A new species of the genus Mendoza (Araneae: Salticidae) from the Southwest Islands of Japan

Abstract

A new spider species, Mendoza ryukyuensis sp. nov. (Salticidae) is described from the Southwest Islands of Japan (Amami-oshima Island and Nakanoshima Island). Female of M. ryukyuensis resembles those of the other species of the same genus in appearance, but can be distinguished from them by genital structure. In contrast, male is easily distinguishable from those of other related species in both appearance and genital shape.