Stenaelurillus naldurg Kuni, Kadam & Tripathi 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Tripathi, Rishikesh
name: Kuni, Nikhil
name: Kadam, Gautam
name: Kumaran, Keerthana P.
name: Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Stenaelurillus
Stenaelurillus naldurg

description: Stenaelurillus naldurg Kuni, Kadam & Tripathi sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 07744434-A994-460F-A4C6-530701E18B14
Figs 3–6, 15B, 16
Common name: Naldurg jumping spider
Diagnosis
Males of S. naldurg sp. nov. are close to S. marusiki Logunov, 2001 in terms of palpal structures but differ in having a palp with a femoral process and an abdomen with iridescent scales and lateral fringes. Both of these characters are absent in S. marusiki Logunov, 2001 (compare Figs 3D, 4A, 5A–H, 6A–B with Logunov 2001: figs 27–30; Marathe et al. 2022: figs 1–2, 6–7, 14–18). Females are similar to S. darwini Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000, in terms of epigyne shape and copulatory opening position but differ in having a fertilization duct longer than that in S. darwini Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 (compare Figs 5I–J, 6C–D with Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000: figs 275–276; Logunov & Azarkina 2018: figs 109–110).
Etymology
The specific epithet ‘ naldurg ’ is a noun in apposition and refers to the iconic monument ‘Naldurg Fort’, a revered monument situated in the State of Maharashtra, India, in close proximity to the collection site of the specimens. This epithet is intended to honor the architectural magnificence, cultural significance, and timeless beauty of the Naldurg Fort.
Type material
Holotype INDIA • ♂; Maharashtra, Dharashiv, Naldurg area; 17°47′38.4″ N, 76°17′56.9″ E; 570 m alt.; 30 Mar. 2023; N. Kuni leg.; from ground, by hand; NRC-AA-6952.
Paratypes INDIA • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for the holotype; NRC-AA-6953 • 1 ♀; same collecting data as for the holotype; NRC-AA-6954.
Description
Male (holotype, Figs 3A–B, D, 4A–D)
Measurements: Body length 4.22. Carapace length 2.08, width 1.44. Abdomen length 2.13, width 1.36. Ocular area length 0.87, width 1.03. Eye diameters: AME 0.38, ALE 0.25, PME 0.08, PLE 0.23. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PME 1.09, ALE–ALE 0.82, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.95, ALE–PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.53. Length of chelicera 0.47. Clypeus 0.17. Sternum 0.73 long, 0.50 wide. Endite 0.28 long, 0.29 wide. Labium 0.18 long, 0.14 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.32 [0.44, 0.15, 0.16, 0.57], leg I 2.66 [0.92, 0.37, 0.60, 0.40, 0.37], II 2.57 [0.89, 0.38, 0.56, 0.39, 0.35], III 4.16 [1.32, 0.58, 0.89, 0.92, 0.45], IV 3.85 [1.13, 0.42, 0.83, 0.99, 0.48]. Leg formula: 3412. Setation. Palp: spineless; Legs: femur I pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III–IV pld 2 do 5 rld 1; patella I pld 1, II–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I pld 1 rld 2, II pld 1 pl 1 plv 1 rl 1 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; metatarsus I plv 2 rlv 2, II pld 1 pl 1 plv 2 rld 1 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 do 2 rl 1 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Carapace blackish-brown with thick white marginal bands; thoracic region dorsally with paired white longitudinal bands fairly extending back from the ALE, narrows basally (Figs 3D, 4A). Eye field with long black setae; intermixed white and golden brown setae; ALE’s encircled with short white and golden brown setae (Figs 3B, 4C). Clypeus and chelicerae rusty brown; Clypeus covered with dispersed white setae (Figs 3B, 4C). Labium and maxillae dark brown; with white tips. Sternum oval, dark brown with scattered pale coloured blotches; margin encircled with black setae. Legs segments yellowish brown; leg I–II darker than III–IV. Abdomen oval; a dark brown spot medially located at anterior edge; anterior half of abdomen densely covered with shiny white setae; posteriorly with iridescent recumbent scales creating colour pattern: a dark brown patch consisting of transverse stripe forming a crescent shape in posterior quarter; sides and venter light yellow; lateral edges of abdomen fringed with short and dense white setae; a narrow transverse band of shiny white setae at rear edge of abdomen (Figs 3D, 4A–B). Spinnerets surrounded with intermixed black and brown setae (Fig. 4A). Palp (Figs 5A–H, 6A–B): segments pale brown. Femur with medially located ventral process (Fig. 5H). VTA triangular, with smoothly rounded tip directed 11 o’clock (Figs 5A, 6A); RTA short, tapered apex directed at 12 o’clock retrolaterally; tegular process short and obtuse; distal projection well developed and disc-shaped (Figs 5A–B, 6A–B); embolus curved retrolaterally, tip directed 11 o’clock position in ventral view (Figs 5A, D, 6A).
Female (paratype, Figs 3C, E–F, 4E–H)
Measurements: Body length 5.67. Carapace length 2.59, width 1.92. Abdomen length 3.07, width 2.05. Ocular area length 0.93, width 1.24. Eye diameters: AME 0.40, ALE 0.24, PME 0.10, PLE 0.23. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 1.23, ALE–ALE 0.92, PME–PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 1.09, ALE–PME 0.27, ALE–PLE 0.52. Length of chelicera 0.73. Clypeus 0.21. Sternum 0.95 long, 0.67 wide. Endite 0.32 long, 0.33 wide. Labium 0.18 long, 0.21 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.43 [0.51, 0.16, 0.24, 0.52], leg I 3.05 [1.08, 0.49, 0.67, 0.39, 0.42], II 2.98 [1.08, 0.47, 0.67, 0.38, 0.38], III 5.36 [1.77, 0.62, 1.29, 1.11, 0.57], IV 5.32 [1.54, 0.57, 1.25, 1.23, 0.73]. Leg formula: 3412. Setation. Palp: femur 0; patella 0; tibia 0; tarsus pld 1 do 2 rl 1; Legs: femora I and IV pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III–IV pld 1 do 5 rld 2; patellae I–II pld 1, III–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibiae I–II pl 2 plv 1 rlv 3, III–IV pl 2 pld 1 plv 1 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; metatarsus I pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 pld 2 plv 2 rld 1 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 1 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Same as in male except the following: Coloration and pattern less vibrant. Carapace and abdomen covered with pale brown and rusty brown setae. Two inconspicuous stripes of pale brown setae running from behind PLEs to the posterior edge of carapace (Figs 3C, 4E). Ocular area with messy rusty brown and white setae (Figs 3E, 4F). Clypeus densely clothed with white setae (Figs 3E, 4F). Abdomen with a dark brown streak medially placed at anterior edge and chevron-shaped markings on the posterior region (Figs 3C, 4E). Spinnerets surrounded by pale brown setae (Fig. 4E). Epigyne and vulva (Figs 5I–J, 6C–E): epigyne hirsute, plate flat longer than wide, posterior edge with small epigynal pocket (Figs 5I, 6C). Copulatory openings small, widely spaced, mediolaterally originating. Copulatory ducts short, covered behind spermathecae. Spermathecae medium-sized, S-shaped. Fertilization ducts long, diverging (Figs 5J, 6D).
Natural history
Stenaelurillus naldurg sp. nov. is found in the open grasslands of a semi-arid savanna habitat (Fig. 15B). Male individuals engage in a courtship display where they raise their front legs and perform a dance-like pose while shaking their glistening abdomen.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Dharashiv, Maharashtra, India.
description: Published as part of Tripathi, Rishikesh, Kuni, Nikhil, Kadam, Gautam, Kumaran, Keerthana P. & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, 2024, Four new species and five new distribution records of the jumping spider genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Salticidae: Aelurillines) from India, pp. 124-156 in European Journal of Taxonomy 930 on pages 130-135, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.930.2485, http://zenodo.org/record/10902751