A new species of Steriphopus Simon, 1887 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Chediminae), with the proposal of a new combination Author Sankaran, Pradeep M. 0000-0003-0884-5625 Division of Arachnology, Department of Zoology, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala 682 013, India pradeepmspala@rediffmail.com Author Tripathi, Rishikesh 0000-0002-9192-4609 Centre for Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Department of Zoology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala 680 125, India rishikesh.tripathi14@gmail.com Author Kadam, Gautam 0000-0002-8254-1323 Division of Arachnology, Department of Zoology, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Cochin, Kerala 682 013, India gautamkadam7wild@gmail.com text Zootaxa 2024 2024-06-25 5474 1 97 100 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5474.1.10 journal article 298911 10.11646/zootaxa.5474.1.10 deb92840-5ac0-416a-b5bf-c45778322312 1175-5326 12526826 Sceliraptor raffrayi ( Simon, 1893 ) comb. nov. Fig. 3 Sarascelis raffrayi Simon, 1893: 313 ( ♂ ). Type material. Holotype ♂ ( MNHN AR1703 ) from SINGAPORE , date unknown, collector unknown, examined based on photographs. FIGURE 2A–B. Copulatory organ of the holotype female of Steriphopus wangala sp. nov. A epigastric scutum, ventral; B endogyne, dorsal. Abbreviations: GG, grape-shaped gland; MTP, median transverse plate; PS, posterior edge of epigastric scutum; Re, receptacle; Sg, connective stalk of receptacle. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. FIGURE 3A–I. Holotype male of Sceliraptor raffrayi ( Simon, 1893 ) comb. nov. A habitus, dorsal; B same, ventral; C prosoma, dorsal; D eye group, dorsal; E–H left palp: E prolateral, F ventral, G retrolateroventral, H retrolateral; I labels found along with the specimen. Abbreviations: Dp, dorsal process of tegular apophysis; E, embolus; Ep, acute process of embolar base; Rb, retrobasal projection of cymbium; TA, tegular apophysis; Ti, intermediate branch of tegular apophysis; Tp, prolateral branch of tegular apophysis; Tr, retrolateral branch of tegular apophysis. Scale bars: A–B = 1 mm; C = 0.5 mm; D–H = 0.25 mm. Diagnosis. The male of S . raffrayi comb. nov. are most similar to those of S. murphyorum Zonstein & Marusik, 2022 from Kenya as both have a slender prolateral branch of tegular apophysis, and a similarly long tegular process, but it can be distinguished by the absence of a tegular spur ( vs . present), slightly curved distal part of retrolateral branch of tegular apophysis ( vs . U-shaped), and inclined basal process of embolus ( vs . directed upward) ( Fig. 3E–F cf . Zonstein & Marusik 2022 : figs 11, 29). Supplementary description of the holotype male ( Fig. 3A ). After Simon (1893) : carapace blackish red, legs rufous chestnut, opisthosoma tawny chestnut; carapace wrinkled, covered with setae; sternum rugous; opisthosoma oblong, hirsute; body length 7.00. Palp ( Fig. 3E–H ). Tibia swollen ( Fig. 3H ). Cymbium narrow, with short retrobasal projection ( Fig. 3H ). Bulb ovoid, without tegular spur ( Fig. 3F, H ). Tegular apophysis (TA) stout, slightly curved, with narrow, slender, slightly curved prolateral (Tp) and retrolateral (Tr), and flat, strongly curved intermediate (Ti) branches ( Fig. 3E–F ). Dorsal tegular process (Dp) moderately long, broader at base, gradually narrowing towards apex, distally curved; embolus (E) thin and fragile, with short and inclined rod-like process (Ep) at base ( Fig. 3E ). Female . Unknown. Distribution. Known only from the type locality. The record of this species from India ( Gravely 1921 ) is doubtful and refers most likely to a different species (see Tripathi et al. 2023 ). Justification of the transfer. An examination of the holotype male of S . raffrayi revealed that Simon (1893) misplaced this species in Sarascelis Simon, 1887 as its male palp has partly fused tegular sclerites, which are completely fused and integrated in Sarascelis species ( Fig. 3E–F cf . Zonstein & Marusik 2022 : figs 25–26). Instead, it shows similarities with the species of Sceliraptor : cymbium with a retrobasal projection, stout tegular apophysis with several branches, and thin embolus with a basal process ( Fig. 3E–H cf . Zonstein & Marusik 2022 : figs 8, 20, 26, 35). Based on these observations, we consider the transfer of Sarascelis raffrayi to Sceliraptor justified.