Rhene pallida Caleb & Sanap & Tripathi & Sampathkumar & Dharmaraj & Packiam 2022, comb. n.

Abstract

<i>Rhene pallida</i> (Thorell, 1895) comb. n. <p>Figs 42–56, 72</p> <p> <i>Zeuxippus pallidus</i> Thorell, 1895: 333 (D ♀); Prószyński, 1984: 123 (♀); Żabka, 1985: 456, figs 639–645 (♀, D ♂).</p> <p> <i>Rhene argentata</i> Wesołowska, 1981: 47, figs 5–8 (D ♀).</p> <p> <i>Rhene decoratus</i> Tikader, 1977: 276, figs 4–6 (D ♀); holotype ♀ in NZC-ZSI, examined; <b>syn. n.</b></p> <p> <i>Rhene pantharae</i> Biswas & Biswas, 1992: 399, figs 29–31 (D ♀); holotype ♀ in the NZC-ZSI, examined; <b>syn. n.</b></p> <p>For a complete list of taxonomic references see WSC (2022).</p> <p> <b>Types.</b> <i>Rhene decoratus</i> Tikader, 1977: <i>Holotype</i> ♀ (NZC-ZSI) from <b>INDIA</b>, Maharashtra, Poona (presently Pune) Distr., Karla Govt. Rest House, 04.11.1963, leg. B.K. Tikader. <i>Paratype</i>: 1 ♀ (NZC-ZSI), together with the holotype.</p> <p> <i>Rhene pantharae</i> Biswas & Biswas, 1992: <i>Holotype</i> ♀ (NZC-ZSI 5369/18) from <b>INDIA</b>, West Bengal, Nadia Distr., Ranaghat, 16.02.1986, leg. K. Biswas.</p> <p> <b>Comments.</b> <i>R. decoratus</i> Tikader, 1977 was originally described from Maharashtra and was later recorded from West Bengal (Tikader & Biswas, 1981; Roy <i>et al</i>., 2016) and <i>R. pantharae</i> Biswas & Biswas, 1992 was described from West Bengal (Biswas & Biswas, 1992). Based on the detailed examination of the types of both species, they were found to be identical to <i>Rhene pallida</i> (Thorell, 1895) comb. n. in the following characters: the abdominal colour pattern with transverse black streaks and the genitalia morphology with comma-shaped sclerotized rims and central epigynal pocket; proximal portion of insemination ducts membraneous and bent S-like, mid-portion strongly sclerotized, running parallel along the median portion longitudinally; small spermathecae (cf. Figs 42–48 and Figs 51–55 with figs 5–8 in Wesołowska (1981), illustrations in Proszynski (1984: 123) and figs 643–645 in Zabka (1985)). Therefore, both the species <i>R. decoratus</i> and <i>R. pantharae</i> are treated as junior synonyms of <i>R. pallida</i>.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Vietnam (WSC, 2022), India (Maharashtra, West Bengal) (Fig. 72).</p>Published as part of <i>Caleb, John T. D., Sanap, Rajesh V., Tripathi, Rishikesh, Sampathkumar, M., Dharmaraj, Jayaraman & Packiam, Soosaimanickam Maria, 2022, Taxonomic notes on some South and Southeast Asian members of the genus Rhene Thorell, 1869 (Aranei, Salticidae, Dendryphantini), pp. 389-407 in Zootaxa 5125 (4)</i> on pages 398-402, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5125.4.3, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/6450909">http://zenodo.org/record/6450909</a&gt