Stenaelurillus marusiki Logunov 2001

Stenaelurillus marusiki Logunov, 2001 Figs 1–27, 115 Stenaelurillus marusiki Logunov, 2001: 66, f. 27-30 Material examined. 5 ♂♂ & 3 ♀♀. INDIA: Maharashtra: Sinnar, 19.871°N 74.020°E, elev. 703 m asl, 2 July 2019, coll. R. Sanap & A. Joglekar. D. Logunov also kindly re-examined the holotype from Iran and provided images to us (Figs 14–18). Geographic variation. This species, described by Logunov (2001) from Iran, is here reported from India. The male palps (Figs 14–18) are closely similar to those from Iran (Logunov 2001), but the distal process in the Indian population appears to be somewhat more conical and slightly higher than embolus, while that of the Iranian population is rounder and about as high as embolus (Figs. 1, 3 vs. Logunov 2001, fig. 29 and Figs. 15–18). The white stripes on the carapace are more limited in the Indian population, narrow and reaching forward only to the PMEs, while those of Iranian males are wide and reach to a broad white area behind the AMEs (Logunov 2001, fig. 30 and Fig. 14). Although far from the Iranian type locality, we recognize the Indian population as S. marusiki in this study. The observed morphological differences between these two populations are slight, and variation in each population has not been thoroughly studied. However, a closer examination of morphology along with genetic evidence may eventually suggest otherwise, i.e., that these two populations are separate species. Diagnosis. See Logunov (2001). Description. Male (based on specimen NRC-AA-2067). Measurements: Carapace 1.99 long, 1.48 wide. Abdomen length 1.77, width 0.99. Leg measurements: I—2.40 (0.84, 0.41, 0.54, 0.34, 0.27); II—2.57 (0.91, 0.46, 0.50, 0.37, 0.33); III—4.50 (1.41, 0.67, 0.92, 1.11, 0.39); IV—4.50 (1.29, 0.56, 0.96, 1.19, 0.50). Leg formula III-IV-II-I. Carapace somewhat wider than abdomen. Anteriorly including ocular area black, covered with black scales and hairs, and brown medially. Two yellow longitudinal stripes running down behind PMEs. Two white bands along the lateral margins. Clypeus brown, covered with yellow hairs. Chelicerae vertical, narrow, brown. Palp (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7): Cymbium yellowish. Embolus short. Distal projection conical, about as high as embolus. RTA slightly curved with blunt tip. Legs mostly yellow with some black, sparsely covered with black scales. Tarsi I black. Abdomen with black median longitudinal band flanked by cream white stripes. Spinnerets yellow with dark brown apices. Female (based on specimen NRC-AA-2072). Measurements: Carapace 1.95 long, 1.55 wide. Abdomen length 3.44, width 2.40. Leg measurements: I—2.55 (0.89, 0.46, 0.54, 0.40, 0.26); II—2.84 (1.04, 0.55, 0.54, 0.39, 0.32); III—5.38 (1.69, 0.86, 1.12, 1.27, 0.44); IV—5.19 (1.54, 0.66, 1.07, 1.35, 0.57). Leg formula III-IV-II-I. Carapace as in male. Clypeus brown, sparsely covered with yellow hairs. Chelicerae as in male. Legs as in males. Abdomen with central cream white longitudinal band flanked by black area. Laterally creamish-white. Spinnerets yellow. Epigyne (Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9): ECP medially located on the triangular epigynal plate, deep, flanked by copulatory openings. Natural history. Stenaelurillus marusiki shares its habitat with S. vyaghri sp. nov. in Sinnar, but S. marusiki is common during monsoon (July and August) while S. vyaghri sp. nov. appears during late winter and continue to be active throughout the summer. The spiders were often observed moving actively around open small grass tufts, but occasionally were found beneath small bushes.

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