Two new species of the jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from the genera Epeus Peckham et Peckham, 1886 and Piranthus Thorell, 1895 from India

Abstract

basal apophysis pointing postero-ventrad; the tegulum with a tongue-like process; the filiform embolus; and the epigyne with the long copulatory ducts having several loops [Meng et al. 2015]. Epeus currently comprises 15 valid species, of which the majority (nine species) have been reported from different parts of the Oriental Region. The remaining Epeus species extend their ranges to India, China and Nepal. The genus Piranthus Thorell, 1895 is represented by two species known from India and Myanmar [WSC, 2018], both remain known from the females only. Among them, P. casteti Simon, 1900 seems to be endemic to India, whereas P. decorus Thorell, 1895 was originally described from Myanmar but then had also been recorded from India [Caleb, Sanap, 2017]. Yet, Caleb & Sanap [2017] provided digital images of a general appearance of an unknown Piranthus male, while no male of the described Piranthus species has been recorded/described yet.In the present paper, we aim to describe two new species of Epeus and Piranthus based on newly collected materials from the coastal plains of Western Ghats and an estuarine island of southern India. Photos of live specimens of both species (Figs 1-6), as well as a map with collecting localities of the Epeus species in India and all the records of Piranthus are also provided. Material and methodsThe specimens were studied under a LEICA S8AP0 stereomicroscope. All measurements are in mm. Palp and leg segment lengths are given as follows: (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus (except palp), and tarsus) total. The micro-ABSTRACT. Two new species of the jumping spiders from different parts of India, collected from different expeditions, are diagnosed and described: viz., Epeus triangulopalpis sp.n. (#$) and Piranthus planolancis sp.n. ($). A detailed account of somatic and genitalic characters, digital images, B/W illustrations and live photos are given. A map with collecting localities of these species is provided as well.How to cite this article:

A phylogenetic and taxonomic review of baviine jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Baviini)

“…The Baviini is by far the smallest of the four major groups that compose the clade Salticoida (Maddison, 2015a), with far fewer described species (31 to date) than the other three groups (Astioida, ~ 600 species; Marpissoida, ~ 850; Saltafresia, ~ 3500). Baviines have been little studied, but recent works have begun to add to our knowledge quickly (Caleb and Sanap 2017;Kanesharatnam and Benjamin 2018;Malamel et al 2019;Caleb et al 2019;Nafin et al 2020), resulting so far in at least six genera currently placed in the Baviini (Bavia Simon, 1877, Bavirecta Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018, Indopadilla Caleb & Sankaran, 2019, Padillothorax Simon, 1901, Piranthus Thorell, 1895, and Stagetillus Simon, 1885Maddison 2015a; Kanesharatnam and Benjamin 2018;Malamel et al 2015Malamel et al , 2019Caleb et al 2019). The frequency of new species in recent collecting suggests that the group is much more diverse than it appears; e.g., Piranthus includes only two South Asian species described, but there are at least three new species in Singapore alone.…”

“…What serves as the ECP is not obvious; there may be two, folds posterior to the atrium on each side, midway between the epigastric furrow and the posteriormost part of the medial septum. If so, it may be intermediate between P. decorus, with a medial ECP (Caleb and Sanap 2017), and P. planolancis (Malamel et al 2019;Nafin et al 2020), with a pair of distantly separated lateral ECPs (Nafin et al 2020: fig. 17).…”

A new baviine species of the genus Maripanthus Maddison from India (Araneae: Salticidae)

“…In India the tribe was known from a single species, Padillothorax casteti (Simon, 1900), until another species, Bavia insularis Malamel, Sankaran & Sebastian, 2015 (presently Indopadilla insularis), was described (see Malamel, Sankaran & Sebastian, 2015). More studies in the past four years have increased our knowledge of this group considerably (Caleb & Sanap, 2017;Malamel et al, 2019;Caleb et al, 2019;Nafi n et al, 2020;Maddison et al, 2020). Of the 275 species of Salticidae currently known from India, seven species (2.5%) belong to the Baviini (Indopadilla -3 species, Piranthus -2 species, and one each of Padillothorax and Maripanthus) (see Caleb & Sankaran, 2021).…”

Diversity of Amycoida and Astioida (Arachnida: Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae) in India

“… Gujarat [53]  Maharashtra [54] 7. Piranthus planolancis Malamel et al, 2019*  Karnataka [55]  Kerala [55,56] 8. Piranthus sp.…”