Zygoballus incertus
| Zygoballus incertus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| female Zygoballus incertus | |
 | |
| male Zygoballus incertus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Genus: | Zygoballus |
| Species: | Z. incertus |
| Binomial name | |
| Zygoballus incertus (Nathan Banks, 1929)[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Atelurius incertus | |
Zygoballus incertus is a species of jumping spider. It is endemic to Panama, where it is known from Barro Colorado Island in the vicinity of the Panama Canal. Females of Zygoballus incertus are known to measure 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long, while males measure 3.2 mm (0.13 in). The species was initially described in the genus Atelurius, before being moved to Zygoballus.
History and taxonomy
The species was first described from a female specimen from Barro Colorado Island by the entomologist Nathan Banks in 1929 as Atelurius incertus.[2] Arachnologist Arthur M. Chickering described the species, including a male allotype, in his 1946 paper, "The Salticidae (Spiders) of Panama". Chickering expressed doubts about whether the species belonged to Atelurius: "I am unable to come to any decision as to the correct placement of this species... I know nothing better to do with it for the present than to retain it here pending further knowledge."[3] In 1987, arachnologist María Elena Galiano reassigned Chickering's male allotype to Sassacus. Regarding the female type specimen, she remarked that it was "without a doubt fissidentate, and should be excluded from [Atelurius]."[4] Citing the fact that Chickering noted similarities with Zygoballus, Galiano transferred the species out of Atelurius and into Zygoballus.[4] Characteristics of the male were described in 1996 by Wayne Maddison.[5]
Description
Females of Zygoballus incertus are known to measure 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long, while males measure 3.2 mm (0.13 in). The holotype female had a reddish-brown cephalothorax and an abdomen that was black dorsally and pale below. There are several white bands marking the dorsal surface of the body.[2][3]
Distribution
Zygoballus incertus is endemic to Panama, where it is known from Barro Colorado Island in the vicinity of the Panama Canal.[2][3]
References
- ↑ "Taxon details Zygoballus incertus (Banks, 1929)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
- 1 2 3 Banks, Nathan (1929). "Spiders from Panama". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 69 (3): 51–96.
- 1 2 3 Chickering, Arthur M. (September 1946). "The Salticidae (Spiders) of Panama". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 97: 253–257. hdl:2027/mdp.39015068348831.
- 1 2 Galiano, María Elena (1987). "Revision de los generos del grupo Hurieae (Araneae, Salticidae)" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology (in Spanish). 15 (3): 285–301. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2010-09-06.
- ↑ Maddison, Wayne P. (1996). "Pelegrina Franganillo and other jumping spiders formerly placed in the genus Metaphidippus (Araneae: Salticidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 154. Harvard University: 215–368.