Phylogenomic placement and revision of Iranattus Prószyński, 1992 jumping spiders (Salticidae, Plexippini, Plexippina)

The jumping spider genus Iranattus Prószyński, 1992, distributed from Africa to southwestern Asia, has been placed within the Harmochirina because of their male palp structures and elongated third legs. Here, we present phylogenomic evidence that it belongs instead to the subtribe Plexippina, further supported by the presence of two coupling pockets in the female epigyne. In this study, we redescribe I. principalis (Wesołowska, 2000) and I. rectangularis Prószyński, 1992. Additionally, the female of I. rectangularis, the type species of the genus, is described for the first time, and we report its range extension east to India

A new species of Oecobius Lucas, 1846 from the Thar Desert, India (Araneae: Oecobiidae)

Tripathi, Rishikesh, Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil V., Sherwood, Danniella (2023): A new species of Oecobius Lucas, 1846 from the Thar Desert, India (Araneae: Oecobiidae). Zootaxa 5389 (4): 483-490, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5389.4.6, URL: https://www.mapress.com/zt/article/download/zootaxa.5389.4.6/5253

Oecobius thar Tripathi & Sudhikumar & Sherwood 2023, sp. nov.

<i>Oecobius thar</i> sp. nov. <p>Figs 1–5</p> <p> <b>Etymology.</b> The specific name refers to the Thar Desert, where this species lives, and is a noun in apposition.</p> <p> <b>Type material</b>. Holotype ♂ (NRC-AA-4153), INDIA: Rajasthan, Jaisalmer, Thar Desert, Sam area (26.8303°N, 70.5085°E). 235 m a.s.l., found on wall, collected by hand, 14 Aug. 2022, R. Tripathi coll. Paratypes: same data as holotype, ♂ (NRC-AA-4154), ♀ (NRC-AA-4155).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis.</b> <i>Oecobius thar</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> most closely resembles <i>O. cumbrecita</i> Wunderlich, 1987, <i>O. fortaleza</i> Wunderlich, 1992 and <i>O. infierno</i> Wunderlich, 1987 by the curved OTL (Figs 2A–C, 3), however it can be distinguished by the apex of the OTL ending with three denticles (Figs 2B–C), which are absent in <i>O</i>. <i>cumbrecita</i>, <i>O</i>. <i>fortaleza</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>infierno</i>. Females of <i>O. thar</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> can be distinguished by the triangle-shaped and heavily sclerotised epigyne (Fig. 2D, not triangle-shaped in all other known congeners).</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> <i>Male holotype</i>: Colour (in alcohol): carapace and dorsal and lateral faces of palp dark brown; legs beige, with black annulation on all segments; opisthosoma overall dark brown (darker than carapace), dorso-lateral outermost quarters mottled with white blotches, dorso-medial area with foliate pattern at posterior extent, spinnerets and ventral face of the opisthosoma dark brown (Fig. 1A–B). Total length 1.77. Carapace 0.75 long, 0.82 wide. Eyes: ALE 0.04, AME 0.06, PLE 0.08, PME 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.16, AME–AME 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.11, PME–PME 0.04. Opisthosoma 1.02 long, 0.68 wide. Legs: I 2.24 (0.68+0.13+0.50+0.51+0.42), II 2.51 (0.73+0.15+0.57+0.61 +0.45), III 2.55 (0.74+0.18+0.55+0.62+0.46), IV 2.69 (0.76+0.22+0.59+0.63+0.49). Palp: with massive oecobiid tegular lobe tapering strongly in proximal third, apex with three denticles, process present at base; embolus short; oecobiid tegular apophysis well-developed with two projections at apex, base with proximal process; membranous conductor present and rounded, anterior part of tegulum smooth and unmodified (Figs 2A–C, 3).</p> <p> <i>Female paratype:</i> Colour (in alcohol): carapace dark brown; legs beige and non-annulated; opisthosoma overall beige, overlain with black setae, dorso-median aspect with foliate pattern and two parallel black blotches, spinnerets and ventral face of opisthosoma mouse brown (Fig. 1C–D). Total length 1.89. Carapace 0.66 long, 0.72 wide. Eyes: ALE 0.04, AME 0.06 PLE 0.07, PME 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.16, AME–AME 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.14, PME–PME 0.03. Opisthosoma 1.23 long, 0.79 wide. Legs: I 2.12 (0.67+0.14+0.48+0.43+0.40), II 2.36 (0.72+0.16+0.55+0.51+0.42), III 2.43 (0.75+0.19+0.51+0.57+0.41), IV 2.71 (0.71+0.22+0.63+0.75+0.40). Genitalia: epigyne triangle-shaped, sclerotised, with prominent proximal apex and widely spaced copulatory openings; copulatory atrium prominent, copulatory ducts twisted, each with an anterior diversion in the proximal third, copulatory ducts connecting at apex to asymmetrical globular spermathecae (Figs 2D–E). We were unable to observe any fertilisation ducts, although cannot rule out their presence.</p> <p> <b> Colour <i>in vivo</i>.</b> Typically as found in the (freshly) preserved specimens, although both male (Fig. 4A–C) and female (Fig. 4D) are more vibrant in respective colours.</p> <p> <b>Natural history.</b> <i>Oecobius thar</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> exhibited a habitat preference consistent with a synanthropic lifestyle (Fig. 4E). A large number of specimens were observed by RT on a residential wall, where female specimens constructed small sheet webs housing a cluster of eggs. They were observed to primarily predate ants and dipterans. During prey capture, the females employed a dynamic strategy, swiftly manoeuvring around their prey and utilizing a continuous silk-spinning technique to entrap and immobilize the target (RT pers. obs.). This behaviour is in no way unique, having been reported in several other congeners (Glatz 1967; Voss <i>et al</i>. 2007; García <i>et al</i>. 2014; Líznarová <i>et al</i>. 2013; Líznarová & Pekár 2015).</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Known only from the type locality, in the Thar Desert (Fig. 5).</p>Published as part of <i>Tripathi, Rishikesh, Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil V. & Sherwood, Danniella, 2023, A new species of Oecobius Lucas, 1846 from the Thar Desert, India (Araneae: Oecobiidae), pp. 483-490 in Zootaxa 5389 (4)</i> on pages 485-488, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5389.4.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10417362">http://zenodo.org/record/10417362</a&gt

New records of the jumping spider Dexippus pengi Wang & Li, 2020 (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina) in India

Kadam, Gautam, Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, Tripathi, Rishikesh (2022): New records of the jumping spider Dexippus pengi Wang & Li, 2020 (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina) in India. Peckhamia 266 (1): 1-4, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.653368

Dexippus pengi Wang & Li 2020

Dexippus pengi Wang & Li, 2020 Figures 1–8 Dexippus pengi Wang & Li, 2020: 31, figs. 3A–C, 4A–F, 17C, 18C, 19C (♂ ♀). Type material (published photographs examined). Holotype ♂ (IZCAS Ar 39771) from CHINA: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna: Mengla County: Menglun Town: Menglun Nature Reserve: Mannanxing Village (21°53.49' N, 101°17.12' E), 9.08.2018, C. Wang et al. leg. Paratypes: 2♂ 2♀ (IZCAS Ar 39772–39775), same data as holotype (for the complete list of details, see Wang & Li, 2020). Other material examined. 1 ♂ (BNHS SP 417) from INDIA: Meghalaya: West Jaintiya Hills: Jowai (25°27'32.44"N, 92°12'47.32"E; 1376 m alt.), 05.02.2022, G. Kadam leg., from ground, by hand; 1 ♂ (BNHS SP 418), same data as above except Pelga falls, Tura: Rongdokgre village: West Garo Hills (25°32'56.02"N, 90°9'15.15"E; 159 m alt.), 16.02.2022; 1 ♂ (BNHS SP 419), same data as above except Eman Asakgre: South Garo Hills (25°20'22.96"N, 90°30'44.36"E; 213 m alt.), 08.02.2022. Diagnosis. For diagnostic features of this species see Wang & Li (2020). Supplementary description. Male (Figures 1–7). Carapace brick red, covered with black appressed hairs, laterally provided with broad bands of white hairs (Figures 1–2). Eye field dark, covered with appressed black hairs intermixed with long black hairs; rim of eyes with golden brown hairs. Fovea narrow, straight, longitudinal, reddish-brown. Clypeus low, covered with white setae (Figures 1, 3). Chelicerae long, robust; promargin with two teeth (proximal small and distal large), retromargin with a single large tooth (Figure 4). Labium and endites reddish-brown with pale white tips. Sternum yellowish-brown, covered with grey hairs. Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid, yellowish with black markings on dorsum and sides forming numerous pale yellowish speckles, posteriorly with a chevron pattern (Figures 1–2); venter creamy-yellow. Legs reddish-brown; I–II robust with white patches on patellae. Spinnerets creamy yellow with black longitudinal stripes, covered with white hairs. Body length 5.25. Carapace 2.49 long, 1.91 wide. Opisthosoma 2.76 long, 1.36 wide. Ocular area 1.12 long, 1.61 wide. Eye diameters and intraocular distances: AME 0.56, ALE 0.29, PME 0.07, PLE 0.31; AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.02, PME– PME 1.49, ALE–ALE 1.15, PME–PLE 0.25, PLE–PLE 1.36, ALE–PME 0.26, ALE-PLE 0.58. Chelicerae 0.91 long. Clypeus 0.03 high. Sternum 0.94 long, 0.67 wide. Measurements of pedipalp and legs: pedipalp 2.07 [0.79, 0.30, 0.31, 0.67], leg I 4.54 [1.46, 0.73, 1.11, 0.75, 0.49], leg II 3.94 [1.32, 0.61, 0.90, 0.65, 0.46], leg III 4.67 [1.55, 0.63, 0.98, 0.97, 0.54], leg IV 4.89 [1.53, 0.63, 1.03, 1.10, 0.60]. Leg formula: 4312. Spination of pedipalp and legs: pedipalp femur I–II pld 2 do 3, III–IV pld 2 do 3 rld 1; patella I–II pl 1, III– VI pl 1 rl 1; tibia I–II pld1 pl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III–IV pld 1 pl 2 plv 3 rld 2 rl 1 rlv 3; metatarsus I–II pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III–IV pld 2 pl 1 plv 2 rld 2 rl 1 rlv 2; tarsus I–IV spineless. Pedipalp (Figures 5–7) segments brown. RTA short, broad, with angular apex having slight prolateral curvature, with a small retrolateral thorny protrusion (Figures 5–7). Bulb almost round (Figure 5); embolus stout, originating apicoprolaterally, curved retrolaterally, with upward directed tip (Figure 5). Female. For description and illustrations of the female, see Wang & Li (2020). 7, Same as (6), detail of retrolateral tibial apophysis. Distribution (Figure 8). China (World Spider Catalog, 2022), India (new record).Published as part of Kadam, Gautam, Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu & Tripathi, Rishikesh, 2022, New records of the jumping spider Dexippus pengi Wang & Li, 2020 (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippina) in India, pp. 1-4 in Peckhamia 266 (1) on pages 2-4, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.653368

Phylogenomic placement and revision of Iranattus Prószyński, 1992 jumping spiders (Salticidae, Plexippini, Plexippina)

The jumping spider genus Iranattus Prószyński, 1992, distributed from Africa to southwestern Asia, has been placed within the Harmochirina because of their male palp structures and elongated third legs. Here, we present phylogenomic evidence that it belongs instead to the subtribe Plexippina, further supported by the presence of two coupling pockets in the female epigyne. In this study, we redescribe I. principalis (Wesołowska, 2000) and I. rectangularis Prószyński, 1992. Additionally, the female of I. rectangularis, the type species of the genus, is described for the first time, and we report its range extension east to India

Revision on the genus Bubopsis MacLachlan, 1898 known in India (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Ascalaphinae)

The ascalaphid, Bubopsis zarudnyi Martynova, 1926 is recorded for the first time from India. Bubopsis rubrapunctata Ghosh, 1981 was the only owlfly species previously described from India from the genera. The two species are revised from a taxonomic point of view and Bubopsis zarudnyi is redescribed. The habitat and flight activity of the species is documented. Based on the re-identified specimens preserved in different collections, the distribution of the species is outlined. After examining type specimens, Bubopsis rubrapunctata is removed from the genus Bubopsis MacLachlan, 1898 and Pseudobubopsis gen. n. is erected for Pseudobubopsis rubrapunctata (Ghosh, 1981) (comb. n.). Also, the new genus is compared with Bubopsis, and generic key is provided

First record of Siamspinops Dankittipakul & Corronca, 2009 from India, first description of the female of Makdiops shevaroyensis (Gravely, 1931), and a catalogue of Indian selenopid fauna (Araneae, Selenopidae)

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Kadam, Gautam, Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil Vasu, Tripathi, Rishikesh (2022): First record of Siamspinops Dankittipakul & Corronca, 2009 from India, first description of the female of Makdiops shevaroyensis (Gravely, 1931), and a catalogue of Indian selenopid fauna (Araneae, Selenopidae). Zootaxa 5194 (1): 109-121, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5194.1.

Fig. 1 in New species of Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Palpimaninae), with a catalogue of the Indian palpimanid fauna

Fig. 1. Field photographs of Palpimanus spp. (A–F) and images of their collecting localities (G–H). A–B, G. Palpimanus godawan Tripathi & Sankaran sp. nov. A–B. Female. G. Distant view of collecting locality (Myajlar). C–F, H. Palpimanus maldhok Kuni, Tripathi & Sankaran sp. nov. C–D. Male. E– F. Female. H. Distant view of collecting locality (Boramani). Figures are not to scale. Photo credits: A–B, G, Rishikesh Tripathi, C–F, H, Nikhil Kuni.Published as part of Tripathi, Rishikesh, Sankaran, Pradeep M., Kuni, Nikhil & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil V., 2023, New species of Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Palpimaninae), with a catalogue of the Indian palpimanid fauna, pp. 26-50 in European Journal of Taxonomy 891 on page 30, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2265, http://zenodo.org/record/833494

Fig. 4 in New species of Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Palpimaninae), with a catalogue of the Indian palpimanid fauna

Fig. 4. Palpimanus godawan Tripathi & Sankaran sp. nov., chelicera and legs of holotype, ♂ (NRC- AA-4169) (A–D) and paratype, ♀ (NRC-AA-4170) (E–H). A, E. Left chelicera showing keel, retrolateral view. B. Enlarged view of left leg I showing tubercles, prolateral view. C, G. Left leg I showing prolateral scopula on tibia, metatarsus and tarsus, prolateral view. D, H. Left leg II showing preening brush. F. Left leg I, prolateral view. Arrows indicate preening brush. Scale bars: A, E = 0.2 mm; B, D, G–H = 0.5 mm; C, F = 1 mm.Published as part of <i>Tripathi, Rishikesh, Sankaran, Pradeep M., Kuni, Nikhil & Sudhikumar, Ambalaparambil V., 2023, New species of Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae, Palpimaninae), with a catalogue of the Indian palpimanid fauna, pp. 26-50 in European Journal of Taxonomy 891</i> on page 33, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2023.891.2265, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8334945">http://zenodo.org/record/8334945</a&gt