A new species of spider of the genus Peucetia Thorell (Oxyopidae: Araneae) from Digha, Midnapore, West Bengal, India

2004·1.2 MB·

by  Sumana Saha

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 101 (2), May-Aug 2004 288-290
A NEW SPECIES OF SPIDER OF THE GENUS PEUCETIA THORELL
(OXYOPIDAE: ARANEAE) FROM DIGHA, MIDNAPORE, WEST BENGAL, INDIA'
Sumana Saha2 and Dinendra Raychaudhuri2
'Accepted May 2001
’Department ofZoology, Lady Brabourne College, Government of West Bengal, P 1/2, Suhrawardy Avenue,
Kolkata 700 017, West Bengal, India,
Email: [email protected]
’Entomology Laboratory, Department ofZoology, University ofCalcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road,
Kolkata 700 019, West Bengal, India
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Onenewspecies,Peucetiagauntletarecordedfrom Digha, Midnapore isdescribedand illustrated.
Keywords: Spider,Oxyopidae,Peucetiagauntletasp. nov., Digha, Midnapore, WestBengal
INTRODUCTION is now represented by 14 species. The new species is
described and illustrated.
Recently, Gajbe (1999) reviewedthe taxonomy ofthe MATERIALANDMETHODS
poorly known oxyoptd spiders of India. He dealt with
20 Oxvopes spp. and 10 Peucetia spp. Of these, 6 of the The spider sample was collected and preserved
Peucetia spp. were recognised as new to science. Earlier, followingTikader(1987). The study was madeusing Stereo
Biswas(1975),Gajbe(1992),Pocock(1900)andTikader(1965, Zoom Binocular Microscope, Model Zeiss SV-8. The
1970) studied the genus Peucetia. measurements indicated in the text are in millimetres, made
With the present species, the genus Peucetia in India withaneyepiecegraticule.
Figs 1-6: Peucetiagauntletasp. nov. $ Holotype,
1 Wholebody,dorsalaspect;2. Cephalothoraxandchelicerae(Frontalaspect);3. Chelicera,frontalaspect;
4. Maxillae&Labium,ventralaspect;5. Sternum,ventralaspect;6. Epigynum,ventralaspect
. .
NEW DESCRIPTIONS
ofchelicerae. Cheliceraepaleyellow-green, robust,elongate,
basally broad, sparingly spotted with brown, each with
erect, short to long spiny hairs; fangs reddish-brown,
curved, margins devoid of teeth. Maxillae and labium
similartochehceraemcolour,elongate,formeranteriorlybroad,
latter little narrower than base, both anteriorly scopulate.
Sternumpaleyellow-green,heart-shaped,withsparsebrown
spotsthatinclude shortto long spiny hair. Legsyellow with
coxaeyellow-green,each femurwithbrownspots; legformula
1243.
Abdomen: Green, elongate, oval, posteriorly narrow,
decorated as in Fig. 1, clothed with shortto long silky white
hairs and spines, some originating from the brown spots;
ventersimilartodorsumclothedwithsilkywhitehairs. Epigyne
asinFig. 6.
Male: Cephaiothorax greyish-yellow, larger than
abdomen. Abdomen green, slender. Legs much longer than
female; otherwiseas in 9
Material examined: Holotype 9, Allotype d,
Midnapore,Digha, 15.ix.2000,Coll. S. Saha
Type deposition: Department of Zoology, Lady
Figs7-8: Peucetiagauntletasp. nov. d Allotype,
7 Malepalp,ventralaspect;8. Malepalp, lateralaspect BraboumeCollege,Kolkata.RegnNo. LBC/DZ/1/01
Distribution: India: WestBengal, Midnapore,Digha.
Peucetiagauntletasp.nov.(Figs 1-8) Remarks: The present species Peucetiagauntleta sp.
nov., because ofclypeus with 2 lateral lines and abdomen
Measurements(inmm): 9Totallength: 12.13;Carapace with mid-dorsal silvery white patches, but without stripes,
length: 5.06, width 3.53; abdomen length: 6.40, width 3.33; resemblesP ketaniGajbe(Gajbe 1999),butdiffersinhaving
legsasinTable 1 a distinct decoration at the basal halfofthe green abdomen,
Cephaiothorax: Palegreenwithcephalicregiontinted which is devoid ofa black patch, heart-shaped sternum and
with grey, sparingly spotted with brown, longer than wide, very different epigyne. Peucetia gauntleta sp. nov. also
anteriorly narrow, posteriorly broad; cephalic regionraised, resemblesP latikaeTikader(Tikader 1970)inthestructureof
slopedanteriorly,cephalicfurrowdeeplyimpressed;thoracic the epigynum and male palp, but has only 2 black lines on
region medially with longitudinal fovea, radii distinct. Eyes clypeus and absence of broad abdominal band. These
black, eachringedwithsilkywhitepubescence,anterior-most characteristicsjustifyitsstatusasanewspecies. Furthermore,
eyes smallest, anterior row ofeyes recurved, posterior row none ofthe othercongeners bear significant resemblance to
procurved; ocularareablackish. Clypeuswithapan ofblack P gauntleta. The species is therefore recognised as new to
bandsextendingfromanterior-mosteyestothebasal margin science.
Etymology: The species is so named because ofthe
Table 1: Length of legs of 9 holotype
of Peucetia gauntleta sp. nov. (in mm) glove-likemaxillae.
Leg Femur Patella Metatarsus Tarsus Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
6.33/6.32 1.33/1.33 5.66/5.65 3.16/3.17 22.63/22.63
1 + 6.15/6.16 Thefirstauthor(S.S.)isgratefultotheDPI.,Education
II 5.67/5.66 1.33/1.33 5.17/5.16 2.66/2.65 20.33/20.31 Department, Govt, ofWest Bengal and the Principal, Lady
+ 5.50/5.51 BraboumeCollege,Kolkataforpermissiontoconductastudy
III 4.66/4.65 1.33/1.33 4.00/4.01 1.83/1.83 15.82/15.82
+ 4.00/4.00 tourat Digha, Midnapore. Heartfelt thanks are due to all the
IV 4.83/4.83 1.33/1.33 4.33/4.32 1.66/1.67 16.31/16.30 colleagues and 2nd year Zoology Honours students for their
+4.16/4.15
kindcooperation inthe matterofcollection
1. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (2), May-Aug 2004 289
NEW DESCRIPTIONS
REFERENCES
Biswas. A.T (1975): A new species ofspider ofthe genus Peucetia Pocock,R.l.(1900): FaunaofBritishIndia,Arachnid.Taylor&Francis,
Thorell (Family: Oxyopidae) from Orissa, India. Curr Sci London Pp 279.
44(10): 350-351. Tikader, B.K.. (1965): On some new species ofspiders ofthe family
Gajbe, U.A. (1992): A new species ofOxyopes Latreille and one of Oxyopidae from India. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 62(3): 140-
Peucetia Thorell from Uttar Pradesh. India (Araneae: Family 144.
Oxyopidae). Rec. zool. Surv. India 91(3-4): 389-393. Tikader, B.K.. (1970): Spider faunaofSikkim. Rec. zool. Surv India
Gajbe. U.A. (1999): StudiesonsomespidersofthefamilyOxyopidae 64(1-4): 69-81.
(Araneae: Arachnida)from India. Rec. zool. Surv. India 97(3): Tikader, B.K. (1987): Handbook of Indian Spiders. Director, Zool.
31-79. Surv. India,pp.251
290 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 101 (2), May-Aug 2004