Stenaelurillus judithbleisterae Kadam, Tripathi & Kuni 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Tripathi, Rishikesh
name: Kuni, Nikhil
name: Kadam, Gautam
name: Kumaran, Keerthana P.
name: Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Stenaelurillus
Stenaelurillus judithbleisterae

description: Stenaelurillus judithbleisterae Kadam, Tripathi & Kuni sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AD0BD28D-EBA7-4EB9-B14B-1FEEF34CD2FD
Figs 7–10, 15C, 16
Common name: Sky jumping spider
Diagnosis
Males of S. judithbleisterae sp. nov. are most similar to those of S. feral sp. nov. by having serrations on the inner margin of the RTA but differ in embolus structure, RTA shorter in retrolateral view, and presence of a band of iridescent blue shade scales on the cephalic region, which is absent in S. feral sp. nov. (compare Figs 7A, 8C, 9A–B, G, 10A–B with S. feral sp. nov.: Figs 1C, E–F). Females are similar to S. gabrieli Prajapati, Murthappa, Sankaran & Sebastian, 2016 as both have large copulatory openings, and thick copulatory ducts but can be separated from the latter by having reniform spermathecae and absence of epigynal pocket (compare Figs 9H–I, 10C–D with Prajapati et al. 2016: figs 4A–C, 5C–D).
Etymology
The specific epithet judithbleisterae is dedicated to Ms. Judith Bleister, honouring her invaluable support for taxonomic research and the conservation of species.
Type material
Holotype INDIA • ♂; Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Alamaramedu area; 11°06′10″ N, 76°47′00″ E; 665 m alt.; 20 Mar. 2023; N. Kuni, G. Kadam and R. Tripathi leg.; from ground, by hand; NRC-AA-6955.
Paratype INDIA • 1 ♀; same collecting data as for the holotype; NRC-AA-6956.
Description
Male (holotype, Figs 7A–D, 8A–E)
Measurements: Body length 4.32. Carapace length 2.26, width 1.45. Abdomen length 2.05, width 1.31. Ocular area length 0.83, width 1.34. Eye diameters: AME 0.37, ALE 0.18, PME 0.06, PLE 0.23. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PME 1.22, ALE–ALE 0.93, PME–PLE 0.19, PLE–PLE 1.09, ALE–PME 0.33, ALE–PLE 0.57. Length of chelicera 0.36. Clypeus 0.20. Sternum 0.74 long, 0.49 wide. Endite 0.21 long, 0.26 wide. Labium 0.09 long, 0.17 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.4 [0.49, 0.19, 0.14, 0.58], leg I 3.3 [1.02, 0.50, 0.78, 0.58, 0.42], II 3.05 [1.01, 0.45, 0.66, 0.52, 0.41], III 4.47 [1.40, 0.48, 1.06, 1.08, 0.45], IV 4.65 [1.38, 0.55, 0.89, 1.22, 0.61]. Leg formula: 4312. Setation. Palp: spineless; Legs: femora I and IV pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III pld 2 do 5 rld 1; patella I pld 1, II–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I pl 2 pld 1, II pld 1 pl 2 rld 1 rlv 3, III pl 2 pld 1 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 1do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; metatarsus I pl 1 pld 1 plv 1 rld 1, II pl 1 pld 2 plv 1 rl 1 rld 1 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Carapace slightly wider than abdomen, densely covered with fine black setae (Figs 7A–D, 8A–D); eye field dark, clothed with iridescent bluish scales forming shiny ocular region, with few black erect setae (Figs 7A, 8C); pair of transverse bluish scales above anterior eyes; pair of longitudinal white stripes extend from posterior eye forms a crescent shape pattern (Figs 7D, 8A, D), with additional white marginal bands. ALE’s posterior margin with rusty brown setae (Figs 7A, 8B–C). Clypeus sparsely covered with long white setae and intermixed with short black setae (Figs 7A, 8C). Chelicerae small, brownish with a thick mid-dorsal transverse layer of black setae; fangs short, pale brown (Fig. 8C). Maxillae, labium and sternum yellowish-brown. Legs short and stout, yellowish brown; leg I (tibia, metatarsus and tarsus) ventrally with long black setae (Fig. 8E). Abdomen covered with long black setae projecting forward anteriorly, dorsum covered with black and brown setae, with a pattern of transverse white wide stripe and V-shaped in its anterior half, and with three white spots (equal size) on its rear half; venter pale yellow, with poorly marked brownish speckles (Figs 7B–D, 8A–B). Palp (Figs 9A–G, 10A–B): segments pale yellow without any distinct colour pattern, except sperm duct brown; RTA and embolus black. Femur dorsal and prolateral sides provided with a bunch of long black setae shifting to white from apical region to cymbium, and their length decreases towards the distal region (Fig. 9C). RTA serrated from inner margin, basally broad abruptly narrowing distally, with the round tip (Fig. 9G). Tibia with a small conical apophysis, projecting ventrally (Figs 9A, 10A). Cymbium oval, densely covered with setae (Figs 9A–B, 10A–B). Functional tegulum with wide and robust, disc-shaped tegular process; well-developed proximal projection (Figs 9A–B, 10A–B); and conical poorly-developed, obtuse distal (DP) projections, directed at 10 o’clock position in ventral view (Figs 9A, 10A). Embolus short, wide, with blunt tip directed at 11 o’clock position in ventral view (Fig. 9A, D).
Female (paratype, Figs 7E–G, 8F–H)
Measurements: Body length 6.74. Carapace length 2.77, width 2.01. Abdomen length 3.97, width 3.15. Ocular area length 0.97, width 1.50. Eye diameters: AME 0.42, ALE 0.25, PME 0.09, PLE 0.26. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 1.36, ALE–ALE 1.03, PME–PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 1.18, ALE–PME 0.30, ALE–PLE 0.55. Length of chelicera 0.69. Clypeus 0.27. Sternum 1.08 long, 0.61 wide. Endite 0.35 long, 0.30 wide. Labium 0.17 long, 0.29 wide. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 1.5 [0.57, 0.21, 0.23, 0.49], leg I 3.33 [1.15, 0.50, 0.68, 0.54, 0.46], II 3.31 [1.14, 0.46, 0.78, 0.46, 0.47], III 5.36 [1.82, 0.60, 1.23, 1.16, 0.55], IV 5.55 [1.69, 0.62, 1.18, 1.42, 0.64]. Leg formula: 4312. Setation. Palp: femur do 1, patella 0, tibia 0, tarsus pl 1 plv 1 do 1 rld 1 rlv 1; Legs: femora I and IV pld 1 do 5 rld 1, II pld 1 do 5 rld 2, III pld 2 do 5 rld 1; patellae I–II pld 1, III–IV pld 1 rld 1; tibia I pl 2 plv 1 rlv 3, II pl 2 plv 1 rl 1 rlv 3, III pl 2 pld 2 plv 1 do 1 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 2, IV pl 2 pld 1 plv 1 do 1 rl 2 rld 1 rlv 2; metatarsi I–II plv 2 rlv 2, III–IV pl 2 pld 2 plv 2 do 1 rl 2 rld 2 rlv 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. General aspects essentially as in male except the followings: Coloration and pattern less bright and contrast (Figs 7E–G, 8F). Anterior eyes encircled with rusty brown intermixed white setae (Figs 7E, 8G). Chelicerae comparatively long; golden brown (Fig. 8G). Leg III–IV (tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi) with intermediate transverse bands of black setae. Abdomen pear-shaped; chevron pattern at posterior end (Figs 7G, 8F). Epigyne and vulva (Figs 9H–I, 10C–E). epigyne hirsute, plate flat with few folds medially, longer than wide (Figs 9H, 10C). Copulatory openings small, widely spaced, originating posterolaterally. Copulatory ducts short and wide, connecting receptacles almost directly to copulatory openings. Receptacles twisted, making 1.5 revolutions. Fertilization ducts wide, diverging, anterolaterally oriented (Figs 9I, 10D).
Natural history
Specimens of Stenaelurillus judithbleisterae sp. nov. were discovered within a tropical evergreen forest located in the Nilgiri hills of India. They were found on dry leaf litter that was interspersed with grass patches. The habitat featured a combination of bright sunlight and occasional shade provided by the tree canopy. The male individual being presented in this study caught attention swiftly due to the presence of shiny blue iridescent scales on its carapace, as well as a distinctive crescent-shaped mark.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
description: Published as part of Tripathi, Rishikesh, Kuni, Nikhil, Kadam, Gautam, Kumaran, Keerthana P. & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, 2024, Four new species and five new distribution records of the jumping spider genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Salticidae: Aelurillines) from India, pp. 124-156 in European Journal of Taxonomy 930 on pages 135-140, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.930.2485, http://zenodo.org/record/10902751