A revision of Pachyballus Simon, 1900 and Peplometus Simon, 1900 (Araneae, Salticidae, Ballini) with descriptions of new species

Abstract

Two genera from the tribe Ballini (Araneae, Salticidae), Pachyballus Simon, 1900 and Peplometus Simon, 1900, are remarkable for their resemblance to beetles. Their biology is, however, poorly known and taxonomy has hitherto been rarely analysed. Thirteen species are included in this taxonomic revision of the two genera. Six of them are new to the science: Pachyballus caelestissp. nov. (♂♀, Congo D.R.), Pachyballus miniscutulussp. nov. (♂♀, South Africa), Pachyballus mombasensissp. nov. (♂♀, Kenya), Pachyballus ornatussp. nov. (♂♀, Congo D.R. and Tanzania), Peplometus congoensissp. nov. (♂♀, Congo and Congo D.R.), and Peplometus nimbasp. nov. (♂, Guinea). One species (Pachyballus cordiformis Berland et Millot, 1941) and a subspecies (P. flavipes aurantius Caporiacco, 1949) are recognised as synonyms of Pachyballus flavipes Simon, 1910. One new combination is proposed: Peplometus oyo (Wesołowska et Russell-Smith, 2011) comb. nov. (ex Pachyballus). The previously unknown females of Pachyballus transversus Simon, 1900 and Peplometus chlorophthalmus Simon, 1900, along with the males of Pachyballus castaneus Simon, 1900 and Peplometus biscutellatus (Simon, 1887) are newly diagnosed and described. Neotypes for Pachyballus castaneus and P. flavipes are designated. Numerous new data on the distribution are provided here and a key to Pachyballus females and to the males of Peplometus is presented. Identity of one species remains doubtful, Pachyballus gambeyi (Simon, 1880).

Jumping spiders from Ivory Coast collected by J.-C. Ledoux (Araneae, Salticidae)

“…Genus Pochytoides Wesołowska, 2020 Pochytoides mirabilis sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:50E156DA-74CB-4A48-9CFB-FD4046739D4B…”

A Checklist of the Arachnids from the Gulf of Guinea Islands (Excluding Ticks and Mites)

“…Because spiders are the most speciose arachnid group present on the islands, our conclusions are drawn from spider-specific taxonomic data. The average number of years since a species had been studied was 83.4, with the most recent being within the past year (Araneus apricus (Karsch 1884), Peplometus biscutellatus (Simon 1887)) (Dippenaar-Schoeman et al 2020;Wesołowska et al 2020). The two species with the longest period of inactivity (137 years) were both described by Karsch (1884): Singa concinna (Araneidae), described from an immature specimen but still considered valid, and Philodromus morsus (Philodromidae).…”

Partial revision of the Afrotropical Ballini, with the description of seven new genera (Araneae: Salticidae)

“…Moreover, somatic characters are better suited to diagnose genera. For instance, the shape and structure of the first legs, cheliceral armament (but this can vary, see Andriamalala 2007 andWesołowska et al 2020), body shape and leg setation are the most prominent generic diagnostic characters in the Ballini. The body and leg colouration (including coxae and trochanters) are sometimes very useful for distinguishing species belonging to the same genus, but cannot be treated as characters to distinguish genera or used as synapomorphies (contra Benjamin 2004), because similar environmental conditions can result in convergence in a number of features that enhance crypsis in many unrelated species and genera (Oxford & Gillespie 1998).…”

“…Although adaptations for the mimesis of beetles is quite clear in the genera Pachyballus and Peplometus (Wesołowska et al 2020;Figs 13-15, 50-51), resemblance to other groups of arthropods is less clear in Afrotropical Ballini. Species formerly included in Marengo that are currently in Afromarengo were considered to be mimics of ants or pseudoscorpions (Wanless 1978a), as are most species of Sadies (Wanless 1984), but Benjamin (2004) emphasized the need for behavioural evidence to support any morphological adaptations, which might themselves not provide definitive proof of ant mimesis.…”

“…The Old World tribe Ballini Banks, 1892 includes 15 genera and 90 species (sensu Maddison 2015), of which nine genera and 51 species occur in Afrotropical Region (sensu Dippenaar-Schoeman & Jocqué 1997): Afromarengo Benjamin, 2004 with four species, Colaxes Simon, 1900 with two species, Copocrossa Simon, 1901 with one species, Cynapes Simon, 1900 with four species, Goleta Peckham & Peckham, 1894 with two species, Pachyballus Simon, 1900 with eight species, Padilla Peckham & Peckham, 1894 with nineteen species, Peplometus Simon, 1900 with five species, and Sadies Wanless, 1984 with five species (World Spider Catalog 2020). Six genera were described, reviewed or revised (Andriamalala 2007;Benjamin 2004;Wanless 1978aWanless , 1979Wanless , 1984Wesołowska et al 2020).…”