Maratus felinus Schubert 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Schubert, Joseph
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Maratus
Maratus felinus

description: Maratus felinus sp. nov.
(FIGURES 2C, 17 A–F, 18A–D, 19A–C, 20A–F, 21A–D, 22A–B, 23A–B)
Material examined. MALE HOLOTYPE (WAM–T147353) from Australia, Western Australia Lake Jasper, 34°22'42.5"S, 115°39'27.9"E, 48m, M. Duncan, 25 Sep. 2018. PARATYPES: 1 male, 2 female (WAM-T147354), same collection data as holotype.
Etymology. The specific name (felinus, Latin, m., adjective, English translation: feline) refers to the markings on the dorsal opisthosomal plate which resemble a cat.
Diagnosis. The male of this species bears some resemblance to Maratus linnaei (Otto & Hill, 2017B) by the colour of scales covering the ocular quadrangle area and the dark setae below the AME, however, the males lack the heavy cover of long, bristle like setae on legs III. Maratus felinus can be distinguished from other Maratus species by its atypical ovoid-shaped opisthosoma and by the scale patterns on the dorsal opisthosomal plate. Females of M. felinus are similar to other Southwestern Australian endemics such as M. flavus (Otto and Hill 2017A) and identification is problematic without association with a male. The structures of the external male and female genitalia of M. felinus are of no use in distinguishing them from other Southwestern Australia endemic Maratus species.
Description. Male (WAM–T147353). Carapace mostly black and glabrous; median thoracic tract comprised of white scales extends from rear slope of carapace to between the PLE; carapace rimmed with well-defined marginal band comprised of white scales (Figure 17B); ocular quadrangle region with dense cover of grey scales interrupted by distinct stripes of red scales behind each anterior eye, and at the median (Figure 17A).
PME closer to PLE than to ALE; AME bordered with dark grey to black scales below, white scales laterally, and dark red scales dorsally; long white setae project downwards from below anterior median eyes above black clypeus; clypeus mostly glabrous besides white setae at median; chelicerae dark brown to black and glabrous (Figure 18C); coxae and labium light brown and glabrous; endites dark brown with pale upper edges and glabrous; sternum dark brown (Figure 18B) with light covering of fine, white setae.
Opisthosoma distinctively patterned and ovoid in shape; dorsal opisthosomal plate thickly covered with mostly grey-blue/tan scales, edged with dark red and black scales; arcs of white scales bordered by blue scales run parallel to each lateral edge of opisthosoma, extending from white triangular patch of scales at upper margin of opisthosoma; below, two converging lines of white scales bordered by blue extend from each lateral edge of opisthosoma; two diagonal, parallel stripes of white scales bordered by blue scales extend from each posterolateral edge of dorsal opisthosoma; these stripes interrupted by arrow-shaped patch of iridescent blue scales inset with a small black circle of scales extending from posteromedial margin of dorsal opisthosoma to approximately 1/4 the length of opisthosoma (Figure 17B).
Posterior edge of dorsal opisthosomal plate cleaved, extending over opisthosoma when viewed ventrally (Figure 18B); long white tufts of setae project from each posterolateral edge of dorsal opisthosomal plate (Figure 2C); colular tuft of white setae above black spinnerets; ventral opisthosoma dark grey and scattered with short, creamy coloured setae; minute dorsal opisthosomal flaps fold around opisthosoma, visible when viewed ventrally (Figure 18B).
Legs I and II subequal in length; legs III and IV longer; legs III by far longest. Legs IV ringed with alternating bands of dark brown and white setae; femora of legs I and II dorsally and posteriorly marked with dark bands; legs I and II otherwise with light cover of white setae; dorsal surface of legs III dark brown to black; anterior surface of legs III striped with deep red/black markings (Figure 2C); ventral surface of femora of legs III striped with white setae; tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi of legs III fringed with long black and white setae; tarsi of each leg tipped with grey to black setae (Figure 17 A–F).
Pedipalp covered dorsally with long white setae; relatively large palpal bulb with retrolateral sperm duct loop, large retrobasal tegular lobe, finger-like retrolateral tibial apophysis, embolus with pointed inner apex beneath thicker outer apex (Figure 19 A–C).
Female (WAM-T147354). Ocular quadrangle with thick cover of red-brown to off-white setae; setation of ocular quadrangle interrupted by glabrous stripes behind each AME exposing dark integument of carapace (Figure 20 B–F); distinct median thoracic tract of white scales extends from rear slope of carapace to posterior margin of carapace; less distinct bands of white setae extend from below PLE to rear margin of carapace; carapace otherwise dark brown to black and mostly glabrous and lacking marginal band (Figure 20 B–F).
Anterior eyes bordered with red-brown and white scales dorsally, and white scales laterally and below; PME closer to PLE than to ALE; long white setae project downwards from below AME forming triangular shape; clypeus covered with short, white setae (Figure 20A); 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 (Figure 21A).
Dorsal opisthosoma dark brown with incomplete cover of off-white and dark brown setae; central spot of offwhite setae on dorsal opisthosoma; surface above each of the four dorsal opisthosomal apodemes glabrous; posterior and lateral edges of dorsal opisthosoma bordered by irregular broad band of off-white and light brown setae; colular tuft of white setae situated above spinnerets (Figure 20B); posterior spinnerets dark brown to black, anterior spinnerets lighter brown (Figure 21B); lateral and ventral opisthosoma light brown with irregular dark spots (Figure 21A).
Legs I and II subequal in length; legs III and IV longer; legs III longest; integument of legs III and IV with alternating bands of black and brown; legs I and II similarly banded but less distinctively so; ventral femoral surface of each leg distinctively marked with dark bands (Figure 21A); each leg with light cover of white setae; tarsi of each leg tipped with black setae; pedipalps light brown and translucent with incomplete cover of off-white setae (Figure 20A).
Epigynum with pair of large ovate fossae separated by septum; ovate posterior spermatheca behind each fossa; sclerotized ducts present anterior to each spermatheca (Figure 21D).
Variation. Patterns may be more distinct or indistinct in both male and female specimens and colours may slightly vary (Figure 22A and B, 23A and B).
Dimensions. Male. Total length: 3.77–3.80 (3.79±0.01, n=2). Carapace length 1.72–1.74 (1.73±0.01, n=2). Opisthosoma length 2.05–2.06 (2.06± 0.01, n=2). Leg I length: 2.23–2.85 (2.84±0.01, n=2).
Leg II length: 2.82–2.85 (2.84±0.02, n=2). Leg III length: 4.14–4.20 (4.17±0.03, n=2). Leg IV length: 3.73– 3.76 (3.75±0.02).
Dimensions. Female. Total length: 4.95–4.99 (4.97±0.02, n=2). Carapace length 1.88–1.89 (1.89±0.01, n=2). Opisthosoma length 2.00–2.22 (2.11± 0.11, n=2). Leg I length: 2.67–2.70 (2.69±0.02, n=2). Leg II length: 2.66–2.70 (2.68±0.02, n=2). Leg III length: 4.46–4.50 (4.48±0.02, n=2). Leg IV length: 3.88–3.89 (3.88±0.01, n=2).
Distribution. Known only from near Lake Jasper, Western Australia.
Courtship display. The opisthosoma of the male is first elevated and waved. Following this, a single leg III is elevated and waved. The pedipalps are held apart, exposing the chelicerae. The second leg III is elevated and both legs III are held in place while the opisthosoma is intermittently lowered and raised, making slight waving motions as it does so. The female begins approaching the male, and ‘kicking’ motions are made with each leg I, alternating between each leg unpredictably while the opisthosoma is in the lowered position. Legs III become flexed inwards, forming an arc which borders the opisthosoma while it is elevated. (Note: only partial courtship display observed, the males may exhibit more modes of courtship).
description: Published as part of Schubert, Joseph, 2019, Three new peacock spiders from Southwestern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch, 1878), pp. 81-100 in Zootaxa 4564 (1) on pages 94-99, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4564.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/2588669