Natta triguttata Haddad & Wesołowska, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Haddad, Charles Richard
name: Wesołowska, Wanda
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Natta
Natta triguttata

description: Natta triguttata sp. nov.
Figs 17 C, F, 22, 23
Material examined.
Holotype: South Africa • ♂; Northern Cape; Richtersveld National Park, Akkedis Pass; 28 ° 10.577 ' S, 17 ° 02.069 ' E; 645 m a. s. l.; 9 Jul 2021, C. Haddad et al. leg.; leaf litter, dry river bed; NCA 2021 / 499.
Paratype: South Africa • 1 ♀; together with holotype.
Diagnosis.
The new species differs from congeners in colouration: the presence of a pair of round white spots near the middle of the abdominal dorsum and a single white spot above the spinnerets differs from the other species, which have many orange or yellow spots. The palpal organ is similar to that in Natta horizontalis Karsch, 1979, but can be recognised by the thin, pointed tibial apophysis (Figs 22 C, D, 23 A, B), whereas it is shorter, wide and truncated in the latter species (Wesołowska 1993: figs 23, 28, 33). The female differs from congeners by the absence of an epigynal depression (Figs 22 F, 23 C).
Description.
Male: Measurements: Cephalothorax length 2.1, width 1.5, height 0.8. Abdomen length 2.0, width 1.5. Eye field length 1.0, anterior width 1.2, posterior width 1.3. General appearance in alcohol as in Fig. 22 A, B. Carapace black, clothed in dense greyish scales, amongst them some long brown bristles. Some white scales on lateral slopes, same scales form two lines below anterior lateral eyes (Fig. 22 B). Chelicerae unidentati. Mouthparts and sternum blackish. Abdomen black, with pair of white round spots near mid-point and single white spot at end of abdomen above spinnerets, spinnerets black. Venter black, shining. Legs dark yellow, hairs and spines brown, long sharp bristles on ventral surface of femur I. Palpal organ as in Figs 22 C, D, 23 A, B, bulb triangular, embolus very short, tip orientated transversely towards retrolateral side, tibial apophysis thin.
Female: Measurements: Cephalothorax length 2.2, width 1.5, height 0.9. Abdomen length 3.1, width 2.3. Eye field length 1.0, anterior width 1.2, posterior width 1.3. General appearance of live female as in Fig. 17 C, F, in alcohol as in Fig. 22 E. Larger than male, similarly coloured. White streak composed of scales along lateral margins of carapace. Abdomen slightly lighter, brown with black wide median streak in posterior half, white spots as in male. Dorsum of abdomen covered with transparent scales, venter light brown. Epigyne as in Figs 22 B, 23 C, with wide posterior pocket, copulatory openings placed centrally, their outer edges with long sclerotised flange. Internal structure simple, large accessory glands connected to seminal ducts, spermathecae spherical (Fig. 23 D).
Etymology.
The species name is derived from the Latin tri- (three) and guttatus (spotted), referring to the three distinct spots on the abdomen of both sexes.
Distribution.
Only known from the type locality.
Remarks.
This is the first new species of Natta to be described in more than 120 years. The placement of the species was confirmed through the molecular results (Fig. 2), as well as the consistency in somatic morphology of the new species with N. chionogaster and N. horizontalis, particularly the presence of iridescent scales all over the body (Fig. 18 C).
description: Published as part of Haddad, Charles Richard & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, On some new and poorly-known Chrysillini from arid western South Africa (Araneae, Salticidae), pp. 127-159 in African Invertebrates 65 (2) on pages 127-159, DOI: 10.3897/AfrInvertebr.65.136083