Spartaeus karigiri Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam, 2025

Caleb, John T. D., Sudhin, Puthoor Pattammal, Nisha, B. G., Maliye, Chinmay C., Sanap, Rajesh V., Kadam, Gautam & Sen, Souvik, 2025, Novel additions to the jumping spider subfamily Spartaeinae Wanless, 1984 from India (Araneae, Salticidae, Spartaeini), European Journal of Taxonomy 997, pp. 77-98 : 82-88

Spartaeus karigiri Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:11601ECE-324C-47A0-8039-7E102C9A8C9C

Figs 4–7 , 12

Diagnosis

The male copulatory organ of S. karigiri sp. nov., is most similar to that of S. triapiculus Yang, W. Liu, P. Liu & Peng, 2017 , from which it can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: tibia with four apophyses including one dorsal apophysis (three in S. triapiculus , and without dorsal apophysis); embolus with broad base and pointed tip in ventral view (narrow, slender and relatively longer in S. triapiculus ) (cf. Figs 5D–F , 7A–C with Yang et al. 2017: figs 9b–c, 10a–b). The female genitalia are most similar to those of S. abramovi Logunov & Azarkina, 2008 from which they can be easily distinguished by the laterally aligned copulatory openings (anteriorly aligned in S. abramovi ); spermathecae globular and separated (ovoid and contiguous in S. abramovi ) (cf. Figs 5D–F , 7D–E with Logunov & Azarkina 2008: figs 55–56).

Etymology

The specific epithet ‘ karigiri ’, a noun in apposition, is derived from the popular name of Devarayanadurga Hill, near which the species was discovered. Karigiri translates to “Elephant Hill”, a reference to the hill’s resemblance to an elephant when viewed from the eastern side.

Type material

Holotype INDIA • ♂; Karnataka, Tumkuru, Halekote, near Deverayandurga Hill ; 13.3866° N, 77.2081° E; 837 m a.s.l.; 2 Apr. 2023; B.G. Nisha leg.; ZSI-SRC-I/SP 46 .

Paratypes INDIA – Karnataka • 1 ♀; Tumkuru, Halekote, near Deverayandurga Hill ; 13.3841° N, 77.2067° E; 864 m a.s.l.; 6 Jul. 2023; B.G. Nisha leg.; NZC-ZSI-9194/18 . – Tamil Nadu • 1 ♂; Villupuram District, Pasumalaithangal Village ; 12.225278° N, 79.352778° E; 127 m a.s.l.; 17 Sep. 2023; K. Gautam leg.; collected from tree bark; NCBS-AA-9041 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; collected from a boulder; NCBS-AA-9042 .

Description

Male (holotype, ZSI-SRC-I/SP 46; Figs 4A–C , 5A–E , 7A–C )

GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. Carapace brown, thoracic region yellow; outer carapace rim lined by thin white setae; a short strip of lateral white setae present below PLEs ( Figs 4A , 5A ). Eyes surrounded by black regions; anterior eyes surrounded by white orbital setae ( Fig. 5B ). Clypeus yellow-brown, cheek-region below ALEs covered with white band which runs behind until posterior thoracic region ( Fig. 5B ). Chelicerae brown with 4 large teeth on promargin and 8 small teeth on retromargin ( Fig. 5C ). Sternum oval, yellow-brown; labium and maxillae brown, apical portion of labium and inner portion of maxillae paler. Abdomen oval, brown, dorsally with yellowish and brown markings; posterior portion with three distinct brown spots ( Fig. 5A ); lateral sides brown; venter brown with light brown spots arranged longitudinally. Spinnerets yellow-brown. Legs yellow with brown patches and white hairs; femora I–IV with longitudinal prolateral and ventral brown stripes; all tarsi yellow ( Fig. 5A ).

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 6.49; carapace length 3.30, width 2.83; abdomen length 3.19, width 1.93. Eye measurements and inter-distances: AME 0.76, ALE 0.45, PME 0.28, PLE 0.44, AER 2.36, EFL 1.66, PER 2.03, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 1.52, ALE–PLE 1.08, PLE–PLE 1.50, PME–PME 1.32, PME–PLE 0.48. Clypeus height 0.10. Length of chelicera 1.28. Measurement of legs: leg I 17.23 [4.66, 2.18, 5.43, 3.86, 1.10], II 10.88 [3.27, 1.55, 2.76, 2.45, 0.85], III 10.70 [3.11, 1.31, 2.68, 2.71, 0.89], IV 9.58 [2.69, 1.01, 2.33, 2.56, 0.99]. Leg formula 1234.

COPULATORY ORGAN ( Figs 5D–F , 7A–C ). Palp yellow; tibia with four apophyses: ventral tibial apophysis finger-like and curved, directed apically in ventral view; intermediate tibial apophysis triangular, directed retrolaterally in ventral view; retrolateral tibial apophysis long, broad basally and tapering toward tip, dorsal margin with a flange in retrolateral view; dorsal tibial apophysis short, triangular, directed retrolaterally in dorsal view; tegulum oval, tegular apophysis triangular in ventral view; embolus originating from 11 o’clock position, broad basally and tapering toward tip ( Figs 5D–F , 7A–C ).

Female (paratype, NZC-ZSI-9194/18; Figs 6A–F , 7D–E )

GENERAL MORPHOLOGY. In all aspects as the male except the following: lighter than male in colour; femora I–IV without longitudinal brown stripes ( Fig. 6A–C ).

MEASUREMENTS. Body length 10.45; carapace length 4.15, width 3.43; abdomen length 5.30, width 3.10. AER 2.83, EFL 1.90, PER 2.48. Eye measurements and inter-distances: AME 0.89, ALE 0.57, PME 0.33, PLE 0.51, AME–AME 0.02, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 1.88, ALE–PLE 1.23, PLE–PLE 1.78, PME–PME 1.69, PME–PLE 0.60. Clypeus height 0.22. Length of chelicera 1.92. Measurement of legs: leg I 14.12 [4.32, 1.79, 4.11, 2.70, 1.20], II 11.25 [3.41, 1.36, 2.88, 2.40, 1.20], III 11.62 [3.33, 1.24, 2.81, 2.91, 1.33], IV 14.65 [3.90, 1.39, 3.82, 4.19, 1.35]. Leg formula 4132.

COPULATORY ORGAN. Epigyne with copulatory openings placed anteriorly and aligned laterally; copulatory ducts short and broad, enter spermathecae posteriorly; spermathecae globular; fertilization ducts short, located posteriorly ( Figs 6D–F , 7D–E ).

Natural history

The species is found on boulders, crevices and walls of old structures ( Fig. 4A–F ). It forms a simple silk retreat of thin layers of silk on bare rock as shelter. It was observed feeding on crickets in its natural habitat and primarily fed on moths in captivity.

Distribution

India (Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) ( Fig. 12 ).

Figures

Fig. 4. Spartaeus karigiri Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam sp. nov. A–C. Holotype, ♂ (ZSI-SRC-I/SP 46). D–E. Female (NZC-ZSI-9194/18). F. Female with egg clutch was not collected. A, D. Dorsal views. B, F. Lateral views. C, E. Front views. Photo credits: B.G. Nisha (B–C, E–F); Chinmay Maliye (A, D).

Fig. 5. Spartaeus karigiri Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (ZSI-SRC-I/SP 46). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, front view. C. Left chelicera, ventral view. D. Left palp, ventral view. E. Same, retrolateral view. F. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–B = 1 mm; C–F = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 6. Spartaeus karigiri sp. nov. Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam, paratype, ♀ (NZC-ZSI-9194/18). A. Carapace, dorsal view. B. Front view. C. Abdomen, dorsal view. D. Intact epigyne, ventral view. E. Dissected and cleared epigyne, ventral view. F. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C = 1 mm; D–F = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 7. Spartaeus karigiri Caleb, Sudhin, Sen & Kadam sp. nov. A–C. Holotype, ♂ (ZSI-SRC-I/SP 46). D–E. Paratype, ♀ (NZC-ZSI-9194/18). A. Left palp, ventral view. B. Same, retrolateral view. C. Same, dorsal view. D. Epigyne, ventral view. E. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–E = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Fig. 12. Distribution map of the species treated in this study.