prosoma moderately high, rounded, longer than wide. Posterior prosoma slopes gradually rounded, without truncation. Abdomen: elongate, ovoid, longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering toward posterior end. Dorsum yellowish green, lateral with dark green characteristic pattern ( Figs 7 A–B). Venter yellowish green, no markings. Spinnerets yellowish green. Legs: pale green without any markings. Male palp: pale green with brown palpal tibia; cymbium and bulbus large, with distal finger-like extension. Median apophysis well sclerotized, no branches, tip rounded ( Figs 8 A, 9B, D, E). Retrolateral patellar apophysis broad, tip blunt ( Figs 8 A– B, 9A–C). Embolus originates from the alveolar cavity, moderately long, thread-like. Conductor filiform, lying between median apophysis and tegulum, with heavily sclerotized embolic guide that terminates in a comparably larger and broader hook-shape of spur ( Figs 8 A, 9A–E). Spur and embolic guide supported by mesal branch of MA. TA1, long, finger-like, TA3 prominent, broad short. Measurements: TL 2.85, PL 1.30, PW at PLEs 1.05, AL 1.40, AW 0.70. Eye field: Diameter of AME 0.37, PLE 0.10, ALE 0.22, PME 0.01, PME–PME 0.62, PLE–PLE 0.49, ALE–PME 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.31. Leg I: Tr 0.12, Fm 1.08, Pt 0.34, Tb 1.30, Mt 0.65, Ta 0.46; Leg II: Tr 0.12, Fm 1.15, Pt 0.31, Tb 1.27, Mt 0.77, Ta 0.40; Leg III: Tr 0.12, Fm 1.21, Pt 0.37, Tb 1.18, Mt 1.33, Ta 0.56; Leg IV: Tr 0.15, Fm 1.21, Pt 0.34, Tb 1.36, Mt 0.99, Ta 0.56.

Female paratype: As in male, except: yellowish green prosoma, eye field occupying nearly one third of the prosoma, abdomen yellowish, broader, with peculiar dark green blotches ( Figs 7 C–D). Epigyne: broad, well sclerotized. Large atrial rim present ( Figs 8 C–D). Copulatory openings seem to open directly into spermathecae. Spermathecae large, inverted pear-shaped, with heavily sclerotized thick wall ( Figs 8 C–D). Spermathecae appear to be fused. Fertilization ducts lanceolate, moderately long, slender, originating from middle of postero-dorsal wall of receptacles ( Fig. 8 D). Measurements: TL 3.95, PL 1.40, PW at PLEs 0.95, AL 1.80, AW 1.40. Eye field: Diameter of AME 0.37, PLE 0.09, ALE 0.22, PME 0.02, PME–PME 0.62, PLE–PLE 0.47, ALE–PME 0.09, ALE– PLE 0.31. Leg I: Tr 0.16, Fm 1.02, Pt 0.46, Tb 1.30, Mt 1.12, Ta 0.46; Leg II: Tr 0.12, Fm 1.24, Pt 0.40, Tb 1.27, Mt 0.93, Ta 0.43; Leg III: Tr 0.16, Fm 1.12, Pt 0.34, Tb 1.24, Mt 0.87, Ta 0.40; Leg IV: Tr 0.16, Fm 1.58, Pt 0.34, Tb 1.30, Mt 1.55, Ta 0.50.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Onomastus maskeliya sp. nov. from Upcott. A – B. Male in life. C – D. Female in life.

FIGURE 8. Onomastus maskeliya sp. nov. A. Left palp, ventral view. B. Same, retrolateral view. C. Epigyne, ventral view. D. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: AEB = anterior epigynal border; AR. Atrial rim; AT = atrium; C = conductor; CY = cymbium; E = embolus; EG = embolic guide; FD = fertilization duct; MA = median apophysis; MAP = mesal branch of MA; PA = patellar apophysis; S = spermatheca; SP = spur mesal branch of conductor; T = tegulum; TA 1 = tegular apophysis 1; TA 3 = tegular apophysis 3. Scale bars: D = 0.1 mm, A – C = 0.2 mm.