Myrmarachne mariaelenae Edwards & Benjamin, 2009

Yamasaki, Takeshi & Ahmad, Abdul Hamid, 2013, Taxonomic study of the genus Myrmarachne of Borneo (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 3710 (6), pp. 501-556 : 534-535

Myrmarachne mariaelenae Edwards & Benjamin, 2009

( Figs 26 A–G, 27A–G)

Damoetas galianoae Prószyński, 2001: 520 , Figs 5–10 .

Myrmarachne mariaelenae Edwards & Benjamin, 2009: 14 (replacement name for Damoetas galianoae ).

Non-type material examined. BORNEO: 2 males and 3 females, Gunung Alab, Crocker Range Park, Sabah, 9 X 2010, T. Yamasaki leg.; 5 males and 24 females, Kinabalu Park Headquarter area, Sabah, 10–12 XI 2010, T. Yam asaki leg

Diagnosis. Very small, pale yellow species; abdomen with two transverse black bands dorsally ( Figs 26 A, 27A). In males chelicera shorter than carapace; femur I basally broad. In females, copulatory atria indistinct; sclerotised copulatory ducts twist once; median pocket present.

Measurements (male/female). Carapace length 1.60–1.98/ 1.60–1.70, width 1.16–1.28/ 1.04–1.16. Abdomen length 1.70–1.83/ 1.48–2.00. Chelicera length 0.95–1.25. Sternum length 0.85–1.00/ 0.78–0.83. Width of eye row I 1.14–1.26/ 1.08–1.18; II 0.98–1.06/ 0.92–1.04; III 1.22–1.32/ 1.14–1.28. ALE–PLE 0.82–0.92/ 0.76–0.84; ALE– PME 0.38–0.44/ 0.36–0.40. Eye size: AME 0.38–0.43/ 0.35–0.40, ALE 0.19–0.23/ 0.18–0.20, PME 0.05–0.06/ 0.05–0.06, PLE 0.23–0.26/ 0.21–0.23.

Male ( Figs 26 A–G). Carapace without distinct constriction; cephalic part weakly convex; thoracic part sloping downward posteriorly. Chelicera shorter than carapace, with three to five prolateral and no retrolateral teeth. Sternum broad and oval. Leg I robust; femur I basally broad. Abdomen oval with translucent dorsal scutum.

Palp ( Figs 26 E–G). Tegulum large oval with thin v-curved seminal reservoir in prolateral part and blurred thick seminal reservoir along edge of tegulum. Embolus forming two large oval coils; embolus coils occupying more than half of venter of cymbium. RTA moderately curved. Flange of RTA not well developed.

Leg spination. Femur I pd 1; patella I rv 0–1; tibia I pv 6–7, rv 5–6; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II rv 2–3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2; femur III pd 1, rd 1; femur IV pd 1, rd 1.

Coloration and pilosity. Cephalic part pale brown, sparsely covered with black and white hairs; thoracic part pale yellow, almost without hairs; posterior margin of thoracic part tinged with grey. Chelicera brown. Maxilla and labium brown. Sternum cream. Coxae cream. Abdomen grey, with two transverse black bands dorsally.

Female ( Figs 27 A–G). Carapace similar to that of males. Chelicera with three or four prolateral and five retrolateral teeth. Sternum similar to that of males. Abdomen oval, without dorsal scutum.

Epigyne ( Figs 27 D–G). Copulatory openings indistinct. Spermathecae elongate-oval. Sclerotised copulatory ducts twisted once; posterior part of sclerotised copulatory ducts narrower than anterior part. Median pocket present in front of epigastric furrow.

Leg spination. Patella I rv 1; tibia I pv 6, rv 5–6; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II rv 1–2; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2.

Coloration and pilosity similar to those of males.

Distribution. Borneo (Prószyński, 2001)

Remarks. Although we did not examine the type material of Damoetas galianoae , our specimens agreed with the original description by Prószyński (2001).

Myrmarachne mariaelenae is similar to M. brevichelicera in the structures of the male palp and epigyne, but they are distinguishable from each other by coloration of the abdomen.

Biology. The species is so far collected from 1500–1900 m above the sea level. The retreats are constructed on the underside of leaves with a mixture of threads and dead plant fragments.

Figures

FIGURE 26. M. mariaelenae, male. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, chelicera and fang, ventral view; D, maxillae, laboum, sternum and coxae; E, palp, ventral view; F, palp, lateral view; G, palplap tibia, dorsal view. (Scales. A – D: 1 mm; E – G: 0.25 mm)

FIGURE 5. M. alticephalon sp. nov., female. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; D – E, internal structure of epigyne, ventral view. (Scales. A – C: 1 mm; D: 0.25 mm; E: 0.10 mm)

FIGURE 6. M. assimilis, male. A, chelicera, carapace and pedicel, dorsal view; B, pedicel and abdomen, dorsal view; C, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; D, chelicera and fang, ventral view; E, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; F, palp, ventral view; G, palp, lateral view; H, palpal tibia, dorsal view. (Scales. A – E: 1 mm; F – H: 0.25 mm)

FIGURE 7. M. assimilis, female. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; D and F, internal structure of epigyne, ventral view; E, internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view. (Scales. A – C: 1 mm; D – E: 0.25 mm; F: 0.10 mm)

FIGURE 8. M. biseratensis, male. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, chelicera and fang, ventral view; D, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; E, palp, ventral view; F, palp, lateral view; G, palpal tibia, dorsal view. (Scales. A – D: 1 mm; E – F: 0. 25 mm)

FIGURE 9. M. biseratensis, female. A, body, dorsal view; B, body, lateral view; C, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; D and F, internal structure of epigyne, ventral view; E, internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view. (Scales. A – C: 1 mm; D – E: 0.25 mm; F: 0.10 mm)

FIGURE 10. M. borneensis, male. A, chelicera and carapace, dorsal view; B, abdomen, dorsal view; C, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; D, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; E, chelicera and fang, ventral view; F, cymbium, embolus and tegulum; G, palpal tibia, ventral view. (Scales. A – E: 1 mm; F – G: 0.25 mm)

FIGURES 27. M. mariaelenae, female. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; D and E, internal structure of epigyne, ventral view; F and G, internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view. (Scales. A – D: 1 mm; D, F: 0.25 mm; E, G: 0.10 mm)