Schenkelia aurantia Kanesharatnam & Benjamin 2018, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Kanesharatnam, Nilani
name: Benjamin, Suresh P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Schenkelia
Schenkelia aurantia

description: Schenkelia aurantia sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: D94B654F-196A-4B3C-92CC-160EECDFFEC6
Figs 8–11
Diagnosis
This species is rather similar to S. modesta Lessert, 1927 in the shape of the bulbus and ALT, short embolus in males, and presence of sclerotized atria and lack of CD in females. However, it can readily be distinguished from the latter by the shape of the posterior lobe of the bulbus, comparably shorter ALT and bifurcated RTA in males (Figs 9 D–E, 10A–B), and shape of the atria, double chambered spermathecae and shape of FD (Figs 10 C–D, 11C–D) in females.
Etymology
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin term ‘ aurantia ’ and refers to the orange-coloured markings around PLEs and PMEs.
Material examined
Holotype
SRI LANKA: Ƌ, North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Mihintale Sanctuary, 300 m, 08°21′02.14″ N, 8°031′01″ E, beating, 6 Jul. 2013, SP. Benjamin et al. leg. (IFS_SAL_302).
Paratype
SRI LANKA: 1 ♀, same collection data as for holotype (IFS_SAL_304).
Other material
SRI LANKA: North Central Province: 1 Ƌ, same collection data as for type material (IFS_SAL_303); 2 ƋƋ, 2 ♀♀, same collection data as for type material, but 20 May 2013, I. Sandunika et al. leg. (IFS_SAL_649–652). – Central Province: Matale District: 1 Ƌ, IFS Arboretum, 180 m, 07°51′34″ N, 80°40′28″ E, beating, 28 May 2015, K. Nilani leg. (IFS_SAL_232); 1 Ƌ, same collection data as for preceding, but 7 Jul. 2013, S.P. Benjamin & N. Athukorala leg. (IFS_SAL_303); 1 Ƌ, same collection data as for preceding, but 17 Aug. 2012, S.P. Benjamin et al. leg. (IFS_SAL_ 437); 2 ♀♀, same collection data as for preceding, but 19 Oct. 2015, K. Nilani leg. (IFS_SAL_544–545). – North Western Province: Kurunagala District: 1 ♀, Nikaravatiya, 1–3 Feb. 2007, hand collecting, Z. Jaleel leg. (IFS_SAL_077); 1 ♀, Ethagala, 13 May 2007, hand collection, Z. Jaleel leg. (IFS_SAL_332). – Western Province: Gampaha District: 1 ♀, Kadol Kale, mangrove forest, 07°11′49″ N, 79°50′35″ E, litter, 24 Sep. 2014, N. Athukorala leg. (IFS_SAL_333).
Description
Male
MEASUREMENTS. TL 3.8, PL 1.85, PW at PLEs 1.4, AL 1.75, AW 1.10. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.39, PLE 0.18, ALE 0.22, PME 0.04, PME–PME 1.17, PLE–PLE 1.01, ALE–PME 0.27, ALE–PLE 0.47. Leg I: Tr 0.30, Fm 1.00, Pt 0.5, Tb 0.75, Mt 0.50, Ta 0.40; Leg II: Tr 0.35, Fm 1.00, Pt 0.50, Tb 0.60, Mt 0.50, Ta 0.40; Leg III: Tr 0.30, Fm 1.25, Pt 0.60, Tb 0.75, Mt 0.75, Ta 0.40; Leg IV: Tr 0.32, Fm 1.00, Pt 0.55, Tb 0.70, Mt 7.75, Ta 0.4.
COLOR AND BODY. In preserved specimens, prosoma brown in colour, longer than wide. Ocular area black with a broad impression between PLEs. Dark black transversal stripe on posterior prosoma (Fig. 9A). Fovea indistinct. Posterior prosoma much steeper and its margin slightly truncated. Sternum yellowish brown and oval in shape, edges bordered with brown colour (Fig. 9B). Legs brownish yellow and with dark brown banding patterns. Abdomen ovoid, slightly shorter and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly (Fig. 9 A–B). Dorsum blackish brown, ornamented with two yellowish brown transversal bands on anterior abdomen and irregular blotches on posterior half (Fig. 9A). Venter yellowish brown with brownish black lateral markings and irregular blotches at posterior end (Fig. 9B). Spinnerets yellowish brown.
PALP. Yellowish brown. Cymbium shorter and narrower at distal region. Embolus short, curved retrolaterally and immovable on apical portion of bulbus. Bulbus nearly rounded, with well-developed posterior lobe and broadened sperm duct. Spermatophore loop clearly visible at antero-lateral portion of bulbus. Mid-tegulum with small irregular posterior lobe. RTA bifurcated, with two branches of unequal in size, one moderately long and curved at tip, the other short and pointed.
Female
MEASUREMENTS. TL 2.5, PL 1.15, PW at PLEs 0.90, AL 1.20, AW 0.80. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.52, PLE 0.20, ALE 0.27, PME 0.04, PME–PME 1.44, PLE–PLE 1.26, ALE–PME 0.40, ALE–PLE 0.63. Leg I: Tr 0.28, Fm 0.65, Pt 0.65, Tb 0.75, Mt 0.50, Ta 0.30; Leg II: Tr 0.30, Fm 0.60, Pt 0.60, Tb 0.60, Mt 0.50, Ta 0.40; Leg III: Tr 0.30, Fm 0.80, Pt 0.60, Tb 0.75, Mt 0.75, Ta 0.50; Leg IV: Tr 0.35, Fm 0.65, Pt 0.50, Tb 0.75, Mt 0.75, Ta 0.50.
COLOR AND BODY. In life, chelicerae blackish brown, clypeus narrowed (Fig. 8B, D). Prosoma yellowish brown with white markings and blackish brown stripe pattern on posterior region (Fig. 8A, C). Ocular field glossy black and slightly raised. AMEs and ALEs enclosed with pale yellow scales. PLEs and PMEs covered with yellowish orange and pale white patches laterally (Fig. 8A, C). Chelicerae and labium pale brown in colour. Light brown legs. Abdomen slightly shorter and broader than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum brownish grey, decorated with irregular greyish white and black patches and anterior margin of abdomen covered with tuft of white scales (Fig. 8 A–D). In preserved specimens, venter yellowish brown with unevenly distributed, irregular dark grey patches (Fig. 11B). Other characters as in males.
EPIGYNUM. Moderately sclerotized. Gamma-shaped atria on the anterior margin through which CO opens (Figs 10C, 11C). CD is absent, hence CO directly leading into narrowed region of large chamber of receptacles. Spermathecae double chambered and sclerotized, with thick wall (Figs 10D, 11D). FD originates from anterolateral portion of large chamber (Figs 10 C–D, 11C–D). At posterior border, two lateral unusual pocket-like structures (Figs 10C, 11C).
description: Published as part of Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2018, A new genus and three new species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Sri Lanka, pp. 1-24 in European Journal of Taxonomy 444 on pages 16-21, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.444, http://zenodo.org/record/3827801