A new genus and three new species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Sri Lanka

A new genus of jumping spiders, Bavirecta gen. nov. is proposed to include the type species B. fl avopuncta gen. et sp. nov. and Bavirecta exilis (Cao et al., 2016) gen. et comb. nov. Distinguishing characters of Bavirecta gen. nov. include: 1) tubular abdomen, 2) enlarged front legs, 3) straight and pointed embolus, broadest proximal lobe with black blotches, 4) prolateral tegular lobe, 5) widely separated anterior atria. Furthermore, two new species, Schenkelia aurantia sp. nov. (♂♀) and Brancus calebi (♂) sp. nov., are described and diagnosed. Mogrus frontosus (Simon, 1871) is redescribed based on a male collected from Mandaitivu Island of Jaffna District in Sri Lanka. The genera Brancus Simon, 1902, Mogrus Simon, 1882 and Schenkelia Lessert, 1927 are reported for the fi rst time from Sri Lanka (Brancus and Schenkelia are recorded for the fi rst time outside Africa).


Introduction
The jumping spider fauna of Sri Lanka is remarkably diverse, harbouring 86 species placed in 50 genera, 12 tribes and 5 subfamilies (World Spider Catalog 2018), with a large endemic component. Recent fi eldwork conducted around the country suggests that this might only be a small fraction of the island's jumping spider biodiversity. Descriptions of most of the currently known species are 'old' nominal descriptions that lack illustrations. However, this picture has progressively been changing with several 'new' descriptions of salticid taxa (Benjamin 2004(Benjamin , 2006(Benjamin , 2010(Benjamin , 2015Edwards & Benjamin 2009;. The main goal of the present study is to add to this body of data by describing / redescribing several taxa, either new to science or new to the island's biota.

R e s e a r c h a r t i c l e
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:51E7D466-5ABE-458B-ACAF-C83CA975BB97 genera with the goal of erecting monophyletic species groups (Maddison 2015). However, such large-scale revisionary studies, though desirable, are diffi cult to achieve and time consuming. In the meantime, biodiversity loss -human induced or otherwise -continues unabated. This paper describes several endemic taxa with the goal of broadening our knowledge of them and eventually aiding their conservation.

Material and methods
Methodology and taxonomic descriptions are based on the format of  and . Sampling was primarily done by beating vegetation up to a height of approximately 1.5 m. Collected specimens were preserved in 70% and/or 100% ethanol for further study. An Olympus SZX7 stereo microscope was used for the identifi cation of spiders. Female genitalia were excised and digested with the Sigma Pancreatin LP 1750 enzyme complex; male palps and epigynes were cleared and mounted with methyl salicylate for examination (Alvarez-Padilla & Hormiga 2008;Dingerkus & Uhler 1977). An Olympus BX51 microscope with attached drawing tube was used for drawings of male palps, epigynes and vulva. A Nikon D80 camera with a macro lens was used to image live spiders. Photographs of palps, epigynes and intact spiders were taken with a Leica MC170 HD camera mounted on a Leica M205C stereo microscope using Leica Application Suite software (Leica Microsystems Limited, Germany). Images were merged with Helicon Focus image stacking software (v. 6, Helicon Soft Ltd), edited with Adobe Photoshop CC and assembled using Adobe Illustrator CS6. All measurements are in millimeters.

Etymology
A combination of the prefi x 'bavi' and the suffi x 'recta'. 'Bavi' is taken from Bavia and refers to the Bavia-like appearance of members of the genus. 'Recta' is derived from the Latin, meaning straight, and refers to the orientation of the embolus.

Description
Large, fl attened foliage-dwellers. Prosoma oval, relatively fl at, with central lighter trapezoid dorsally (Cao et al. 2016) present in both sexes but more pronounced in females (Figs 1A,3A). Prosoma broader than abdomen, eye fi eld slightly elevated, sternum oval. Posterior margin of prosoma truncated. Pedicel obscured by anterior portion of abdomen. Abdomen elongated, tubular, broadest anteriorly and narrowing to posterior end with long spinnerets. Dorsum of abdomen with bright yellow or light brown markings (Figs 1A,3A). First pair of legs much darker than other pairs and more robust, with elongated femur I, patella I and tibia I. Tibia I with ventral spines in two rows of three each, metatarsi I with 2-2 ventral spines on distal half (Cao et al. 2016). Embolus medium sized, straight and pointed, with or without retrolateral membranous margin, tegulum with broad posterior lobe with black blotches and well-developed prolateral lobe; RTA curved ventrally, medium-sized, slightly shorter than tibia  (Karsch, 1880)). However, all species of Bavia differ from Bavirecta gen. nov. by their comparably very short RTA.

Etymology
The species name is from the Latin terms, 'fl avo' and 'puncta' and refers to the yellowish brown semicircular markings behind the PLEs.  KANESHARATNAM N. & BENJAMIN S.P., New Salticidae from Sri Lanka shape, edges bordered with fawn colour. Leg I dark brown and robust, femur I, patella I and tibia I massive and more elongated, others brownish yellow and femur IV with black blotches on the lateral sides ( Fig. 1A-B). Abdomen much longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum, yellowish dark brown ornamented with bright yellow blotches arranged in two rows from anterior to posterior end (Fig. 1A). Venter greyish yellow with brown dash-line from epigastric furrow to brownish black posterior end. Spinnerets yellowish brown (Fig. 1B).

Remarks
The type species Bavirecta fl avopuncta gen. et sp. nov. and B. exilis gen. et comb. nov. are very similar to each other in somatic as well as genital morphology. Both species differ considerably in genital structures from the type species of Bavia, B. aericeps (see discussion below). Bavirecta exilis gen. et comb. nov. shares the presence of a short, straight embolus and the broad PLT with Bavia aericeps, B. capistrata and B. intermedia. However, it differs from them by the relatively long RTA and the well-developed retrolateral membranous margin of the embolus. Bavirecta exilis gen. et comb. nov. is described in detail and diagnosed in Cao et al. (2016).

Diagnosis
Body with slightly oval or pear-shaped prosoma and elongated narrow abdomen. A pair of tear-shaped spots on the area of fovea (sometimes poorly visible in dark-coloured specimens) is also characteristic (Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011;Wesołowska & Haddad 2013). In most species, abdomen with European Journal of Taxonomy 444: 1-24 (2018) contrasting pattern of transverse bands or median light band. Chelicerae unidentate. First two pairs of legs substantially stouter and longer than the rest, with numerous spines. Bulbus generally rounded and oval in some species (Wesołowska & Edwards 2012), characterized by small, triangular fl ap. Thin and long embolus encircling bulbus partially or fully. Palpal tibia with short-or medium-sized apophysis. Epigyne with sclerotized egigynal grooves which are spiral, with strongly sclerotized fl anges (Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011), sometimes partially divided by arches associated with the genital openings. CD simple, spermathecae oval or bent (Prószyński 2016).

Distribution
These are the fi rst records of the genus for Sri Lanka and India. Brancus was previously only known from Africa.

Remarks
Brancus calebi sp. nov. was misidentifi ed and described as Thyene bivittata Xie & Peng, 1995 by Caleb & Mathai (2014). However, it differs considerably from T. bivittata as well as from other species of Thyene by the general habitus (see Discussion). Our specimen, a male collected from Ethagala, is conspecifi c with the Indian specimen illustrated and described as Thyene bivittata in Caleb & Mathai (2014). We were unable to examine the Indian specimen for further study and confi rmation. Oval shaped prosoma with orange pale-yellow posterior median band extending laterally above PLEs (Fig. 4A). A pair of brown stripes run from edge of eye fi eld to posterior margin of cephalothorax. Lateral prosoma covered with tuft of pale yellow scales. Anterior eyes surrounded by white scales anteriorly and reddish orange scales posteriorly, clypeus reddish brown, covered with stripes of white scales. Fovea indistinct. Chelicerae reddish black, with 2 promarginal and 1 retromarginal tooth with bifurcated tip (Caleb & Mathai 2014). Sternum oval in shape. Posterior prosoma rather steep and its margin slightly truncated. Legs dark brown, enclosed with spines, other than pale brown metatarsus and tarsus. Abdomen dark brown and elongated oval-shaped. Dorsum decorated with a greyish yellow longitudinal median band densely covered with fi ne grey-white hairs (Fig. 4A); three or four chevrons posteriorly extending from anterior to spinnerets. Venter yellowish brown with brown longitudinal markings in preserved specimens (Fig. 4B). Lateral abdomen dark brown along its length. Spinnerets dark brown.

Distribution
India, Sri Lanka.

Diagnosis
This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the broad RTA with a dorsally curved small tip (Figs 5A-B, 7D-E). It is closely related to M. antoninus Andreeva, 1976(Andreeva 1976). However, it differs by the relatively shorter RTA with dorsally curved prominent tip and the position of the protrusion of the bulbus (Figs 5A-B, 7C-E).  COLOR AND BODY. In life, clypeus covered with tuft of long white scales (Fig. 6A, C). Brown prosoma covered with pale white and yellowish brown hairs and lateral prosoma with broad white bands (Fig. 6A-D). Chelicerae and labium black in colour. Anterior prosoma narrower than posterior region. Ocular fi eld slightly raised. PMEs and PLEs surrounded by black blotches. Fovea distinct. In preserved specimens, brown prosoma interspersed with grey hairs, posterior prosoma decorated with black stripe pattern (Fig. 7A), steeper and its margin slightly truncated. Sternum yellowish brown and oval in shape, edges bordered with brown colour (Fig. 7B). Legs yellowish brown. Abdomen slightly longer and narrower than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum pale white, with yellowish brown longitudinal, median, serrated stripe with black dots from anterior to posterior end ( Fig. 6B-D). Venter yellowish brown with blackish grey median marking. Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Material examined
PALP. Yellowish brown palp with brown cymbium. Cymbium short and narrower at distal region. Thin and long embolus originating perpendicular to bulbus and bending parallel to it in a semicircle (Figs 5A, 7C-D). Bulbus irregular oval, with prominent protuberance on retrolateral position of bulbus above point of origin of embolus (Figs 5A-B, 7D-E; Andreeva et al. 1981). RTA moderately long, broader at the base and bent dorsally at the tip (Figs 5A-B, 7D-E).

Diagnosis
Prosoma with black and slightly elevated eye fi eld. Chelicerae with a bifi d tooth on the inner posterior margin and two simple teeth on the inner anterior margin. Ovoid, tapered abdomen, almost as long as prosoma. Palp with an oval bulbus and with very conspicuous posterior and apical lobe. Embolus broad based, short and robust. Cymbium short. RTA thin and undulating, with sclerotized process or bifurcated. The anterior dorsal edge of the palpal tibia with rounded fl aps (Prószyński 1968). Epigyne a simple pair of semicircular depressions, leading to the copulatory openings. Copulatory ducts are not discernible. Spermathecae gobular, with thick walls. See Prószyński (1968) for a detailed description of the type species.

Distribution
Africa, Sri Lanka. This is the fi rst record of Schenkelia outside of Africa

Diagnosis
This species is rather similar to S. modesta Lessert, 1927 in the shape of the bulbus and ALT, short embolus in males, and presence of sclerotized atria and lack of CD in females. However, it can readily be distinguished from the latter by the shape of the posterior lobe of the bulbus, comparably shorter ALT and bifurcated RTA in males (Figs 9D-E, 10A-B), and shape of the atria, double chambered spermathecae and shape of FD (Figs 10C-D, 11C-D) in females.

Etymology
The specifi c epithet is derived from the Latin term 'aurantia' and refers to the orange-coloured markings around PLEs and PMEs. COLOR AND BODY. In preserved specimens, prosoma brown in colour, longer than wide. Ocular area black with a broad impression between PLEs. Dark black transversal stripe on posterior prosoma (Fig. 9A). Fovea indistinct. Posterior prosoma much steeper and its margin slightly truncated. Sternum yellowish brown and oval in shape, edges bordered with brown colour (Fig. 9B). Legs brownish yellow and with dark brown banding patterns. Abdomen ovoid, slightly shorter and narrower than prosoma, tapering European Journal of Taxonomy 444: 1-24 (2018) posteriorly ( Fig. 9A-B). Dorsum blackish brown, ornamented with two yellowish brown transversal bands on anterior abdomen and irregular blotches on posterior half (Fig. 9A). Venter yellowish brown with brownish black lateral markings and irregular blotches at posterior end (Fig. 9B). Spinnerets yellowish brown.

Holotype
PALP. Yellowish brown. Cymbium shorter and narrower at distal region. Embolus short, curved retrolaterally and immovable on apical portion of bulbus. Bulbus nearly rounded, with well-developed posterior lobe and broadened sperm duct. Spermatophore loop clearly visible at antero-lateral portion of bulbus. Mid-tegulum with small irregular posterior lobe. RTA bifurcated, with two branches of unequal in size, one moderately long and curved at tip, the other short and pointed.  COLOR AND BODY. In life, chelicerae blackish brown, clypeus narrowed (Fig. 8B, D). Prosoma yellowish brown with white markings and blackish brown stripe pattern on posterior region (Fig. 8A, C). Ocular fi eld glossy black and slightly raised. AMEs and ALEs enclosed with pale yellow scales. PLEs and PMEs covered with yellowish orange and pale white patches laterally (Fig. 8A, C). Chelicerae and labium pale brown in colour. Light brown legs. Abdomen slightly shorter and broader than prosoma, tapering posteriorly. Dorsum brownish grey, decorated with irregular greyish white and black patches and anterior margin of abdomen covered with tuft of white scales (Fig. 8A-D). In preserved specimens, venter yellowish brown with unevenly distributed, irregular dark grey patches (Fig. 11B). Other characters as in males.

Discussion
Bavirecta fl avopuncta gen. et sp. nov. was provisionally placed in the genus Bavia, based on its superfi cially similar habitus (Cao et al. 2016). However, it differs considerably from the type species of the genus Bavia, B. aericeps, by the presence of the long RTA, the broader posterior lobe of the tegulum with black blotches, the relatively longer and narrower copulatory ducts, the pear-shaped spermathecae, and the absence of a mid-posterior projection on the epigynum (very short RTA, compact and wider CD, midposterior projection in B. aericeps; see Berry et al. 1997). However, although most current members of Bavia are somatically very similar, their genitalia differ considerably, displaying an enormous diversity in the genital structures (Maddison 2015;Prószyński 2016;Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold 2013). Thus, most probably, Bavia is polyphyletic and in urgent need of taxonomic attention. Nevertheless, Bavirecta fl avopuncta gen. et sp. nov. and B. exilis gen. et comb. nov. could clearly be recognized as evolutionarily distinct, warranting the erection of a new genus. Further, Maddison (2015) stated that members of the tribe Baviini share consistent plesiomorphic characters (elongated and fl attened body form and typical oval palp with fi xed embolus) with possibly related marpissines and viciriines, but without any unambiguous synapomorphies to delimit baviines.
The genera Brancus and Thyene are included in the tribe Plexippini, subtribe Plexippina due to the shared presence of a round bulb and the simple, fi xed embolus. However, there are no known synapomorphies in support of this grouping (Maddison 2015). Brancus differs considerably from T. bivittata, as well as from other Thyene, by the following characters of the latter as follows: shape fl atter, more elongate (compact in Brancus calebi sp. nov. and in other Brancus), prosoma much broader at the third eye row (oval in Brancus), robust fi rst pair of legs (slightly enlarged in Brancus) and presence of a pair of lateral tufts of hairs near PMEs (absent in Brancus). Furthermore, some species classifi ed in Thyene, including Thyene bivittata, differ from the type species T. imperialis (Rossi, 1846) especially by their habitus. Brancus calebi sp. nov. closely resembles other species of Brancus, including the type species B. muticus, in palpal morphology as well as habitus. The discovery of females may further corroborate our generic placement, as species of both genera differ considerably by the internal epigynal structures (presence of a rectangular membranous window, coiled membranous ducts, multi-chambered receptacles in Thyene, against anterior depression, simple oval or bent spermathecae in Brancus; see Prószyński 2016). African Brancus spp and Asian Telamonia spp might seem similar due to their palpal structures, especially due to the presence of a fl ap on the bulbus. However, Asian Telamonia differ by their general habitus, the absence of the midpoint retrolateral expansion of the cymbium, the characteristic bunch of long, stiff setae at the same midpoint expansion of the cymbium and the internal structure of the epigyne (Prószyński 2016). KANESHARATNAM N. & BENJAMIN S.P., New Salticidae from Sri Lanka So far, four species of Schenkelia are known to science (World Spider Catalog 2018). Although there are some differences with the type species S. modesta (the absence of a thread-like, long RTA and the structure of the spermathecae), our specimens are placed in Schenkelia because of the similarities in habitus, palpal and internal epigynal structures. This placement is further corroborated by our unpublished molecular data: the 28S sequence of S. aurantia sp. nov. is sister to the sequence of Schenkelia modesta obtained from GenBank (accession # EU815487.1).

Conservation status
Bavirecta fl avopuncta gen. et sp. nov. is known from relatively few individuals and is restricted to high altitude forest (600-1300 m) in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The known localities are within protected areas. However, they are increasingly threatened due to woodcutting of old trees for timber, fi re wood collection, cultivation of vegetables / cardamom and simple vandalism. Climate change may pose a further threat to this endemic species. Assessment against the IUCN criteria (IUCN 2001) results in a status of vulnerable 'VU D1'. This assessment is based on an estimated population of less than 1000 adult spiders.