Myrmarachne dishani sp. nov.

(Figures 5A–C, 6A–D, 7A–F, 8G–H)

Type material

Holotype, male from Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuuwa Province, Ratnapura District, Eastern Sinharaja, Morningside section, 23 February 2007, leg. S.P. Benjamin and Z. Jaleel (MHNG). Paratypes, 2 males 2 females. Label data as above, NMSL.

Etymology

The species is named for my wife Dishani P. Benjamin. Used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

Separated from all other Sri Lankan species of the genus except for M. imbellis, by the presence of a cylindrical opisthosoma, which lacks any visible constriction. Similar to M. imbellis, but separated by the presence of white bands on the prosoma and centre of the distal half of the chelicerae (Figures 5A–C, 8G, H). The white bands are clearly visible in live as well as alcohol preserved specimens. Further, males are separated by the stout RTA with a tapering tip (Figures 6A, B, 7C–E). Females are separated by the oval CO and relatively shorter S (Figure 6D, C).

Description

Male: total length: 7.2–9.2; prosoma length: 4.8–6.0, width: 1.2–1.6. Leg I: femur 2.3, patella 0.8, tibia 2.0, metatarsus 1.2, tarsus 0.8. Prosoma almost 2× longer than wide. The cephalic half is somewhat elevated from the thoracic half, lateral sides parallel, with conspicuous white bands fringed with white hairs as in Figures 5A–C, 8G, H. Opisthosoma cylindrical, almost as much as 2× longer than wide, uniformly dark brown (Figure 5A–C). Preserved specimens are yellowish with darker lateral sides (Figure 8G, H). The white bands are faintly visible in preserved specimens (Figure 8G, H). All legs are brownish with dark rings, yellowish in preserved specimens (Figures 5A–C, 8G, H). All eyes surrounded by dark rings. Chelicerae elongated, shorter than carapace, with slightly convex inner and outer sides, dorsal surface is broader than the ventral surface. They are black in colour with a prominent white band fringed with white hairs in the centre of the distal half (Figure 5A–C). Leg formula 4132. Leg spination not examined. Palps as in Figure 6A, B. Female paratype: total length: 4.0; prosoma length: 1.8, width: 0.8. Leg 1: femur 0.8, patella 0.3, tibia 0.6, metatarsus 0.4 tarsus 0.3 Morphology as above, however, females lack the white fringes present in the chelicerae and prosoma of males. Leg formula 4132. Leg spination not examined. Epigynum and vulva as in Figure 6C, D.

Distribution

Known only from Sri Lanka.

Other material examined

Sri Lanka, Southern province: 2 males, Galle District, Sinharaja jungle, Kanneliya section, 13–16 July 1978, Coll. K.V. Krombein, P.B. Karunaratne, T. Wijesinhe, V. Kulasekara, L. Jayawickrema. USNM. Sabaragamuuwa Province, 3 males 2 females, Ratnapura District, Eastern Sinharaja, Morningside section, 23 February 2007, SP. Benjamin and Z. Jaleel. Central Province, 3 males 1 female, Kandy District, Deltoa, Loolcondera Estate, c. 1480 m, 07°08 ʹ 45 ″ N, 80°41 ʹ 53 ʹ E, 11 May 2010, Hand collecting, leg. S. Batuwita and N. Atukorala, NMSL. Western Province, 1 male, l Kalutara District, Gurulu Bedda, Kalugala Forest Reserve, 06°26 ʹ 35 ″ N, 80°14 ʹ 52 ″ E, 40 m, 10 January 2014, leg. SP. Benjamin and N. Athukorala, NMSL.