[Arachnida • 2020] Sympolymnia gen. nov. • A New Genus of Neotropical Ant-like Spider (Araneae, Salticidae, Simonellini), with Description of Two New Species and Indirect Evidence for Transformational Mimicry

Figure 8. Live habitus of Sympolymnia spp. and potential ant models. Please note the ontogenetic shift of shine and abdomen shape in the spiders.

 Sympolymnia shinahota sp. nov.: A. Juvenile female, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept. (please note the shiny, pointed abdomen); B, C. Adult females, same location; D. Holotype female, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.;

 E. Pseudomyrmex ethicus, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; 

F. Crematogaster sp., Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; 

G. Camponotus sanctaefidei, La Guardia, Santa Cruz Dept.; 

H. C. latangulus, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.

 Perger & Rubio, 2020 

 DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.55210

Abstract

Sympolymnia, a new genus of myrmecomorph jumping spider belonging to the tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, is described. It comprises five species: the type species, Sympolymnia lucasi (Taczanowski, 1871), comb. nov., Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892), comb. nov., Sympolymnia edwardsi (Cutler, 1985), comb. nov. and Sympolymnia shinahota sp. nov. and S. cutleri sp. nov. Sympolymnia lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) is recorded from Bolivia for the first time. Ontogenetic shifts of ant-resemblance are observed: Juveniles of S. cutleri sp. nov. and S. lauretta mimic black ants of the genus Crematogaster Lund, 1831, but those of S. shinahota sp. nov. most closely resemble Pseudomyrmex ethicus (Forel, 1911). Adults of S. cutleri sp. nov., S. lauretta and S. shinahota sp. nov. resemble the ant Camponotus sanctaefidei Dalla Torre, 1892 and orange adults of S. shinahota sp. nov. are putative mimics of Camponotus latangulus Roger, 1863.

Key Words: Bolivia, jumping spider, mimicry complex, myrmecomorph, polymorphism, South America

Tribe Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889

Sympolymnia gen. nov.

 Type species: Janus lucasii Taczanowski, 1871

 (by original designation)

Diagnosis: This genus can be distinguished from the other four genera of Simonellini (Cylistella Simon, 1901, Erica Peckham & Peckham, 1892, Fluda Peckham & Peckham, 1892 and Synemosyna) by the presence of two translucent white patches between the cephalic and thoracic areas (Figs 4 and 10B) and the presence of large, lung-shaped spermathecae (Fig. 6B, G). Additional characters to separate Sympolymnia gen. nov. from Erica, Fluda or Synemosyna are shown in Table 1.

Composition: This new genus comprises the species Sympolymnia edwardsi (Cutler, 1985), comb. nov., S. lauretta (Peckham & Peckham, 1892), comb. nov., S. lucasi (Taczanowski, 1871), comb. nov., S. cutleri sp. nov. and S. shinahota sp. nov.

Etymology: The specific epithet, Sympolymnia, is a combination of “sym”, meaning “with” in Greek and “Polymnia”, one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne and the protector of the divine hymns and mimic arts. The gender of the name is feminine.

Figure 8. Live habitus of Sympolymnia spp. and potential ant models. Please note the ontogenetic shift of shine and abdomen shape in the spiders. 

Sympolymnia shinahota sp. nov.: A. Juvenile female, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept. (please note the shiny, pointed abdomen); B, C. Adult females, same location; D. Holotype female, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; 

E. Pseudomyrmex ethicus, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; F. Crematogaster sp., Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; G. Camponotus sanctaefidei, La Guardia, Santa Cruz Dept.; H. C. latangulus, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.; 

Sympolymnia lauretta: I. Juvenile, Bermejo, Santa Cruz Dept. (please note the shiny and pointed abdomen); J. Sub-adult male, Santiago de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz Dept.; K. Adult female, Santa Rosa de la Mina, Santa Cruz Dept.; L. Sympolymnia cutleri sp. nov.: adult female, Chairo, La Paz Dept.

Conclusion and outlook: 

The presence of Sympolymnia throughout South America and the sympatry with Synemosyna species in many locations (e.g. Galiano 1966; Podgaiski et al. 2007; Rodrigues et al. 2016) suggests an early split and the subsequent radiation of the two lineages, accompanied by the selection for Pseudomyrmecinae-resemblance in adult Synemosyna and Myrmicinae-, Formicinae- and Dolichoderinae-resemblance in adult Sympolymnia.

In addition to similarity, sympatry of models and mimics is considered a critical factor in the selection for mimicry (de Jager and Anderson 2019). A more detailed analysis of co-occurrence patterns is needed to investigate the importance of polychromatism, transformational mimicry and mimicry complexes for ant mimicry in Sympolymnia. Additionally, the influence of macro-environmental conditions should be considered, as the distributional patterns of Sympolymnia species suggest that such factors may have contributed to generating divergent selection pressures in this genus.

Figure 8. Live habitus of Sympolymnia spp. and potential ant models. Please note the ontogenetic shift of shine and abdomen shape in the spiders.
 Sympolymnia shinahota sp. nov.: A. Juvenile female, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept. (please note the shiny, pointed abdomen); B, C. Adult females, same location; D. Holotype female, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.;
 E. Pseudomyrmex ethicus, Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; F. Crematogaster sp., Villa Tunari, Cochabamba Dept.; G. Camponotus sanctaefidei, La Guardia, Santa Cruz Dept.; H. C. latangulus, Buena Vista, Santa Cruz Dept.

Robert Perger and Gonzalo D. Rubio. 2020. Sympolymnia, A New Genus of Neotropical Ant-like Spider, with Description of Two New Species and Indirect Evidence for Transformational Mimicry (Araneae, Salticidae, Simonellini). Zoosystematics and Evolution. 96(2): 781-795. DOI: 10.3897/zse.96.55210