Idiops joida Gupta, Das and Siliwal, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Gupta, Neha
name: Ganeshkumar, M.
name: Das, Sanjay Keshari
name: Siliwal, Manju
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Idiopidae
Idiops
Idiops joida

description: Idiops joida Gupta, Das and Siliwal sp. nov.
(Figs 1 A – L, 2A – F, Table 1)
Type specimens. Holotype male. INDIA: Karnataka: Uttara Kannada, Joida [15° 11' 36.1314"N, 74° 29' 36.528"E], 12 April 2010, elev. 609 m, coll. N. Gupta, S. Chauhan and Ramesh (WILD-10-ARA-913). Paratypes. INDIA: Karnataka: 2 females, same data as holotype (WILD-10-ARA-914, WILD-10-ARA-909); 2 females, same data as holotype, 26 March 2010 (WILD-10-ARA-803, WILD-10-ARA-805).
Diagnosis. Males of Idiops joida sp. nov. closely resemble those of I. garoensis and I. pylorus in having a stout spine on the tibial spur of leg I (Fig. 1 F) but males can be distinguished from those of other Idiops species by having metatarsi I slender and lacking the prolateral process; males differ from those of I. garoensis by the leg formula 4123 (In I. garoensis, leg formula 1432); they also differ from those of I. pylorus also by having ocular area distinctly longer than wide (in I. pylorus, the ocular area is slightly wider than long).
Females of Idiops joida sp. nov. resemble those of I. constructor, I. fortis and I. oriya in having a band of spinules on coxae IV but differ from them in having tibia III distinctly longer than wide and leg formula 4132 (I. constructor and I. fortis, leg I and leg IV subsequal in length and tibia III is as long as wide; I. oriya, tibia III slightly longer than wide and leg II is longer than leg III).
Etymology. The species epithet is a name in apposition from the type locality, Joida, in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka.
Description. Holotype Male: Total length 10.86. Carapace 4.71 long, 4.12 wide; chelicerae 2.57 long; abdomen 6.15 long, 4.06 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, tuft0.33 long, 0.12 wide, 0.21 apart; PLS, 0.56 basal, 0.23 middle, 0.35 distal; midwidths 0.67, 0.49, 0.26 respectively; 1.14 total length.
LEG I LEGII continued.
continued.
PALP HT*= Holotype, PT= Paratypes.
Colour in life. Carapace, chelicerae blackish-brown. Legs and palp black except for tarsi of all legs and palp, mt II–III distal 3/4th, mt I distal ½, mt IV and tibia of palp pale yellowish-brown. Abdomen dorsally uniformly grayish-black, ventrally and ventro-laterally uneven shades of grayish-brown. Spinnerets brown.
Colour in alcohol. Carapace, chelicerae greenish-brown. Legs greenish-brown except for tarsi of all legs and palp, mt II–III distal 3/4th, mt I distal ½, mt IV and tibia of palp yellow. Abdomen dorsally grayish-brown with faint pale spots radiating in curved lines; ventrally and ventro-laterally uneven shades of yellowish-gray. Spinnerets yellowish-brown.
Carapace (Fig. 1 A). Oval, wart-like tubercles except for striae and around eyes, less conspicuous in anterior caput. Fovea procurved, deep. Bristles absent.
Eyes (Figs 1 A–B). Eight in three rows, ALE situated far from AME on clypeal edge; posterior row procurved. Ocular group 0.96 long, 0.95 wide; MOQ not square, 0.57 front width and 0.52 back width, 0.51 long. Diameter AME 0.15, PME 0.14, ALE 0.18, PLE 0.17; distance between ALE-AME 0.28, AME-AME 0.02, PLE-PME 0.02, PME-PME 0.13, ALE-PLE 0.50, ALE-ALE adjacent.
Maxillae (Fig. 1 C). 2.13 long anteriorly, 2.60 long posteriorly, 1.47 wide; no cuspules; anterior lobe distinct, posterior edge obscured, anterior edge straight.
Labium (Fig. 1 C). 0.54 long, 0.96 wide, labiosternal groove shallow, slightly procurved with no cuspules.
Chelicerae (Figs 1 C–D). 9 teeth on promarginal and 6 teeth on retromarginal; depression on retrolateral face where fang touches chelicerae; rastellum strong, raised on high triangular mound, with 13 thick, short spines, surrounded with many normal spines; two glabrous bands for length of dorsal surface of chelicerae.
Sternum (Fig. 1 C). 2.66 long, 2.35 wide, broader between posterior coxae; yellowish-brown, elevated in centre, sloping laterally, covered with short and long black bristles; row of long bristles on margins, posterior angle acute.
Sigilla (Fig. 1 C). Posterior sigilla absent; median pair marginal, 1.68 apart, 0.07 from margin and anterior pair round, marginal.
Legs. All legs cylindrical, not flattened; leg I thicker than II–IV; femora III clearly wider than rest; metatarsi of all legs longer than tarsi. Tibia I inflated with two distal, prolateral tibial spurs with spines, anterior spur facing upward (at about 45o) with curved, stout spine, below small spine on tubercle facing diagonally opposite to anterior spur (Figs 1 E–F); mt I cylindrical, not incrassate, gently curved retrolaterally (Fig. 1 E). Legs covered with few scattered hair, bristles and normal pointed spines. Two conspicuous glabrous bands for length of femora, patellae and tibiae. Leg formula 4123.
Scopulae. Ta I, few scopuliform hair in distal half; ta II–III well developed, distal 3/4th; ta IV, rudimentary, almost absent.
Spines. More on promarginal and retromarginal sides of legs and palp. I: ti, p=2 spur with megaspine, r=6; mt, p=1, r=6; ta, p=1, r= 3. II: ti, r=2; mt, p=2, r=6; ta, r= 3. III: fe, p=2; pa, p=10,r=3; ti, p=7, r=4; mt, p=5, v=9, r=4; ta, p=3, r= 4. IV: pa, p=9; ti, p=1, v=3, r=1; mt, p=1, v=6, r=1; ta, p=3, v=6, r=3. Palp: ti, r=39; ta, d=3.
Trichobothria. Clavate absent; ta I, 13 long filiform for length; ta II, 10 long filiform for length; ta III, 16 long filiform in basal two thirds; ta IV, 9 long filiform and 7 long filiform on palp in centre, all trichobothria in two zigzag rows. Mt I, 5 long filiform in distal one thirds; mt II–IV, 6 long filiform in distal one thirds.
Leg coxae. Greenish-yellow, covered with short and long black bristles. Coxae IV with short spinule-like bristles in anterior half, rest sparsely covered with long bristles.
Claws (Figs 1 G–H). All legs with paired and unpaired claws. Both (paired as well as unpaired) claws on IV prominent and larger than I–III. Paired claws with four teeth on leg I, 2 + 1 bifid tooth on leg II, 1+1 bifid tooth on leg III, three unequal sized teeth on leg IV. False claw tufts on either sides of paired claws.
Abdomen (Fig. 1 A). Covered with short black hair with few long bristle-like hairs posteriorly, cuticle appears leathery and slightly rough. Ventrally uniformly covered with short and few long black hairs.
Spinnerets (Fig. 1 I). PMS digitiform covered with brown hair; PLS covered with brown hair, apical segment domed.
Palp (Figs 1 J–L). Tibia inflated, ventral 1/3rd incrassate with band of spines on retrolateral side of cavity. Cymbium truncated dorsally with two lateral processes. Median haematodocha fused with bulb, embolus tapering and curved 45o at tip, slightly flattened just before tip.
Description. Female (WILD-10-ARA-914): Total length 14.00. Carapace 5.15 long, 4.76 wide; 3.76 long chelicerae; abdomen 8.85 long, 5.51 wide. Spinnerets: PMS, 0.41 long, 0.14 wide, 0.21 apart; PLS, 0.85 basal, 0.47 middle, 0.32 distal; midwidths 1.11, 0.95, 0.57 respectively; 1.64 total length.
Colour in life. Carapace and chelicerae, blackish-brown. Legs reddish-brown above and light yellowish green below, except tarsi of palp and metatarsi and tarsi of all legs blackish-brown above and brown below; abdomen dorsally grayish-brown mid-dorsally and gradually lighter brown laterally, ventrally creamish-brown. Spinnerets yellowish-brown.
Colour in alcohol. Carapace, chelicerae, reddish-brown. Legs and palp yellowish-brown, lighter below. Abdomen dorsally greenish-brown, ventrally yellowish-brown. Spinnerets yellowish-brown.
Carapace (Fig. 2 A). Glabrous, broader anteriorly (widest between legs II) and gradually narrowing posteriorly, striae prominent. Fovea, procurved, deep. Bristles: 2 long and several short on caput; 1 long and three short on clypeus edge.
Eyes (Figs 2 A–B). Eight in three rows, ALE situated far from AME on clypeal edge; posterior row procurved. Ocular group 1.28 long, 1.22 wide; MOQ square, 0.63 wide, 0.56 long. Diameter AME 0.18, PME 0.21, ALE 0.26, PLE 0.25; distance between ALE-AME 0.42, AME-AME 0.05, PLE-PME 0.08, PME-PME 0.16, ALE-PLE 0.67, ALE-ALE adjacent.
Maxillae (Fig. 2 C). 1.01 long anteriorly, 1.29 long posteriorly, 1.74 wide; 70 cuspules; anterior lobe distinct.
Labium (Fig. 2 C). 0.90 long, 1.07 wide, labiosternal groove shallow, slightly procurved with 13 cuspules.
Chelicerae (Figs 2 C–D). 7 teeth on promarginal and 8 teeth on retromarginal; depression on retrolateral face where fang touches chelicerae; rastellum strong, raised on high triangular mound, with 16 thick, short spines, surrounded by many normal long spines; two glabrous bands for length of dorsal surface of chelicerae.
Sternum (Fig. 2 C). 3.18 long, 2.96 wide, broader between posterior coxae; yellowish-brown, elevated in centre, sloping laterally, covered with long black bristles; row of long bristles on margins, posterior angle acute.
Sigilla (Fig. 2 C). Posterior sigilla absent; median pair submarginal, 2.05 apart, 0.10 from margin and anterior pair round, marginal.
Legs. Femora and tibiae III wider than others; all metatarsi longer than respective tarsi. Tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi of legs I–II and tibiae and tarsi of palp dorsoventrally flattened, other legs normal. Legs covered with few scattered hair, bristles and few curved thick thorn-like spines. Two conspicuous glabrous bands for length of femora, patellae and tibiae. Scopulae absent on tarsi of all legs and palp. Leg formula 4132.
Spines. More on promarginal and retromarginal sides of legs and palp. I: pa, v=1, r=1; ti, p=14, r=16; mt, p=19, r=16; ta, p=7, r=11, v= 3. II: fe, d=1; pa, p=1; ti, p=3, r=17; mt, p=15, r=16; ta, p=7, r=11, v= 1. III: pa, p=1; ti, p=9, r=4; mt, p=14, r=10; ta, p=9, r= 4. IV: ti, v=2; mt, p=5, r=1, v=3; ta, p=11, r=4. Palp: fe, p=1, r=2; pa, r=1; ti, p=18, r=16; ta, p=21, r=24, v=2.
Trichobothria. Clavate absent; ta I, 12 long filiform in each of four rows for length; ta II, 14 long filiform in 2 rows for length; ta III, 18 long filiform in basal two thirds; ta IV, 9 long filiform and 12 long filiform in two rows on palp. Mt I, 5 long filiform in distal fourth; mt II–IV, 7 long filiform in distal fourth.
Leg coxae. Yellowish-brown, covered with short and long black bristles. Coxa III with central patch without hair or spinules, others sparsely covered with long bristles; coxa IV clearly broader than others, anterior edge curved, ventrally, broad patch of spinules in distal 3/4th, others covered with long bristles.
Claws. All legs with paired and unpaired claws. Both (paired as well as unpaired) claws on leg IV prominent and larger than on other legs. Paired claws with 2 unequal size teeth on legs I, III– IV; 1 tooth on leg II; bifid tooth on palp. False claw tufts on each side of paired claws.
Abdomen (Fig. 2 A). Oval, uniformly covered with short and long black hairs. Dorsum with few black patches, cuticle appears leathery and slightly rough.
Spinnerets (Fig. 2 E). PMS digitiform covered with brown hair; PLS covered with brown hair, apical segment domed.
Spermathecae (Fig. 2 F). Two single lobes facing away from each other; each lobe, resembles ice-cream on cone, with distal 2/3rd bulged and curved dorsal and lateral edges, covered with pores, otherwise lobes sclerotized, gradually narrowing (cone shape) and opens ventrally; transparent sheet of inverted triangular shape covers basal half of sclerotized lobes.
Variation. Females: Total length 14–18.44 (16.22 ± 2.36). Carapace: 5.15–7.99 (6.66 ± 1.20) long, 4.76–6.35 (5.70 ± 0.71) wide; MOQ: 0.56–0.74 (0.67± 0.08) long, front width 0.63–0.74 (0.70 ± 0.05), back width 0.63–0.84 (0.76 ± 0.09). Difference between front width and back width: 0.00–0.11 (0.06 ± 0.05). Labium: 0.90–1.47 (1.20 ± 0.23) long, 1.07–1.43 (1.27 ± 0.17) wide; cuspules 6–14. Maxillae: 1.01–1.43 (1.23 ± 0.17) long in front, 1.29–1.43 (1.35 ± 0.07) long in back, 1.74–2.47 (2.20 ± 0.33) wide; cuspules 70–130 (90). Sternum: 3.18–4.57 (3.89 ± 0.62) long, 2.96–3.99 (3.55 ± 0.46) wide. Abdomen: 8.00–11.32 (9.57 ± 1.45) long, 5.35–8.17 (6.68 ± 1.46) wide. Spinnerets: PLS, 0.77–0.92 (0.86 ± 0.07) basal, 0.31–0.55 (0.44 ± 0.10) middle, 0.26–0.32 (0.29 ± 0.03) apical; midwidths, 1.00–1.11 (1.05 ± 0.05), 0.76–0.95 (0.85 ± 0.08), 0.47–0.67 (0.57 ± 0.08) respectively; 1.34–1.73 (1.59 ± 0.17) total length; PMS, 0.41–0.79 (0.60 ± 0.16) long, 0.14–0.28 (0.24 ± 0.07) wide; distance between PMS–PMS, 0.21–0.54 (0.36 ± 0.14).
Natural history. I. joida was found in almost every habitat surveyed, including semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, agriculture, teak plantations and human habitations. It certainly preferred open and exposed microhabitats, like human settlements and agriculture over the closed and unexposed ones, like semi-evergreen. The burrows were located in March–April and all active burrows were mostly found occupied by adult and/or nesting females, juveniles and sub-adults. Males are usually wanderers and difficult to locate in burrows (Siliwal, 2009), and therefore only one sub-adult spider was found and collected from its burrow; it later moulted to a male in the vial. The burrows occurred on steep (90°) as well as gentle slopes (45°), and horizontal (less than 10°), and occupied various substrates like vertical bunds, soil deposits at the base of tree trunks, flat ground and occasionally observed on termite hills. The burrows were simple tube-like with a ‘D’-shaped trapdoor of variable thickness. Further, all excavated burrows were observed to have one of the three types of shapes: straight, gently curved and C-shape.
The burrow diameter ranged from 2 to 18mm and the depth of burrows ranged from 10 to 185mm. The burrow diameter was found to be almost constant throughout the descending depth of the burrow. But burrows of most gravid or nesting females were wider at the bottom.
When a burrow was disturbed, the spider retreated at the bottom of the burrow and, if nesting, went deep inside the burrow holding the egg-sac and remained there until the burrow was fully excavated. Similar behaviour has been reported in many other members of barychelids and idiopids (Raven, 1994). The egg-sacs consisted of 50– 250 eggs bound together in thick silk lining.
description: Published as part of Gupta, Neha, Ganeshkumar, M., Das, Sanjay Keshari & Siliwal, Manju, 2013, Three new species of Idiops Perty, 1833 (Araneae: Idiopidae) from India, pp. 237-250 in Zootaxa 3635 (3) on pages 239-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3635.3.3, http://zenodo.org/record/216039