Zoosyst. Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133 | DOI 10.3897/zse.99.97985

Ate
BERLIN

Two new Stenaelurillus species (Araneae, Salticidae, Aelurillina)
from Western Ghats, India

Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin', Souvik Sen‘, John T. D. Caleb

1 Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata — 700053, West Bengal, India

2 Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Medical College & Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai 602503,
Tamil Nadu, India

https://zoobank. org/C5B91980-5B33-442D-B4BE-B0D24DF5781F

Corresponding author: Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin (sudhinpp@gmail.com)

Academic editor: Danilo Harms # Received 24 November 2022 # Accepted 20 January 2023 @ Published 2 February 2023

Abstract

Two new species — Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov. (@°) from the colorful group and Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov. (4°) from
the black and white group — are described from the southern Western Ghats of India. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustra-
tions, as well as the distribution maps are provided. New distributional data for three other species, Stenaelurillus albus Sebastian,
Sankaran, Malamel & Joseph, 2015, S. arambagensis (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) and S. wandae Logunov, 2020 are also provided.

Key Words

Jumping spider, Kerala, species discovery, Tamil Nadu, taxonomy

Introduction

Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886, is a diverse genus within Sal-
ticidae Blackwall, 1841, that includes 53 described species
(World Spider Catalog 2023). The genus belongs to the
subtribe Aelurillina of the tribe Aelurillini in the subfami-
ly Salticinae (Maddison 2015). They are ground-dwelling,
small to medium-sized, dark-colored, and hairy-bodied
spiders (Wesolowska 2014; Logunov and Azarkina 2018),
found in the Afrotropical, Madagascan, and Indo-Malayan
regions of the world (Marathe et al. 2022). The genus has
14 species reported from India (Caleb and Sankaran 2023),
sorted into two groups based on their distinctive coloration
(Marathe et al. 2022). While examining the spiders collect-
ed during the field surveys in the southern Western Ghats
of India, two undescribed jumping spiders belonging to the
genus Stenaelurillus were identified — one belonging to the
black and white group of species and the other belonging
to the colorful group, with colorful iridescent scales on
their clypeus (Marathe et al. 2022). Here we describe these
two as species new to science and provide data on their
distribution based on specimens collected from India.

Materials and methods

A total of 136 salticid specimens (8064 and 5699)
preserved in 70% ethanol were examined. Morpholog-
ical examination and measurements were made with
a Leica M205A stereomicroscope. The images were
taken by means of a Leica DFC4500 digital camera
attached to the Leica M205A stereomicroscope com-
bined with the software package Leica Application
Suite (LAS), version 4.1.2. Distribution maps were
prepared by using the online mapping software Sim-
pleMappr (Shorthouse 2010). All measurements are in
millimeters (mm). Description of the length of palp and
leg segments is as follows: total length [femur, patella,
tibia, metatarsus (except palp), tarsus]. The terminolo-
gy follows Logunov and Azarkina (2018) and leg seta-
tion follows Bossellaers and Jocque (2000). The stud-
ied specimens are deposited in the National Zoological
Collections of Zoological Survey of India (NZC-ZSI),
Kolkata, India.

Abbreviations used in the text and figures:
ALE = anterior lateral eye, AME = anterior median eye,

Copyright Sudhin, P.P. et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

124

C=cymbium, CD = copulatory duct, CO = copulatory
opening, do = dorsal, E = embolus, FD = fertilization
duct, pl = prolateral, PLE = posterior lateral eye,
PME = posterior median eye, plv = prolateral ventral,
rl = retrolateral, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis,
rlv = retrolateral ventral, v = ventral, VTA = ventral
tibial apophysis, WLS = Wildlife Sanctuary.

Results

Family Salticidae Blackwall, 1841
Tribe Aelurillini Simon, 1901

Genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886

Type species. Stenaelurillus nigricaudus Simon, 1886;
by subsequent designation by Simon (1903: 669).

Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov.
https://zoobank. org/3C022979-3865-4852-84 1F-476C7E37E247
Figs 1A-L, 2A-F, 3A-D, 7C

Type material. Holotype 3. INp1A: Tamil Nadu, Theni
District, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, 09°38'34.1"N,
77°24'06.5"E, 871 m, O1.vii.2019, R. Venkitesan coll.
(NZC-ZSI-7941/18). Paratypes: 12 9° & 25 3, same
data as holotype, (NZC-ZSI-7942/18).

Diagnosis. S. megamalai sp. nov. can be separated
from other species of the colorful group by the following
combination of characters: males with distinct three sub-
equal white spots arranged in a transverse row on the
abdomen (Fig. 1A); clypeus covered with grayish black
hairs, medially with a tuft of pale white hairs (Fig. 1G,
H); chelicerae covered with white hairs (Fig. 1G); palpal
femur pale yellow, dorsal and prolateral sides with a
bunch of white hairs (Fig. 2C, D); RTA ventro-basally
with a short tooth-like outgrowth (Fig. 2B); cymbium
with a bunch of erect white hairs prolateral (Fig. 2C, D),;
prolateral margin of the salticid radix not rounded but
with gentle prolaterally protrusion in ventral view
(Fig. 2A); distal projection short and pointed (Figs 2B—D,
3B). The female with yellow spinnerets; epigyne with
broad epigynal pocket and short, broad copulatory ducts
(Figs 2E, 3C).

Description. Male (Holotype, NZC-ZSI-7941/18)
(Figs 1A—C, G—H, J-—K, 2A—D, 3A, B): Measurements:
body length 4.76; carapace length 2.57, width 1.76;
abdomen length 2.21, width 1.85. Ocular area length
1.01, width 1.35. Eye diameters: AME 0.37, ALE 0.24,
PME 0.11, PLE 0.28. Eye interdistances: AME-AME
0.05, ALE-AME 0.09, ALE-ALE 0.96, ALE-PME
0.34, PLE-PLE 1.03, PME-PME 1.17, PME-—PLE
0.20. Clypeus height 0.25. Length of chelicera 0.51.
Measurement of legs: leg 1 3.66 [1.26, 0.57, 0.86, 0.47,
0.50], If 3.27 [1.01, 0.51, 0.77, 0.52, 0.46], III 6.48

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Sudhin, P.P. et al.: On the Stenaelurillus species from India

[2.15, 0.81, 1.43, 1.42, 0.67], IV 6.59 [1.96, 0.78, 1.36,
1.60, 0.89]. Leg formula: 4312. Leg setation: femur I,
IV pl 2 rl 2 do 3, II-III pl 3 rl 2 do 3; patella I-II pl 1,
III-IV pl 1 rl 1; tibial pl 2 plv 2 rlv 1, I pl 3 rl 1 plv3
rlv 1, UE pl 3rl3 dol plv2rlv 1,1V pl 3rl3 dol plv
3 rlv 1; metatarsus I pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 rlv 1, I pl 2 rl 2 do
1 plv 2 rlv 2, Hl pl 3 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 4, IV pl 3 rl 4 plv
2 rlv 1. Carapace yellowish-brown, with yellowish-
white lateral sides, covered with brown setae, carapace
margin with black lines, anterolateral sides densely
covered with long dull white setae (Fig. 1A, C); eye
field black, densely covered with dark brown bristles,
anterior row of eyes encircled with white setae, a
tuft of black erect setae present at anterior margin
of PLEs, they appear as short horns in front view
(Fig. 1A, C). Clypeus high, covered with greyish-
black setae, medially with a tuft of white setae, either
side of it with a tuft of black setae, and lateral sides
with lustrous scales (Fig. 1G—H). Chelicerae short,
yellow, dorso-laterally with long white setae (Fig. 1H),
retromargin with one and promargin with two teeth.
Fangs short. Endites light yellow with pale white inner
tips. Labium light yellow. Sternum oval, light yellow,
covered with short white setae (Fig. 1B). Leg segments
pale yellow; femur I prolaterally and dorsally provided
with fringe of white setae, the dorsal one prominent,
ventrally with thick black setae (Fig. 1J); patella I and
tibia I ventrally with black setae (Fig. 1J); femur II
prolaterally and dorsally provided with fringe of white
setae (Fig. 1K), the femur I prominent. Abdomen oval,
covered with black setae, dorsum with an anterior
transverse white line and mid-dorsal three black
patches with three white spots (Fig. 1A); abdomen
lateral edges fringed with black setae interspersed with
patches of white setae; abdomen posterior end covered
with grey white setae (Fig. 1A). Spinnerets light
grey. Venter densely covered yellowish white setae,
interspersed with few light brown setae (Fig. 1B). Palpal
segments pale yellow covered with white and brown
setae (Fig. 2C, D); femur dorsal and prolateral sides
provided with bunch of long white setae, their length
decreases towards the distal region, retrolateral side
with light brown setae (Fig. 2C, D); patella proximo-
retrolateral region with black markings; tibia distally
with a stiff and long black dorsal setae (Fig. 2D); RTA
simple, basally broad with a short tooth-like outgrowth,
distally narrowing, with the tip slightly bent ventrally
(Figs 2B, D, 3B); tibia with two ventral apophyses,
VTA 1 broad, rounded, VTA 2 conical, projecting
ventrally (Figs 2A, C, 3A); cymbium oval, densely
covered with setae (Fig. 2B—D); functional tegulum
with well-developed proximal projection (Figs 2A—D,
3A); tegulum with anterior transversal rim decorated
with stiff bristles (Figs 2A, 3A); tegular process finger
shaped, directed at 10 o’clock position in ventral view
(Figs 2A, 3A); embolus short, with blunt tip directed
at 11 o’clock position in ventral view (Figs 2A, 3A).

Zoosyst: Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133 25

Figure 1. Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, lateral view; D. Female,

dorsal view; E. Same, ventral view; F. Same, lateral view; G. Male, frontal view; H. Same, fronto-lateral view; I. Female, frontal
view; J. Male, left leg I, prolateral view; K. Same, left leg II, prolateral view; L. female, left leg I, prolateral view. Scale bars:
1 mm (A-C, G, J); 2 mm (D-F, I); 0.5 mm (H, K-L).

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126 Sudhin, P.P. et al.: On the Stenaelurillus species from India

Figure 2. Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov. A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Same, prolatero-ventral

view; D. Same, retrolateral view; E. Female epigyne, ventral view; F. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A—D); 0.2 mm (E-F).

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Zoosyst. Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133 127

Figure 3. Stenaelurillus megamalai sp. nov. A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Female epigyne, ventral
view; D. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, D).

Female (paratype) (Figs 1D-F, I, L, 2E-F, 3C—D): AME 0.08, ALE-AME 0.13, ALE-ALE 1.23, ALE-—
Measurements: body length 7.68; carapace length 3.34, PME 0.36, PLE—PLE 1.49, PME—PME 1.65, PME—PLE
width 2.26; abdomen length 4.05, width 3.26. Ocular area 0.26. Clypeus height 0.40. Length of chelicera 0.85. Mea-
length 1.22, width 1.83. Eye diameters: AME 0.50, ALE — surement of palp and legs: palp 2.03 [0.65, 0.36, 0.37,
0.30, PME 0.12, PLE 0.27. Eye inter distances: AME- ___ 0.65], leg I 4.22 [1.50, 0.60, 0.91, 0.55, 0.66], II 4.30

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128

[1.48, 0.70, 0.90, 0.64, 0.58], HI 7.08 [2.20, 0.78, 1.74,
1560550: 76)" TWF u2* [Dold 20.825 1 50,. 66.902) "iltes:
formula: 4321. Leg setation: femur I, IV pl 2 rl 2 do 3, II
pl 3 rl 3 do 3, III pl 3 rl 2 do 3; patella I-II pl 1, I-IV pl 1
rl 1; tibia I-II pl 2 plv 2 rlv 3, WI pl 2 rl 2 plv 2rlv 1, IV pl
A rl 4 plv 2 rlv 1; metatarsus I-II pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl
4rl 4 do 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 4 rl 4 plv 3 rlv 3. In all details
as male, except the following: eye field covered with yel-
lowish-brown bristles, anterior row of eyes encircled by
yellowish-brown setae (Fig. 1D). Clypeus light yellow,
covered with yellowish-brown setae (Fig. 11). Chelicer-
ae slightly longer, yellowish-brown. Abdomen light yel-
lowish brown, lightly covered with black and gray setae,
dorsum medially with a triangular black patch, medially
with a pair of white spots and a white spot further down,
and laterally with two broad irregular black stripes ex-
tending from middle to the posterior tip (Fig. 1D); ab-
domen lateral sides with brown longitudinal stripes and
few brown patches (Fig. 1F); venter pale white, scarcely
covered with black setae (Fig. 1E). Epigyne with broad
epigynal pocket located in between the copulatory open-
ings (Figs 2E, 3C); copulatory openings large, located
just above the posterior margin of the epigyne, separat-
ed by a distance that is almost less than the diameter of
each opening (Fig. 2E); copulatory ducts short, and broad
(Figs 2E, 3C); spermathecae round, separated from each
other (Figs 2F, 3D); fertilization ducts oriented antero-
laterally, situated at anterior region of spermathecae
(Figs 2F, 3D).

Etymology. The species is named after the Megamalai
Wildlife Sanctuary from where it was collected. The
name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality
(Fig. 7C).

Variation. Body length: Male: 3.70-5.00 (n=26),;
female: 4.60—7.68 (n=12).

Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov.
https://zoobank. org/AF55521D-61BE-4002-9 ACC-62595C21D2C5
Figs 4A-H, 5A-E, 6A-D, 7C

Type material. Holotype 3. INpia: Kerala, Thiru-
vananthapuram District, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary,
8°32'03.9"N, 77°08'54.8"E, 118 m, 26.vi.2022, P. Girish
Kumar coll. (NZC-ZSI-7943/18). Paratypes: same data
as holotype, 692 & 83'¢ (NZC-ZSI-7944/18).
Diagnosis. The male of S. neyyar sp. nov. is distinct
from all other species by the thin embolus arising from 10
o’clock position, with the tip directed at 12 o’clock posi-
tion in ventral view; RTA short and thick with obtuse dorsal
margin, tip pointed directed apically in retrolateral view.
The female epigyne with sclerotized W-shaped projections
on the posterior margin; copulatory openings lie close to
each other; spermathecae nearly oval (Figs 5B—E, 6A—D).
Description. Male. (Holotype, NZC-ZSI-7943/18)
(Figs 4A—C, G, 5A—-C, 6A, B): Measurements: body
length 4.22; carapace length 2.12, width 1.54; abdomen
length 1.94, width 1.41. Ocular area length 1.01, width

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Sudhin, P.P. et al.: On the Stenaelurillus species from India

1.23. Eye diameters: AME 0.36, ALE 0.24, PME 0.07,
PLE 0.21. Eye interdistances: AME—AME 0.05, ALE-
AME 0.05, ALE-ALE 0.91, ALE—PME 0.35, PLE-PLE
1.01, PME—PME 1.10, PME-—PLE 0.16. Clypeus height
0.17. Length of chelicera 0.45. Measurement of legs: leg
I 3.06 [1.03, 0.45, 0.70, 0.36, 0.52], If 3.11 [1.13, 0.44,
03635 /025240:39 [IAs 89sie5 92 10169)-0°9 FeAl 10531),
IV 5.07 [1.38, 0.49, 1.01, 1.65, 0.54]. Leg formula: 4321.
Leg setation: femur I, IV pl 2 rl 2 do 3, II pl 2 rl 3 do 3,
II pl 3 rl 2 do 3; patella I-IV pl 1 rl 1; tibia I-II pl 2 plv
2 rlv 3, I-IV pl 3 rl 3 do 1 plv 2 rlv 1; metatarsus I-II
pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III-IV pl 4 rl 4 do 1 plv 2 rlv 2.
Carapace pear-shaped, moderately high, densely covered
with black setae, laterally with dense white setae forming
a white band, and dorsally with a pair of white longitu-
dinal bands extending from behind PLEs (Fig. 4A, C);
eye field densely covered with black bristles (Fig. 4A).
Clypeus high, light yellowish-brown with irregular dark
brown patches, clothed with sparse white setae (Fig. 4G).
Chelicerae short, vertical, dorsal region light yellowish-
brown, covered with black setae (Fig. 4G), retromargin
with one and promargin with two teeth. Fangs short, light
brown. Endites yellowish brown with paler inner tips.
Labium light brown with paler tip. Sternum oval, light
yellow, lateral region with light brown lines, covered with
elongated white erect setae (Fig. 4B). Legs: coxae and
trochanters yellow; femora and tarsi pale yellow; patel-
lae, tibiae, and metatarsi darker than other leg segments.
Abdomen nearly oval, black, densely covered with black
setae, anteriorly with inconspicuous transverse white
band and posteriorly with three white spots, which to-
gether form an inverted triangle (Fig. 4A). Lateral abdo-
men dull yellow with a black longitudinal line and few
black spots (Fig. 4C). Venter dull yellow, densely cov-
ered with light yellow and few long black setae (Fig. 4B).
Spinnerets brownish. Palpal segments pale yellow, the
distal region of femur with prolateral black patch; femur
distally with a short macrosetae and dorsally with sever-
al long yellowish-white setae; patella and tibia with long
black setae; RTA black, short and stout, with flat dorsal
side, and tip sub-acute directed apically in retrolateral
view (Figs 5C, 6B); VTA broad, with round end, direct-
ed at 2 o’clock position in ventral view (Figs 5B, 6A);
cymbium oval, densely covered with setae; tegulum with
broad and rounded tegular process, almost reaches height
of embolus, sperm duct visible in ventral view; function-
al tegulum with well-developed and pointed proximal
projection and without a distal projection (Figs 5B, 6A);
embolus base wide, embolus thin and medium sized, in1-
tially oriented retrolaterally, which is slightly bent medi-
ally, with sub-acute tip directed at 12 o’clock position in
ventral view (Figs 5B, 6A).

Female (paratype) (Figs 4D-F, H, 5D, E, 6C, D):
Measurements: body length 6.23; carapace length 2.65,
width 1.85; abdomen length 3.25, width 2.75. Ocular area
length 0.88, width 1.51. Eye diameters: AME 0.46, ALE
0.26, PME 0.11, PLE 0.25. Eye inter distances: AME-
AME 0.06, ALE-AME 0.06, ALE—ALE 1.08, ALE—-PME
0.35, PLE-PLE 1.23, PME—-PME 1.38, PME-PLE 0.19.

Zoosyst. Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133

29

Figure 4. Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, lateral view; D. Female dorsal view;

E. Same, ventral view; F. Same, lateral view; G. Male, frontal view; H. Female, frontal view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A-H).

Clypeus height 0.21. Length of chelicera 0.83. Measure-
ment of palp and legs: palp 1.82 [0.62, 0.21, 0.31, 0.68],
leg 13.57 [1.27, 0.62, 0.72, 0.41, 0.55], I 3.77 [1.40, 0.57,
0.73, 0.48, 0.59], III 6.06 [2.01, 0.80, 1.32, 1.21, 0.72], IV
6.11 [1.85, 0.74, 1.23, 1.54, 0.75]. Leg formula: 4321. Leg
setation: femur I, IV pl 2 rl 2 do 3, II pl 2 rl 3 do 3, III pl 3

rl 2 do 3; patella I-II pl 1, WI-TV pl 1 rl 1; tibia I-II pl 2 plv
2 rlv 3, I pl 4113 plv2 rlv 1, TV pl 3rl3 dol plv 2rlv 1;
metatarsus I-II pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IN-IV pl 3 rl 3 do 2 plv
2 rlv 2. In all details as male, except the following: cara-
pace lighter in color (Fig. 4D); chelicerae promargin with
single tooth; abdomen pale-yellowish with several black

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130

Sudhin, P.P. et al.: On the Stenaelurillus species from India

Figure 5. Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov. A. Left male palp, prolateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view;
D. Female epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A-C, E); 0.1 mm (D).

markings (Fig. 4D); spinnerets yellowish-brown. Epigyne
simple, covered with long setae, posterior border line with
sclerotized W-shaped projections; copulatory opening
large, round, lie close to each other, situated posterior re-
gion of epigyne; copulatory ducts short, entering posteri-
orly into spermathecae; spermathecae nearly oval, contig-
uous; fertilization ducts long, oriented laterally, positioned
at anterior region of spermathecae (Figs 5D, E, 6C, D).

Etymology. The species is named after its type local-
ity, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The name is treated as a
noun in apposition.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality
(Fig. 7C).

Variation. Body length: Male: 4.00 to 4.50 (n=9);
female: 4.70 to 6.23 (n=6).

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Stenaelurillus albus Sebastian, Sankaran, Malamel &
Joseph, 2015

Stenaelurillus albus Sebastian et al. 2015: 65, figs 1A, B, 2A—G, 3A-C,
TA, 8A-I, 9A-F.

Material examined. INDIA: Karnataka: 14 (NZC-
ZSI-7689/18), Mookambika WLS, — 13°49'40"N,
74°48'06"E, 18.xu1.2021, V. D. Hegde coll. Kerala:
1¢ (NZC-ZSI-7763/18), Neyyar WLS, 8°32'3.91"N,
77°9'0.92"E, 02.xii.2021, P Girish Kumar coll.; 1¢
(NZC-ZSI-7762/18), Shendurney WLS, 8°51'29.28"N,
77°13'3.15"E, 09.x1.2021, P. Girish Kumar coll.

Distribution. India: Karnataka, Kerala (Prajapati et al.
2016, present data) (Fig. 7A).

Zoosyst. Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133 131

Fi

has

4s
ay

Figure 6. Stenaelurillus neyyar sp. nov. A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Female epigyne, ventral
view; D. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A, B, D); 0.1 mm (C).

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32

© S. albus
AS. gabrieli

© S. jagannathae
OS. lesserti |

S. sarojinae
S. tamravarni

iS. neyyar
S. wandae

70 es

@S. indicus f
?

S. megamalai i ’

Sudhin, P.P. et al.: On the Stenaelurillus species from India

ft eel

x S.marusiki
V S. metallicus

@ S. shwetamukhi
@ S. vyaghri f

OS. arambagensis ~

fh

*

4
930 km |

Figure 7. A—D. Collecting localities of all Stenaelurillus species in India.

Stenaelurillus arambagensis (Biswas & Biswas, 1992)

Marpissa arambagensis Biswas & Biswas, 1992: 390, figs 20-22.

Stenaelurillus digitus Prajapati, Murthappa, Sankaran & Sebastian,
2016: 327, figs 1C, D, 6A—D, 7A-E, 8A-C, 9A-D.

Stenaelurillus arambagensis Caleb et al., 2017: 120, figs 1-17; Logunov
and Azarkina 2018: 20, figs 57-62.

Material examined. INpia: Andhra _ Pradesh:
1299 & 1663 (NZC-ZSI-6904/18), 1029 & 1443
(NZC-ZSI-6920/18), Coringa WLS, 16°49'16.45"N,
82°17'5S3.59"E, 03.11.2019, R. Kumar coll. Bihar:
1g (NZC-ZSI-7754/18), Nalanda, 25°7'10.39"N,
85°27'17.85"E, 05.iv.2021, D. Mondal coll.; 24 (NZC-
ZSI-7779/18), 14 (NZC-ZSI-7781/18), Kaimur WLS,
24°54'28.09"N, 83°31'52.90"E, 11.11.2022, D. Mondal
coll. Karnataka: 529 & 4¢¢ (NZC-ZSI-7460/18),
Mookambika WLS, 13°49'40"N, 74°48'06"E, 02.x11.2021,
VD. Hegde coll.; 12 (NZC-ZSI-7478/18), Udupi,
13°20'24.91"N, 74°44'25.03"E, 31.xu1.2021, V.D. Heg-
de coll. Puducherry: 19 (NZC-ZSI-7599/18), Bahour,
11°48'29.31"N, 79°44'46.16"E, 30.vii.2019; 29 9 (NZC-
ZSI-7511/18), Karaikal, 10°55'35.23"N, 79°50'9.84"E,
08.xii.2021, D. Mondal coll.; 22 9 (NZC-ZSI-7560/18),

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Mahe, 11°42'44.66"N, 75°32'1.37"E, 14.xii.2021, D.
Mondal coll. Tamil Nadu: 3292 (NZC-ZSI-7604/18),
Thiruvarur, 10°46'35.43"N, 79°39'19.66"E, 03.x111.2019.
West Bengal: 12 (NZC-ZSI-6606/18), Palashbagan,
23°41'36.61"N, 86°59'5.47"E, 13.1v.2018, S. Pahari coll.;
12 (NZC-ZSI-7815/18), Susunia Hills, 23°23'37.48"N,
86° 58'47.55"E, 26.vil.2022, C. Bera coll.

Distribution. India and Pakistan (Logunov and
Azarkina 2018). India: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar (new lo-
cality record), Gujarat, Karnataka (new locality record),
Puducherry (new locality record), Tamil Nadu (new lo-
cality record), West Bengal (Caleb et al. 2017; present
data) (Fig. 7D).

Stenaelurillus wandae Logunov, 2020

Stenaelurillus wandae Logunov, 2020: 210, figs 28-41.

Material examined. INpia: Bihar: 463 (NZC-
ZSI-7778/18), Kaimur WLS, 24°54'28.09"N,
83°31'52.90"E, 11.111.2022, D. Mondal coll.

Distribution. India: Bihar (new locality record),
Odisha (Logunov 2020; present data) (Fig. 7C).

Zoosyst. Evol. 99 (1) 2023, 123-133

Discussion

The salticid genus Stenaelurillus currently has three cen-
ters of species diversity: western Africa, the south-eastern
region of central Africa, and South Asia (Logunov and
Azarkina 2018). The genus is relatively well studied in
South Asia, with 18 valid species (Logunov 2020; World
Spider Catalog 2023), 16 of which are known from India
(including the species described here), three each from
Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and one from Nepal. India has
the highest Stenaelurillus species diversity ever described
from any single country. A major portion of them (about
81%) were described in the past eight years (Caleb and
Mathai 2014, 2016; Sebastian et al. 2015; Vidhel et al.
2015; Prajapati et al. 2016; Logunov 2020; Marathe et
al. 2022). With much of the country remaining relatively
unexplored many more species may be discovered with
extensive systematic surveys (Sanap and Caleb 2022).

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director,
Zoological Survey of India for the encouragement, mor-
al support and providing necessary facilities to carry out
the work. We are thankful for the support extended by
the Officers-in-Charge of the Southern Regional Centre,
Chennai and Western Ghat Regional Centre, Kozhiko-
de, Zoological Survey of India. We also thank the Chief
Conservator of Forest and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu State Forest Departments for providing
necessary permission and support during the surveys.
Thanks to Chandan Bera for his curatorial assistance. We
extend our heartfelt thanks to the editor Dr Danilo Harms
(Germany) and the two reviewers, Dr Galina N. Azarkina
(Russia) and Dr Tamas Sztits (Hungary), for their con-
structive comments and suggestions on the manuscript.

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