Jumping Spider

Pungalina Richardson, 2019

Type species: Pungalina weiri Richardson, 2013

Fauna Portal Genus Number: 294

(after Richardson 2016): The genus can be differentiated from Apricia and Clynotis on the following grounds. Pungalina includes a group of small to medium-sized, stoutly built, unident spiders usually found in litter, unlike the larger Apricia and Clynotis species. The legs are relatively short and there are no tibial fringes. Pungalina commonly has a series of white striae on the rear face of the cephalothorax, not found in the other genera. Apricia has patterns of bright yellow or gold lines on the abdomen, while Pungalina and Clynotis usually have drab patterns. A well-developed dorsal scutum is found in the males of Pungalina and Clynotis, but not Apricia. The female genital duct in Pungalina is simple in form, unlike the other genera. A pair of atria is present, unlike Clynotis. The size and morphology of the atria and the position of the copulatory openings are stable within, but differ between, the species groups. The spermathecae are spherical and closely abutting the epigastric fold. The insemination ducts join the spermathecae on the anterior edges, unlike Clynotis. There are no blind diverticula or glands arising from either the spermatheca or insemination duct, as are found in the other genera. The diverticulum leading to the fertilization duct is either very short or absent and the fertilization duct opens towards the midline close to the epigastric fold, unlike the situations in the other genera. Pedipalp morphology is generally similar across Apricia, Clynotis and Pungalina, although a very large ventral tegular bulge is found in Pungalina, unlike the other genera. The tegulum is also approximately as wide as long in Pungalina unlike the longer shape seen in the other genera.