Cytaea sinuata Doleschall 1859

Cytaea sinuata (Doleschall, 1859)

Figs 32–45

Salticus sinuatus Doleschall 1859: 18 –19 (type from Amboina, The Moluccas, lost, not examined).

Salticus floricola Doleschall 1859: 20 –21 (type from Amboina, The Moluccas, lost, not examined); synonymized by Thorell (1878) with Plexippus sinuatus.

Plexippus sinuatus: Thorell 1878: 240 –247 (female from Amboina, The Moluccas, O. Beccari, MCSN, examined, here designated as neotype).

C. sinuata: Simon 1899: 106; Simon, 1903: 812; Prószyński, 1984: 31.

Remark. Salticus sinuatus was described by Doleschall (1859) based on a female collected from Amboina (The Moluccas). Because of the loss of the type specimen, the first detailed re-description of the species (corresponding both with the original description and type locality) was made by Thorell (1878). In the interest of nomenclatural stability, the female described by Thorell (1881) is here considered a neotype. The material is currently deposited in the MCSN (Genoa).

Additional material examined. THE MOLUCCAS: Amboina: 1♂, Simon (MNHN 2735); NEW GUINEA: Somerset, Cape York and Fly River: 1♂, 1♀, 1 juv., 1875, L.M. D’Albertis (MCSN); Ternate and Sorong: 2♂ (in bad condition), 1872, L.M. D’Albertis (MCSN); AUSTRALIA: Walcott Inlet (South), c. 4 km NW of Mt. Talbot, 16°27′00″S, 124°45′43″E: 1♂, 1♀, May 1996, D. Knowles & F. Knowles (WAMP 115098).

Diagnosis. Embolus long, making two coils, arising at 12 o'clock (Figs 43–44). The plane of the spiral of embolus is diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the bulb. Embolic disc with crescent-like protuberance (Figs 42–44). The epigynal windows occupying about 1/2 of epigynal plate, the copulatory openings located anteriorly (Fig. 38). The males differ from C. nimbata by smaller loop of embolus. The females differ from C. rubra by shorter copulatory ducts.

Description. Female neotype (MCSN). Cephalothorax pale-yellow, covered with white and brown scales (Figs 32–33). Eye field wider than long, its length 47% of CL. PME halfway between PLE and ALE. Fovea short, located between PLE. Clypeus pale-yellow, narrower (20%) than AME diameter, covered with dense white scales (Fig. 34). Chelicerae pale-yellow, massive, obliquely projecting forward. Promargin with six teeth, retromarginal tooth bicuspid. Endites, labium and sternum whitish. Abdomen yellowish of leaf-pattern, covered with brown scales (Fig. 32). Venter pale (Fig. 37). Epigyne with highly sclerotized septum and copulatory openings, the last oriented towards each other. Copulatory ducts long, curved, its initial parts directed posteriorly, accessory glands easily visible (Fig. 40). Spinnerets pale. Legs light-yellow, with lighter dorsal parts, and distal tibiae and patellae. Leg formula: III-IV-I-II. Dimensions: CL 3.65, CW 3.10, AEW 2.30, PEW 2.30, EFL 1.45, CH 1.85, AL 4.25, AW 2.55.

Male from Amboina (MNHN). Cephalothorax high, dark-brown, covered with white scales forming belts along the margins of cephalothorax (Fig. 41). Eye field wider than long, its length 45% of CL. PME halfway between PLE and ALE. Fovea short, located between PLE. Clypeus brown, narrower (47%) than AME diameter. Chelicerae pale-brown. Promargin with five teeth, retromarginal tooth bicuspid. Endites and labium not distinctive, pale-yellow, with lighter chewing margins. Sternum longer than wide, yellowish. Abdomen elongate, light-brown covered by brown scales, especially numerous at the sides. Venter yellowish. Palps pale brown, femora with wide, with a yellow belt. RTA short, slightly hooked apically (Figs 43–45). Tegular lobe missing. The embolus loops widely about 3/4 of the bulb (Figs 43–44). Legs I brown, darker laterally, femora dorsally lighter. All legs with numerous spines. Leg formula: III-IV-I-II. Dimensions: CL 2.75, CW 2.31, AEW 1.95, PEW 1.69, EFL 1.23, CH 1.40, AL 2.78, AW 1.59.