Kelawakaju nezha Yu & Zhang, 2025

Yu, Kun, Li, Yijing & Zhang, Junxia, 2025, Review of Kelawakaju Maddison & Ruiz, 2022 from China, with description of two new species (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae), Zootaxa 5636 (3), pp. 523-537 : 529-531

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5636.3.7
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74571759-5E11-4486-919A-ECAFEAD1E694
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15561812
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B53913-4C1E-FF9A-A395-FF0079CD1085
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Kelawakaju nezha Yu & Zhang
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Kelawakaju nezha Yu & Zhang , sp. nov.

Figs 1A View FIGURE 1 , 5– 6, 10E View FIGURE 5 View FIGURE 6 –H, 12I–J, S– T

Type material. Holotype ♂ (MHBU-ARA-00026019), Yunnan Prov., Nanhua Co., Yijie Township, Shikanzi Village , 25.1151°– 25.1171°N, 100.9171°– 100.9191°E, 2300 m elev., 11 August 2022, leg. Z. Yang. GoogleMaps Paratypes: 1♂ 2♀ (MHBU-ARA-00026906–00026908), same data as holotype GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the traditional Chinese mythological figure “Nezha”. In the myth, Nezha bravely fought against the dragon king and his minions, who posed a threat to humanity, and ultimately emerged victorious. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The males of K. nezha sp. nov. and K. orientalis Suguro, 2024 have similar appearances and slender emboli; however, the embolus of K. nezha sp. nov. begins to tilt towards the retrolateral side at approximately the proximal 1/3 position, forming a bend of about 60°, and features a reduced retro-ventral keel (RV) ( Figs 6A View FIGURE 6 , 10I, L View FIGURE 10 ); in contrast, the embolus is relatively straight and lacks the RV in K. orientalis (see Suguro 2024: fig. 4). The males of K. nezha sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from K. frenata and K. pomo sp. nov. by its distinctly elongated, curved embolus and the relatively reduced retro-ventral keel, which tapers smoothly at the end to eventually conform to the embolus ( Figs 6A View FIGURE 6 , 10I, L View FIGURE 10 ).

Description. Male. Measurements of CL / OL / OW for different individuals: MHBU-ARA-00026019 (2.97 / 1.27 / 1.75), MHBU-ARA-00026907 (3.57 / 1.45 / 1.94). Legs of holotype: I 7. 30 (1.98, 1.43, 1.73, 1.35, 0.81), II 4.98 (1.45, 0.92, 1.08, 0.92, 0.61), III 4.83 (1.41, 0.78, 0.96, 1.03, 0.65), IV 6.07 (1.66, 0.99, 1.51, 1.27, 0.64); leg formula 1423. Carapace. Dark, with relatively dense white scales on dorso-lateral sides, extending longitudinally from behind ALEs to posterior edge; small cluster of sparse white scales behind gap between AMEs; dark yellow, inconspicuous scales sparsely covering entire dorsal side ( Fig. 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Chelicerae. Paturon with diagonal white scales on anterior surface, extending from near chilum to subdistal part; with distinct paturon bump on anterolateral side; cheliceral furrow with two small pro-marginal teeth and one larger retro-marginal tooth ( Fig. 5G–H, J View FIGURE 5 ). Abdomen. Dorsal side with pale yellow scales on both sides, median melanic area covered by slightly sclerotized cuticle; ventral side with melanic bands on both sides, and median pale area; book lung covers green-brown ( Fig. 5E View FIGURE 5 ). Legs. Leg I significantly darker than other legs, legs II–IV pale yellow, with dark annuli at joints of segments; all legs sparsely covered with white scales, setae varying between dark or light, long or short; palpal femur with one dorsal median spine and one dorsal subdistal spine; all leg femora with two dorsal large bristles. Leg spination. Femur I: pd 2 (1/3 down from distal); tibia I: pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus I: pv 2, rv 2; femur II: pd 1 (1/5 down from distal); tibia II: v 2, pv1; metatarsus II: pv 2, v 2; femur III: pd 1 (1/4 down from distal); metatarsus III: v 1 (on distal); metatarsus IV: v 1 (on distal); other segments leg parts spineless. Palp. Bright from dense white scales and long white setae, white scales on dorsal of patella, tibia and distal of femur, pro-dorsal side of proximal of cymbium, long white setae on prolateral and retrolateral of patella, distal of femur, prolateral side of tibia and proximal of cymbium ( Fig. 10I–J View FIGURE 10 ). Embolus initially vertical from basal plate (BP), subsequently inclining retrolaterally from proximal 1/3, forming a bend of more than 70°; with relatively reduced retro-ventral (RV) keel; RV translucent, edge relatively smooth, extending from sub-proximal up to near median of embolus ( Figs 6A View FIGURE 6 , 10I, L View FIGURE 10 ). retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) base broad, narrowing medio-distally to rounded apex, not exceeding proximal 1/2 of cymbium.

Female. Measurements of CL / OL / OW for different individuals: MHBU-ARA-00026906 (3.55 / 1.43 / 1.85), MHBU-ARA-00026908 (2.93 / 1.18 / 1.72). Legs of paratype (MHBU-ARA-00026906). I 6.71 (2.03, 1.43, 1.48, 1.06, 0.71), II 5.20 (1.58, 1.03, 1.02, 0.88, 0.69), III 5.17 (1.51, 0.87, 1.03, 1.05, 0.71), IV 6.95 (1.97, 1.13, 1.77, 1.38, 0.70); leg formula 4123. Overall pattern like male, besides paturon lacking white scales and abdomen lacking dorsal sclerotized area. Leg spination as in male, besides lacking pv spine on tibia II. Epigyne. Rim of atria shallow, extending down and fading out. Anterior portion of spermathecae close to each other, separating and expanding into ellipsoid shape towards distal end. Accessory glands short, with length slightly longer than width. Fertilization ducts close to anterior portion of spermathecae ( Fig. 12S–T View FIGURE 12 ).

Natural history. All specimens were collected under the barks of a giant Eucalyptus tree in the type locality ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Yunnan, China.