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

description: Maratus suae sp. nov.
(Figs 37 A–F, 38A–C, 39A–C, 40A–F, 41A–D, 42A–C, 43A–E)
Material examined. MALE HOLOTYPE (WAM-T150121) from Australia, Western Australia, Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park, 33°17’59.4” S, 115°40’27.7” E, 8 Oct 2019. PARATYPES: 2 males, 2 females (WAM- T150122–150125), same locality data as holotype.
Etymology. The specific name (suae) is a matronym in honour of Sunayana (Su) Rammohan who discovered this species, provided useful data for this study, and has extensively photographed the peacock spider fauna of Western Australia.
Diagnosis. Maratus suae is placed in the Maratus flavus group (Otto & Hill 2019a) with respect to the courtship display by which the male extends legs III in a relatively vertical position and waves them in a bilaterally symmetrical manner while elevating and lowering the opisthosoma at irregular intervals. Males of Maratus suae bear lateral opisthosomal flaps which are extended during courtship, separating this species from members of the Maratus flavus group. Males of this species can be distinguished from other Maratus species by the markings on the opisthosoma by which a series of irregularly shaped and sized blotches of red-orange scales outlined by lighter scales mark an iridescent pink background (Fig. 37 A–F). Morphologically, this species most closely resembles Maratus tessellatus Otto & Hill, 2016. Males of Maratus suae can be readily separated from Maratus tessellatus by the presence of lateral opisthosomal flaps, and by the longitudinal tracts of red-orange and grey scales which thickly cover the ocular quadrangle region.
Females of M. suae are similar to other females in the M. flavus clade and identification is not possible without association with a male. The structures of the external male and female genitalia of M. suae 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 covered thickly in light grey scales and interrupted by four distinct stripes of red-orange scales which extend from behind each anterior eye to rear margin of ocular quadrangle (Fig. 37 A–F). Median thoracic tract comprised of white setae extends from rear slope of carapace to rear margin of ocular quadrangle region. Lateral tracts of white setae situated behind each PLE. 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-orange scales dorsally and short, light grey scales laterally and ventrally. Long, white setae project downwards from below AME forming triangular shape (Fig. 37C, D). Cuticular surface of clypeus black and covered with short, white setae. Chelicerae dark brown and glabrous. Coxae, labium, and endites pale and glabrous. Sternum dark brown with light covering of fine, white setae (Fig. 38C).
Dorsal opisthosomal plate thickly covered with a field of iridescent scales which appear pink to gold depending upon the angle at which they are viewed from. Dorsal opisthosoma distinctively marked with irregularly shaped and sized blotches of red-orange scales outlined by lighter scales (Fig. 37 A–F). Opisthosomal flaps which are extended during courtship present (Fig. 42B, C). Colular tuft of white setae situated above black spinnerets. Ventral opisthosoma dark brown and scattered with short, creamy coloured setae (Fig. 38C). Legs I and II subequal in length, legs III and IV longer, legs III by far longest. Legs I and II thickly covered in long white and brown setae. Legs IV with alternating darker and lighter rings of brown and white setae. Anterior surface of femora III with light covering of short, white setae. Tibiae and metatarsi III black with fringes of black setae on metatarsi. Tarsi of legs III covered in white setae (Fig. 37 A–F). Pedipalp covered dorsally with long, grey 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. 39 A–C).
Female. Ocular quadrangle region with light cover of brown-orange and off-white setae. Rear slope of carapace posterior to ocular quadrangle dark brown, almost black, and interrupted by median thoracic tract comprised of white setae (Fig. 40 A–F). Lateral tracts of white setae extend from behind each AME to rear margin of carapace. Cuticular surface below white tracts of setae lighter. Lateral slopes of carapace light brown and mostly glabrous. Carapace lacking marginal band.
PME closer to PLE than to ALE. Anterior eyes ringed with brown-orange and white setae or scales. Long white setae project downwards from below AME forming triangular shape. Clypeus covered with short, white setae (Fig. 40 D–F). Chelicerae dark brown and glabrous. Coxae, endites, and labium dark brown, translucent and mostly gla- brous. Sternum dark brown with light covering of fine, white setae (Fig. 41C).
Opisthosoma marked with dark brown dorsum, lighter anteriorly, darker and slightly tapering posteriorly. Lateral opisthosoma flanked by broad, light brown to off-white marginal bands extending over posterior margin of dorsal opisthosoma. Colular tuft of white setae situated above spinnerets. Lateral and ventral opisthosoma light brown with irregular dark spots.
Legs I and II subequal in length, legs III and IV longer, legs III longest. Each leg with incomplete cover of offwhite and brown setae, integument below light brown and translucent. Darker ring of setae at each leg joint (Fig. 40 A–F). Pedipalps 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. 41D).
Variation. The size, shape, and number of the irregular blotches of red-orange scales slightly varies between males in the type series. The tracts of white scales on the carapace are more or less distinct between specimens as a result of scales rubbing. There is little variation between the female specimens examined (Fig. 43 A–E).
Courtship display. In many respects, the courtship display of Maratus suae closely resembles those of mem- bers of the Maratus flavus group (Otto & Hill 2019a). The male extends legs III in a relatively vertical position and waves them in a bilaterally symmetrical manner. During this process, the opisthosoma is elevated and the lateral opisthosomal flaps are extended. The opisthosoma is lowered and raised at irregular intervals. The pedipalps are also held to the side, exposing the black, glabrous chelicerae to the female (Fig. 42 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: 4.60–5.33 (4.98±0.29, n=3). Carapace length 2.41–2.88 (2.68±0.2, n=3). Opisthosoma length 1.72–1.86 (2.30± 0.2, n=3). Leg I length: 2.98–3.25 (3.11±0.11, n=3). Leg II length: 3.00–3.25 (3.12±0.11, n=3). Leg III length: 4.79–4.92 (4.84±0.05, n=3). Leg IV length: 3.94–4.01 (3.98±0.04, n=3).
Dimensions. Female. Total length: 5.33–5.46 (5.40±0.07, n=2). Carapace length 2.70– 2.71 (2.19 ±0.01, n=2). Opisthosoma length 2.63–2.75 (2.69± 0.06, n=2). Leg I length: 2.69– 2.73 (2.71±0.02, n=2). Leg II length: 2.67– 2.69 (2.68±0.01, n=2). Leg III length: 4.46–4.51 (4.49±0.03, n=2). Leg IV length: 3.90–3.98 (3.94±0.04, n=2).
Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Leschenault Peninsula Conservation Park, Western Australia (Fig. 1). Specimens were found in abundance on the Trachyandra divaricata plants in the habitat shown in Fig. 44.
Remarks. While it is suggested here that Maratus suae is added to the Maratus flavus group, this species also seems closely related to Maratus tessellatus with respect to the opisthosomal patterns of both the male and the female. This suggests that M. tessellatus may also be a member of the M. flavus group, however, DNA sequencing or population genetic studies with a focus on geography will be needed to resolve the true phylogenetic relationships within Maratus.
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 31-37, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4758.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/3730652