The male of Marengo nitida with the description of M. rattotensis new species from Sri Lanka (Araneae: Salticidae)AuthorBenjamin, Suresh P.textZootaxa200613262536journal article10.5281/zenodo.174116595d5a9a-b0be-401b-af52-a6d4cdc98d791175532617411641774AC8-8FC1-4470-ABD2-E64A3398679DMarengo nitida
Simon,
1900
Figs
1
A, B, E,
2
A –E,
3
A –E,
4
A –C
Diagnosis.
The males of
Marengo nitida
are distinguished from that of
M.
crassipes
and
M.
rattotensis
by the thick, stout RTA (
Figs
2
A, B; Benjamin,
2004
: fig
65
C). Further, males and females of
M.
nitida
can be separated from all other
Marengo
spp. by the round opisthosoma. Separated from
M.
rattotensis
by the gradually sloping posterior border of the prosoma (
Figs
1
E –F). Distinguished from
M. striatipes
by the flat prosoma and enlarged femur I (Benjamin,
2004
: fig
67
A; Wanless,
1978
: figs
5
a, b).
M.
nitida
Simon, 1900: 401 (ď lectotype from Sri
Lanka, Southern province, Galle, MNHN 20415, examined).
M.
nitida
Simon, 1901: 488, figs 574–576.
M.
crassipes
Wanless, 1978: 266 (ad part.)
M.
nitida
Benjamin, 2004: 71–73.
Description.Male
. Total length:
2.8
; prosoma length:
1.6
, width: 1.0. Legs I: femur
0.6
, patella
0.3
, tibia
0.8
, metatarsus
0.5
, tarsus
0.2
. Markings as in
Fig
1
B. The male specimens examined were darker than
M
crassipes
, but are much lighter than males of
M.
rattotensis
. Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE (
Fig
1
B). Opisthosoma relatively rounded, red brown, no visible markings. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings (
Fig
1
B). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula
1432
. Tibia I with
2
/
2
/0/
2
spines, metatarsus I with
2
/
1
spines. Palp: tibia short, RTA short, stout (
Figs
2
A, B,
3
B, D, C). Cymbium oval, tip excavated (
Fig
3
D), bulb bilobed, embolus short, coils
1.5
times (
Figs
2
A, B,
3
A –C).
Female
. Total length: 3.0; prosoma length:
1.5
, width:
0.6
. Legs I: femur
0.5
, patella
0.2
, tibia
0.5
, metatarsus
0.3
, tarsus
0.2
. Markings as in
Fig
1
A. Prosoma dark brown, sides darker, with dark patches in front just behind the AME and white patches just below the PLE (
Fig
1
A). Opisthosoma round, light brown, dorsally with very characteristic markings. Legs I –IV laterally with dark markings. Eyes in three rows, first recurved, second and third straight and surrounded by dark rings (
Fig
1
A). Chelicera, labium and dorsal parts lighter in colour. Leg formula
1432
. Tibia I with
2
/
2
/0/
2
spines, metatarsus I with
2
/
1
spines. Epigynum and vulva as in
Figs
2
C –E.
Remarks.
Simon (
1900
) gives the
type
locality as Kandy but the museum labels give the
type
locality as Galle (original labels give no details of the exact locality). Simon (
1901
: fig
574
a) illustrates a specimen that has a rounded opisthosoma similar to the material from Galle and material examined for this study. I have no doubt that the current specimens examined by me are conspecific with
type
material.
FIGURE 1.
Photographs of
Marengo nitida
(A, B, E) and
M.
rattotensissp. n.
(C, D, F). A, D, female and B, C, male dorsal view. E, F, male lateral view. Note shape of prosoma; compare Figs E and F.
Distribution.
Known only from lowland rainforest in
Sri Lanka
.
Other material examined.SRILANKA
: Ratnapura district, Gilimale, Induruwa Jungle,
25
February
1979
, leg. KV Krombein, PB Karunaratne, T Wijesinghe, S Siriwardana, T Gunaawardana,
1
Ψ; same locality,
13–15
March
1979
, leg. KV Krombein, T Wijesinghe, S Siriwardana, L Jayawickrama,
1
♂
; Kegalle district, Kitulgala, Makande mukalara,
3–4
February
1979
, leg. KV Krombein,
1
♂
1
Ψ. All specimens have been deposited in the
USNM
.