Multilocus genetic and morphological phylogenetic analysis reveals a radiation of shiny South Asian jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae)
Author
Kanesharatnam, Nilani
Author
P. Benjamin, Suresh
text
ZooKeys
2019
839
1
81
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.839.28312
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.839.28312
1313-2970-839-1
4308901013EB43A79FDEAFA9E52AC431
Chrysilla Thorell, 1887
Type species.
Chrysilla lauta
Thorell, 1887
Diagnosis.
Carapace low, twice as long as eye field, gently sloping behind eye field, broader behind PME. Cephalic region slightly broad anteriorly, flat above. Hairy narrowed clypeus. Anterior eyes in a straight line. Chelicerae elongate, directed diagonally forwards, slightly diverging distally with prominent retrolateral tooth. Sternum broadly truncate in front. Legs IV longer than legs III. Abdomen longer and narrower than prosoma. Long dark spinnerets.
Furthermore,
Chrysilla
can be separated from
Phintella
by the bright, metallic colouration of body, narrower and longer abdomen, comparably slender, quite longer and gently bent embolus, elongated oval-shaped apical tegulum, much longer than wide genital bulb, elongated cymbium (
Ahmed et al. 2014
), single and strong RTA nearly half of the tegulum, copulatory openings separated by ca. one diameter, and pyriform or rounded spermathecae of epigyne (
Caleb 2016
;
Wang and Zhang 2012
). For a detailed diagnosis and description see
Ahmed et al. (2014)
,
Dyal (1935)
and
Proszynski
and Deeleman-Reinhold (2010)
.
According to
Proszynski
(2016)
Chrysilla
may be best recognised by its colouration. Further,
Caleb (2016)
also claimed that the presence of a colourful body with shiny scales separates
Chrysilla
from
Phintella
. However, as several species of
Phintella
such as
P. vittata
and
P. argentea
, also have a shiny body colouration and as shown in this study over reliance on body colouration could lead to ambiguities.
Remarks.
Caleb (2016)
suggested that
C. lauta
and
C. volupe
might be conspecific, as he was unable to differentiate them due to the minor differences in their somatic and genital morphology. However, we are able to diagnose
C. lauta
and
C. volupe
, based on our material from Sri Lanka as given below.