Stenaelurillus solapur Kuni, Tripathi & Kadam 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 solapur

description: Stenaelurillus solapur Kuni, Tripathi & Kadam sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 454BDEF1-E170-4155-8EE5-E324A7A10BCF
Figs 11–14, 15D, 16
Common name: Solapur jumping spider
Diagnosis
Males of S. solapur sp. nov. are close to those of S. sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014 due to the similarity in their palpal structures, but they can be distinguished by the absence of the palpal femoral apophysis and differences in the shape and position of the embolic apophysis (compare Figs 11, 12A–D, 13A–F, 14A–B with Caleb et al. 2015: figs 57–61, 63–81; Marathe et al. 2022: figs 28–29, 32–33, 36–37, 40–48). Females are also most similar to those of S. sarojinae Caleb & Mathai, 2014 by having large centrally placed copulatory openings, but can be differentiated by absence of epigynal coupling pocket (compare Figs 13G–H, 14C–D with Marathe et al. 2022: figs 30–31, 34–35).
Etymology
The specific epithet, ‘ solapur ’, is derived from the vibrant city located in Maharashtra, India. This epithet was chosen to honour the geographical significance and unique ecological characteristics of the type locality.
Type material
Holotype INDIA • ♂; Maharashtra, Solapur, Mulegaon area; 17°40′12.1″ N, 75°58′08.2″ E; 330 m alt.; 13 Apr. 2023; N. Kuni leg.; from ground, by hand; NRC-AA-6957.
Paratypes INDIA • 1 ♀, same collecting data as for the holotype; NRC-AA-6959 • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for the holotype; NRC-AA-6958.
Description
Male (holotype, Figs 11, 12A–D)
Measurements: Body length 3.91. Carapace length 1.96, width 1.41. Abdomen length 1.95, width 1.19. Ocular area length 0.79, width 1.14. Eye diameters: AME 0.33, ALE 0.21, PME 0.08, PLE 0.22. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 1.06, ALE–ALE 0.79, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.94, ALE–PME 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.50. Length of chelicera 0.40. Clypeus 0.17. Sternum 0.82 long, 0.51 wide. Endite 0.15 long, 0.19 wide. Labium 0.08 long, 0.13 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.26 [0.45, 0.15, 0.12, 0.54], leg I 2.65 [0.95, 0.42, 0.60, 0.35, 0.33], II 2.51 [0.88, 0.36, 0.57, 0.35, 0.35], III 4.32 [1.39, 0.50, 1.01, 0.92, 0.50], IV 4.17 [1.21, 0.42, 0.90, 1.03, 0.61]. Leg formula: 4312. Setation. Palp: femur do 1; Legs: femur I pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III pld 2 do 5 rld 1, IV do 5 rld 1; patellae I–II pld 1, III–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I plv 3 rlv 3, II pl 2 plv 1 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 3, III pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 1, IV pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 do 2 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 1; metatarsus I pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 rld 1 rlv 2, II pl 2 pld 1 plv 2 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 2, III pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 3 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Carapace elongated, wider than abdomen, brownish clothed with largely black and few pale brown setae; thoracic region dorsally with paired pale white longitudinal bands extending back from the AMEs, narrow distally; with a pair of additional bands along the margin (Figs 11B–D, 12A–B) Eye field with long black setae, intermixed with small, rusty brown and white setae (Figs 11A, 12C). Clypeus black, hirsute with small white setae (Figs 11A, 12C). Chelicerae small, dorsally with long white setae (Fig. 12C). Legs pale brown; femora and patellae I–IV prolaterally with orangish yellow scales; tibia and metatarsus I ventrally covered dense with black setae (Figs 11A–B, 12A, D). Abdomen anterior edge with long black setae, intermixed with white setae; with a pair of longitudinal pale brown wide stripes forming V-shaped pattern in its anterior half; a pair of white, unevenly shaped spots at rear half and a small ventral stripe to its basal half (Figs 11C–D, 12A). Palp (Figs 13A–F, 14A–B): with brown segments. Femur without any projections; ventral tibial apophysis absent; retrolateral tibial apophysis tiny, straight directed at 12 o’clock laterally (Figs 13B, 14B). Tegulum with well-developed proximal projection, straight with rounded end; and disc-shaped tegular process (Figs 13A–B, 14A–B). Embolus 2.5 times as long as apophysis, with conical tip directed at 12 o’clock position in ventral view; embolus accompanied apophysis tiny, prolaterally located tip directed at 11 o’clock position (13A, C, 14A).
Female (paratype, Figs 12E–H)
Measurements: Body length 5.88. Carapace length 2.83, width 1.92. Abdomen length 3.05, width 2.31. Ocular area length 0.94, width 1.35. Eye diameters: AME 0.37, ALE 0.23, PME 0.08, PLE 0.22. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 1.23, ALE–ALE 0.98, PME–PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 1.10, ALE–PME 0.30, ALE–PLE 0.54. Length of chelicera 0.66. Clypeus 0.27. Sternum 0.92 long, 0.62 wide. Endite 0.25 long, 0.27 wide. Labium 0.13 long, 0.14 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.68 [0.62, 0.24, 0.26, 0.56], leg I 3.14 [1.17, 0.48, 0.72, 0.36, 0.41], II 3.19 [1.16, 0.48, 0.68, 0.41, 0.46], III 5.46 [1.61, 0.61, 1.18, 1.40, 0.66], IV 5.60 [1.88, 0.49, 1.49, 1.18, 0.56]. Leg formula: 4312. Setation. Palp: femur I do 1; Legs: femora I and IV pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III pld 2 do 5 rld 1; patellae I–II pld 1, III–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I pld 2 plv 2 rlv 2, II pld 2 plv 1 rlv 3, III pld 1 pl 1 plv 1 do 1 rld 2 rl 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 1 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; metatarsus I pl 1 pld 2 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 2, II pld 1 pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III pld 2 pl 1 plv 2 do 2 rld 2 rl 1 rlv 2, IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 pl 2 pld 2 plv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. General aspects essentially as in male except the followings: coloration and pattern less bright and contrast (Fig. 12E). Clypeus and chelicerae with scattered small white setae, intermixed with black setae; additionally with black stain laterally on clypeus with brown blotches (Fig. 12F). Chelicerae comparatively long (Fig. 12F). Abdomen oval-shaped; chevron pattern at posterior end (Fig. 12E). Femur I prolaterally with very few orangish yellow scales (Fig. 12G). Venter pale brownish with rows of black speckles on lateral margins (Fig. 12H). Epigyne and vulva (Figs 13G–H, 14C–E): epigyne hirsute, longer than wide (Fig. 13G, 14C); Copulatory openings small, widely spaced, mediolaterally originating (Figs 13G, 14C). Copulatory ducts short, running along the spermathecae (Figs 13H, 14D). Spermathecae C-shaped, medially placed, adjacent (Figs 13H, 14D). Fertilization ducts long, diverging (Figs 13H, 14D).
Natural history
Stenaelurillus solapur sp. nov. was encountered in a compact and fragmented semi-arid grassland patch, where it sought refuge under the shade of Neem trees (Azadirachta indica A.Juss.). Adult males showcase remarkable agility, characterized by swift movements and impressive long jumps. In response to disturbances, they demonstrate a tendency to seek shelter under leaf litter or within ground crevices. The species’ body coloration effectively blends with the dried Neem leaves, providing excellent camouflage and enhancing their concealment within the habitat.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Solapur, 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 140-145, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.930.2485, http://zenodo.org/record/10902751