Neonella

Abstract: Three new species of Neonella Gertsch 1936 are described : Neonella mayaguez from Puerto Rico, Neonella colalao and Neonella cabana from Argentina. The female of Neonella antillana Galiano 1988 is described for the first time . RESUMEN. Se describen tres nuevas especies de Neonella Gertsch 1936: Neonella mayaguez de Puerto Rico, Neonella colalao y Neonella cabana de Argentina. La hembra de N. antillana Galiano 1988 se describe por primera vez . The genera Neon Simon 1876, Darwinneon Cutler 1971 and Neonella Gertsch 1936 include the smallest salticids known . The biggest females reach only 2 mm in body length, and the males are smaller. Neonella contains at present six species (Gertsch 1936 ; Galiano 1965, 1988), two of them described from only one sex : N. antillana Galiano 1988 and N. montana Galiano 1988. In the present paper, the female of N. antillana is described for the first time and three new species are described : Neonella mayaguez new species from Puerto Rico, Neonella colalao new species and Neonella cabana new species from Argentina . Few references to the natural history of Neonella species are known . When information has been given by the collectors, it is said that the specimens have been found on the ground, in leaf litter, and under bark or rocks . Of all spiders the most poorly known are probably those which occur in leaf litter, moss and similar surface habitats in tropical and subtropical areas. The limited data about this fauna justified the description of new species based on unique specimens . Neonella colalao and N cabana are distinguished from the other species by the tegular pectinate process and by the presence of a male palpal patellar apophysis. However, there are other characters such as body shape, color pattern, cheliceral teeth and leg spination that would place these species within Neonella . They may eventually be moved to another genus when the females are studied.

Abstract: A new species of Neonella is described that has a distribution apparently restricted to the southeast coast of Florida. So far, it has only been found in Brevard and Monroe counties. It is closely related to N. mayaguez Galiano from Puerto Rico.

Abstract: The American genus Neonella Gertsch, 1936 consists of very small jumping spiders whose biology is not well known. The genus currently includes eleven valid species, of which eight are known from both sexes and two are only known from one sex. This paper describes and illustrates a new species Neonella acostae sp. n., demonstrates male palpal variation in Neonella montana Galiano, 1988, and provides some information on the ecology of three sympatric species. New records of Neonella montana and Neonella minuta Galiano, 1965 are reported. Because the previously described species of Neonella were well illustrated and diagnosed, a dichotomous key to males is given along with genital illustrations of both sexes for all known species.