Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi Marathe, Sanap, & Maddison 2022, sp. nov.

Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi Marathe, Sanap & Maddison, sp. nov.

Figs. 52–72, 115.

Type material. INDIA: Andhra Pradesh: NW of Kuppam: Agastya Foundation campus, 12.825 to 12.826 °N 78.252 to 78.253 °E, elev. 800 m asl, 6 July 2019, coll. W. Maddison & K. Marathe, WPM#19-108. Holotype: ♂, IBC-BP287/ DDKM21.005. Paratypes: 6 ♂♂ (IBC-BP289 – IBC-BP291, IBC-BP297 – IBC-BP299), 5 ♀♀ (IBC-BP288 / DDKM21.035; IBC-BP292; IBC-BP293 / AS 19.7059; IBC-BP-294– IBC-BP296).

Additional material. 2 ♂ from INDIA: Karnataka: Kamalapura: near Camp Shristi, 13.2166 °N, 77.1913 °E, elev. 885 m, 24 October 2019, coll. R. Sanap.

Etymology. The name is derived from Sanskrit, shweta meaning white, mukhi meaning faced, referring to the male’s white face.

Diagnosis. One of the black and white species. A short, stout, hook-shaped embolus twisted retrolaterally near the pointy tip distinguishes S. shwetamukhi sp. nov. from other species, and most notably the similar S. albus, whose embolus is narrower, more extended, and with a blunt tip (Sebastian et al. 2015; figs. 2E, G). S. shwetamukhi sp. nov. differs from S. albus also in having prominent white spots on the male abdomen (S. albus, dark and spotless). S. shwetamukhi sp. nov. is also distinctive among the black and white species for the roundness of the TP, and the indentation on the prolateral edge of the salticid radix (at about 10 o’ clock).

Description. Male (based on holotype, specimen IBC-BP287/ DDKM21.005). Measurements: Carapace 1.63 long, 1.12 wide. Abdomen length 1.43, width 0.95. Leg lengths: I—2.9 (0.9, 0.6, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4); II—3.2 (1.2, 0.5, 0.6, 0.5, 0.4); III—4.0 (1.1, 0.6, 1.0, 0.8, 0.5); IV—3.7 (0.9, 0.6, 0.9, 0.8, 0.5). Leg formula: III-IV-II-I. Carapace narrow, about as wide as abdomen. Anteriorly black, sparsely covered with orange scales and black hairs. Medially brown. Two longitudinal white stripes running back behind PMEs. Two broad white bands along lateral margins. Clypeus densely covered with white hairs. Chelicerae vertical, narrow, brownish, covered densely with white hairs just below the clypeus. Palp (Figs. 52, 53, 56, 57): Femur, patella, tibia yellowish covered with white and black hairs. Cymbium brownish, covered with white and black setae. Embolus short, hook shaped. RTA somewhat translucent and curved. Legs robust, brownish black, with the first two pairs darker, especially the first, which is fully black from patella to tarsus. Legs covered with patches of white, orange, and black scales. Abdomen with broad anterior white basal band dorsally extending posteriorly on sides to encompass black central area. Two white spots in posterior half. Spinnerets black.

Female (based on paratype, specimen IBC-BP288/ DDKM21.035). Measurements: Carapace 1.53 long, 1.08 wide. Abdomen length 1.91, width 1.28. Leg lengths: I—3.0 (1.3, 0.4, 0.4, 0.5, 0.5); II—3.3 (1.5, 0.5, 0.4, 0.5, 0.5); III—6.0 (1.7, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 0.8); IV—5.6 (1.6, 0.9, 1.0, 1.4, 0.8). Leg formula: III-IV-II-I. Carapace slightly narrower than abdomen.Anteriorly black, sparsely covered with brown hairs. Remaining brownish. Two longitudinal whitish-brownish stripes running down behind PLEs. Two narrow white bands on lateral margin. Clypeus with two narrow bands of white hairs. Orange scales around PMEs. Chelicerae vertical, narrow, brownish black. Legs robust, brownish black, covered with white and black scales. Femur I black prolaterally. Abdomen with narrow black area with white hairs and broad yellowish area more posteriorly. Yellowish-white band on sides to encompass central black area. Two creamy yellow spots located medially. Epigyne (Figs. 54, 55, 58, 59): No distinct ECP visible. Copulatory openings are round.

Natural history. Stenaelurillus shwetamukhi sp. nov. specimens in Kuppam were found on dry leaf litter in small depressions or on rocks in gully bottoms within dry scrubland habitat (Figs. 116–118). Unlike other aelurillines in the area, these were not found in direct sunlight, but in shade of trees. Where they were found in leaf litter, they were apparently beneath the litter, for they showed up on the surface only when the leaf litter was disturbed.