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 brevichelicera
sp. nov.
(
Figs 11
A–G, 12A–F)
Type
material
.
Holotype
male
(UMS), Poring Hot Spring, Kinabalu Park, Sabah,
BORNEO
,
11 XI 2009
, T. Yamasaki leg.
Paratypes
:
BORNEO
.
2 males
and
3 females
(
1 male
and
2 females
: UMS;
1 male
and
1 female
: BMNH), same loc. as the
holotype
,
13–14 XI 2010
, T. Yamasaki leg.
Diagnosis
. Small, orange to light brown species. In males, chelicera very short (
Figs 11
A–B); leg I robust and femur I basally broad. In females, spermathecae elongate-oval; anterior part of sclerotised copulatory ducts twisted once; posterior part of sclerotised copulatory ducts very narrow (
Figs 12
D–F); median pocket present in front of epigastric furrow.
Measurements
(male/female). Carapace length 1.90–(2.13)/1.75–1.95, width 1.14–(1.24)/0.93–1.04. Abdomen length 2.00–(2.55)/2.10–2.20. Chelicera length 0.85–(0.93). Sternum length 1.00–(1.20)/0.88–1.15. Width of eye row I 1.16–(1.24)/0.98–1.14; II 0.98–(1.10)/0.86–0.96; III 1.12–(1.22)/0.96–1.08. ALE–PLE 0.85– (0.90)/0.69–0.79; ALE–PME 0.43–(0.44)/0.34–0.40. Eye size: AME 0.39–(0.44)/0.34–0.40, ALE 0.19–(0.21)/ 0.18–0.19, PME 0.05–0.06 (0.05)/0.05–0.06, PLE 0.19–(0.21)/0.16–0.19.
Male
(
Figs 11
A–G). Cephalic part almost flat dorsally. Thoracic part strongly convex dorsally. Chelicera much shorter than carapace, with four prolateral and one to three very small retrolateral teeth; in lateral view ventral margin of chelicera strongly convex. Fang short and weakly sinuous, without tooth-like apophysis. Sternum relatively broad, scarcely overlapped by coxae. Leg I robust; femur I basally broad: coxa I large compared with other coxae. Abdomen elongate-oval with dorsal scutum that is weakly incised on each lateral outline anteriorly.
Palp (
Figs 11
E–G). Cymbium without apical spine. Tegulum large oval with thin seminal reservoir in prolateral part and thick reservoir along posterior edge of tegulum. Embolus forming two large oval coils; embolus coils occupying more than half of venter of cymbium. RTA curved, well developed. Flange of RTA poorly developed.
FIGURE 11.
M
.
brevichelicera
sp
.
nov
.
, 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, palp, dorsal view. (Scales. A–D: 1 mm; E–G: 0. 25 mm)
Leg spination. Femur I pd 1; patella I rv 1; tibia I pv 6, rv 6; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II pv 2, rv 3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2; femur III pd 1, rd 1; femur IV pd 1, rd 1.
Coloration and pilosity. Carapace pale orange to orange; cephalic part covered with sparse black hairs; surroundings of eyes black, covered with white hairs; thoracic part almost without hairs. Chelicera brown; its dorsum tinged with black. Maxilla and labium light brown. Sternum pale orange. Coxae cream. Abdomen dorsally covered with fine hairs; scutum translucent pale brown; seen through translucent scutum, anterior part cream and posterior part tinged with black.
FIGURE 12.
M
.
brevichelicera
sp
.
nov
.
, female. A, body, dorsal view; B, chelicera and carapace, lateral view; C, maxillae, labium, sternum and coxae; D and F, internal structure of epigyne, ventral view; E, internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view. (Scales. A–C: 1 mm; D–E: 0.25 mm; F: 0.10 mm)
Female
(
Figs 12
A–F). Cephalic part almost flat dorsally. Thoracic part strongly convex dorsally. Chelicera with four prolateral and five or six retrolateral teeth. Sternum and abdomen almost same as in males.
Epigyne (
Figs 12
D–E). Copulatory atria indistinct. Spermathecae elongate-oval; anterior part of sclerotised copulatory ducts twisted once; posterior part of sclerotised copulatory ducts very narrow. Median pocket present between proximal ends of sclerotised copulatory ducts.
Leg spination. Patella I rv 1; tibia I pv 6, rv 6; metatarsus I pv 2, rv 2; tibia II pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus II pv 2, rv 2.
Coloration and pilosity. Carapace light brown; cephalic part covered with sparse white hairs; white hairs forming lateral markings between cephalic and thoracic parts; thoracic part almost without hairs. Chelicera pale brown. Maxilla, labium, sternum and coxae almost as in males. Abdomen covered with fine hairs dorsally; narrow cream transverse band in anterior part of abdomen; dorsal scutum translucent pale brown; integument except for scutum pale grey.
Etymology
. The specific name is derived from the short male chelicera (Latin prefix “brevi-” (short) and noun “chelicera”).
Distribution
. Borneo.
Remarks
. The species is in external appearance very similar to
Myrmarachne mariaelenae
, but
M
.
brevichelicera
is distinguishable from
M
.
mariaelenae
by the dentition of the male chelicera:
M
.
brevichelicera
has retrolateral teeth on cheliceral venter, but
M
.
mariaelenae
without any retrolateral teeth (cf. Prószyński 2001).
Biology
. The species occurs in the lower vegetation of forest interior.