Taxonomic study of the genus Myrmarachne of Borneo (Araneae: Salticidae)
Author
Yamasaki, Takeshi
Author
Ahmad, Abdul Hamid
text
Zootaxa
2013
3710
6
501
556
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3710.6.1
2f68fba9-85fd-49a0-9c2e-13374b8b72aa
1175-5326
248777
C5F537B3-8112-4CC7-A0AC-B5CA071AD9BA
Myrmarachne opaca
(Karsch, 1880)
(
Figs 36
A–G)
Synemosyna opaca
Karsch, 1880: 395
.
Myrmarachne opaca
: Banks, 1930: 211
,
Fig. 12
; Roewer, 1954: 948.
Non-type material examined
.
BORNEO
:
1 male
, Lambir Hills National Park,
Sarawak
,
1–7 XI 2009
, T. Yamasaki leg.;
1 male
, Inobong, Crocker Range Park, Sabah,
16 XI 2010
, T. Yamasaki leg.;
2 males
, Maliau Basin, Sabah,
7–10 XI 2011
, T. Yamasaki leg.
Diagnosis
. In males, thoracic part slightly longer than cephalic part; chelicera apically swollen and basally narrow; fang weakly sinuous without tooth-like apophysis; dorsal scutum on abdomen reddish brown.
Measurements
(male). Carapace length 3.05–3.30, width 1.70–1.74. Abdomen length 2.90–3.20. Chelicera length 2.70–3.05. Sternum length 1.85–2.00. Width of eye row I 1.50; II 1.30; III 1.50–1.54. ALE–PLE 1.14–1.18; ALE–PME 0.52–0.54. Eye size: AME 0.46–0.48, ALE 0.24–0.25, PME 0.08–0.13, PLE 0.26.
Male
(
Figs 36
A–G). Cephalic part almost flat dorsally, and its posterodorsal corner produced roundly above PLE. Constriction between cephalic and thoracic parts very narrow and deep. Thoracic part convex dorsally, slightly longer than cephalic part; in dorsal view lateral margins of thoracic part convex above coxa III. Chelicera apically swollen and basally narrow, with six prolateral and 15 retrolateral teeth; prolateral teeth confined to anterior half of chelicera. Fang weakly sinuous without tooth-like apophysis. Sternum slender, slightly overlapped by coxae I and III, and strongly by coxa II. Abdomen oval with broad dorsal scutum covering entire dorsum; scutum incised on each lateral outline anteriorly.
FIGURE 36.
M
.
opaca
, male. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, chelicera and fang, ventral view; D, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; E, palp, ventral view; F, palp, lateral view; G, palpal tibia, dorsal view. (Scales. A–D: 1 mm; E–G: 0.25 mm)
Palp (
Figs 36
E–G). Tegulum round with v-shaped seminal reservoir in anterior part. Embolus forming two round coils; embolus coils occupying less than half of venter of cymbium. RTA weakly curved. Flange of RTA not well developed.
Leg spination. Tibia I pv 5, rv 5–6; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2.
Coloration and pilosity. Carapace dark brown, covered with fine hairs sparsely. Chelicera dark brown, sparsely covered with white hairs dorsally. Maxilla, labium and sternum brown. Coxae tinged with blackish brown. Abdomen covered with very short black hairs; dorsal scutum reddish brown; area except for scutum pale reddish brown.
Distribution
. Samar Island (Karsch 1880), Panay Island, Luzon (Banks 1930) and Borneo.
Remarks
. The females are unknown.
Myrmarachne opaca
resembles
M. biseratensis
in external appearance, and moreover the dentition on the chelicera is similar between them. However, they are easily distinguished by the shape of the fang: the fang is weakly curved in
M
.
opaca
, but the basal half strongly arched in
M
.
biseratensis
.
Although we did not examine the
type
material of
Synemosyna opaca
, Dr. G. B. Edwards showed us pictures of
type
material, which agreed with the specimens in our collection (personal communication, 2013).
Biology
.
Myrmarachne opaca
is arboreal, and makes retreats on the upper side of leaves. The species often occurs on trees in artificial environments near forests.