Maratus noggerup Schubert 2020, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Schubert, Joseph
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Maratus
Maratus noggerup

description: Maratus noggerup sp. nov.
(Figs 29 A–F, 30A–C, 31A–C, 32A–F, 33A–D, 34A–C, 35A–C)
Material examined. MALE HOLOTYPE (WAM-T 150117) from Australia, Western
Australia, 2km SW of Noggerup, 33°35’46.4154’’S, 116°9’4.2487’’E, 12 Oct 2019. PARATYPES: 2 males, 1 female (WAM-T150118–150120), same locality data as holotype.
Etymology. The specific name (noggerup) is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality of this species (2km SW of Noggerup, Western Australia).
Diagnosis. This species belongs to the Maratus vespa group (Otto & Hill, 2019a), with respect to the presence of many long bristle-like setae on legs III of the male, and the courtship display of the male which rapidly turns from side to side with a raised opisthosoma and extended large, lobate lateral opisthosomal flaps, displaying to females at close proximity (within millimetres). Males of M. noggerup can be readily identified by the anterodorsal aspect of the opisthosoma which is thickly covered with orange scales and marked by three central green/blue longitudinal tracts of scales (Fig. 29 A–F). M. noggerup most closely resembles Maratus vespa, however, the three tracts of green/blue scales on the anterodorsal opisthosoma of M. noggerup do not meet the anterior margin of the dorsal opisthosoma and are separated by orange scales, while in M. vespa, the five tracts of blue/green scales extend to the anterodorsal edge.
Females of M. noggerup are similar to other females in the M. vespa clade and identification may not possible without association with a male. The structures of the external male and female genitalia of M. noggerup are of little use in distinguishing them from other Southwestern Australia endemic Maratus species.
Description. Male. Carapace dark brown, almost black and mostly glabrous. Ocular quadrangle region thickly covered with mottled red and grey scales. Median thoracic tract comprised of white setae extends from rear slope of carapace to rear margin of ocular quadrangle region (slightly worn in Fig. 29A, C, D, F). Thin marginal band of white setae present at rim of carapace.
PME closer to PLE than to ALE. AME and ALE ringed with short, red and white scales dorsally and short, grey scales laterally and ventrally. Long, white setae project downwards from below AME forming triangular shape (Fig. 29B, E). Cuticular surface of clypeus black and covered with short, white and tan setae. Chelicerae dark brown and glabrous. Coxae, labium, and endites pale and mostly glabrous. Sternum dark brown with light covering of fine, tan setae (Fig. 30C).
Upper ~1/3 of dorsal opisthosoma thickly covered with burnt-orange scales and distinctly marked with irregularly shaped small, subcircular patches of iridescent green scales at each lateral edge. Three central longitudinal tracts of green scales meet a complex pattern of irregularly shaped bands of tanned and dark brown scales posterior to upper ~1/3 of opisthosoma. Posterior margin of dorsal opisthosoma distinctly marked with four tracts of vivid green iridescent scales interrupted by burnt-orange scales (Fig. 29 A–C). Spinnerets dark grey to black. Ventral opisthosoma dark brown and scattered with short, tan-coloured setae (Fig. 30C). Opisthosomal flaps which can be extended during courtship present at each posterolateral edge of opisthosoma.
Legs I and II subequal in length, legs III and IV longer, legs III by far longest. Legs I, II and IV ringed with alternating light and dark rings of brown and white setae. Legs III with light covering of white setae. Tibiae and metatarsi III heavily fringed with long white setae.
Tarsi of legs III covered with white setae (Fig. 29 A–C). Pedipalp covered dorsally with long, tan-coloured setae. Relatively large male palpal bulb with retrolateral sperm duct loop, large retrobasal tegular lobe, finger-like retrolateral tibial apophysis, embolic disc with anticlockwise coiled embolus. Distal embolus with two apices when viewed laterally, heavily sclerotized cuticle on tegulum prolaterally below emolic disc (Fig. 31 A–C).
Female. Female. Ocular quadrangle region with light cover of red-brown to orange and white setae. Distinct median thoracic tract comprised of off-white setae situated on rear slope of carapace (Fig. 32 A–F). Lateral tracts of white setae extend from ALE to rear margin of carapace. Lateral slopes of carapace with light covering of white setae. Carapace otherwise dark brown, almost black, and mostly glabrous, lacking marginal band.
PME closer to PLE than to ALE. Anterior eyes ringed with white and red-brown scales or setae. Long white setae project downwards from below AME forming triangular shape.
Clypeus lightly covered with short, white setae. Chelicerae dark brown and glabrous. Coxae, endites, and labium dark brown, translucent and mostly glabrous. Sternum dark brown with light covering of fine, white setae (Fig. 32B, C, F).
Dorsal opisthosoma dark brown with incomplete cover of white and dark brown setae. Small indistinct patches of white setae cover each of the four dorsal opisthosomal apodemes and at the median of the four. Broad tracts of off-white setae cover lateral opisthosoma extending over posterior margin of dorsal opisthosoma forming ‘V’ shape (Fig. 32 A–F). Colular tuft of white setae situated above spinnerets. Lateral and ventral opisthosoma light brown with irregular, small dark spots (Fig. 33C).
Legs I and II subequal in length, legs III and IV longer, legs III longest. Each leg with alternating light and dark rings comprised of white and brown setae, integument below light brown and translucent (Fig. 32 A–F). Pedi- palps light brown and translucent with incomplete cover of white setae. Epigynum with pair of large ovate fossae separated by septum. Ovate posterior spermatheca behind each fossa. Sclerotized ducts present anterior to each spermatheca (Fig. 33D).
Variation. The colour of the three longitudinal tracts on the anterodorsal aspect of the opisthosoma of the two males in the type series range from bright green to dull light-blue. The exact shape of the complex central figure on the dorsal opisthosoma varies slightly between specimens. The tracts of white scales on the carapace are more or less distinct between specimens as a result of scales rubbing (Fig. 35 A–C).
Courtship display. The male elevates legs III, holding them straight upwards and holding them in place for the duration of the courtship display. The pedipalps are held apart, exposing the chelicerae. The opisthosoma is elevated and slowly waved, and the lateral opisthosoma flaps are extended. As the female approaches, the opisthosoma is slowly twisted from side to side and the lateral opisthosomal flaps are repeatedly retracted and extended whist the opisthosoma remains elevated and waving (Fig. 34 A–C). (Note: only partial courtship display observed, the males may exhibit a more complete courtship display with multiple modes of courtship).
Dimensions. Male. Total length: 4.47–5.26 (4.93±0.34, n=3). Carapace length: 2.34– 2.79 (2.59±0.18, n=3). Opisthosoma length: 2.13–2.51 (2.34±0.16, n=3). Leg I length: 2.85–2.87 (2.86±0.01, n=3). Leg II length: 2.83– 2.88 (2.85±0.02, n=3). Leg III length: 4.19–4.32 (4.25±0.04, n=3). Leg IV length: 3.72–3.78 (3.75±0.03, n=3).
Dimensions. Female. Total length: 5.85. Carapace length: 2.59. Opisthosoma length: 3.26. Leg I length: 2.71. Leg II length: 2.75. 4.37. Leg IV length: 3.89.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality 2km SW of Noggerup, Western Australia (Fig. 1). Found in the eucalypt leaf litter in the habitat shown in Fig. 36A, B.
description: Published as part of Schubert, Joseph, 2020, Seven new species of Australian peacock spiders (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch, 1878), pp. 1-44 in Zootaxa 4758 (1) on pages 25-31, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4758.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3730652