Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz 2017
Creators: name: Salgado, Alexandre
name: Ruiz, Gustavo R. S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Amphidraus
Amphidraus draconicaudatus

description: Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017
Figs 26 A–D, 26G, 27A–E, 28A, 29A–B, 30
Amphidraus draconicaudatus Salgado & Ruiz, 2017: 427, figs 22–24 (Holotype ♂ from Pium, 09°58'38.7"S, 50°02'05.0"W, Tocantins, Brazil, 11–26.V.2016, Serrão et al. leg., deposided in MPEG 32689; 1♂ and 2♀ paratypes, same data as holotype, deposited in IBSP 211843–211844, MPEG 32690); World Spider Catalog 2018.
Additional material examined. BRAZIL: Tocantins: Caseara, 9°18'15.6"S, 49°57'28.4"W: 2♂, 11.V.2016, A.B. Bonaldo et al. leg. (MPEG 35018); Pium, 09°58'38.7"S, 50°02'05.0"W: 1♂, 19.V.2016, A.B. Bonaldo et al. leg. (MPEG 35019).
Revised diagnosis. A. draconicaudatus is similar to A. shenlong sp. nov. by having an elongate and stout projection on the retrolateral border of the embolic disc that extends towards the retrolateral tegulum border and bears several branches (Figs 21D, 26A, 26C, 27A); also, by having the RvTA pointing ventrally, with projections on its border (Figs 21F, 22B, 26G). However, the male of A. draconicaudatus can be distinguished by having the RvTA with a single serrated projection, and a RTA reduced to spikes (Figs 26G, 27 B–D), whereas in A. shenlong sp. nov. the RvTA has four projections (three with acute tip and one with serrated tip), and the RTA serrated tip reaches the same height of the RvTA tip along palp axis (Figs 21F, 22B, 26H). The female of A. shenlong sp. nov. is unknown, but among the currently known females of Amphidraus, A. draconicaudatus sp. nov. is most similar to those of A. draconitupan sp. nov., both with spermathecae kidney-shaped, with glands near copulatory openings and with a narrow dorsal pocket placed posteriorly on epigynal plate (Figs 24D, 25D, 27E). However, the female of A. draconicaudatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from that of A. draconitupan sp. nov. by having longer copulatory ducts connected to the inner posterior border of spermathecae (see Salgado & Ruiz 2017: fig. 24F), whereas they connect to the outer border of the spermathecae in A. draconitupan (Fig. 25D).
Description. See Salgado & Ruiz (2017).
Variation. Among the males examined, we observed the following variation in palpal structures (Figs 26 A–D, 26G): the superior border of the branched projection of embolic disc can be smooth (Figs 26 A–B) or occupied by large serial spikes (similar to a comb) (Figs 26 C–D). We decided to refrain from describing this variation as a new species and all these forms are considered conspecific. Also, the number and shape of branches on the RvTA is variable (Fig. 26G; see Salgado & Ruiz 2017: figs 23B, 24B, 24D).
Note. Amphidraus draconicaudatus, A. shenlong sp. nov. and A. draconitupan sp. nov. clearly compose a particular group within the genus. The males in this group have one stout projection that emerges from the retrolateral border of the embolic disc and extends towards to retrolateral border of tegulum (Figs 22A, 25A, 26A, 27A). Moreover, males also have pockets on outer faces of chelicerae (Figs 28 A–C, 29A–B), of unknown use.
Distribution. Known only from the state of Tocantins (Brazil) (Fig. 30).
description: Published as part of Salgado, Alexandre & Ruiz, Gustavo R. S., 2019, Seven new species of Amphidraus Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini), pp. 451-481 in Zootaxa 4563 (3) on pages 474-477, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4563.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/2601342