A revision of the spider genus Brettus (Araneae : Salticidae) F. R. Wanless Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Introduction The genus Brettus was proposed by Thorell (1895) for the Burmese species Brettus cingulatus Thorell. Simon (1900) described four more species (Brettus martini from South Africa, B. albolim-batus and B. semifimbriata from India and B. adonis from Sri Lanka) and in 1901 synonymized the genus with Portia. Wanless (19786) revised Portia and resurrected Brettus in part. Brettus martini Simon could not be recognized from the original description and as the type specimen could not be found the name was considered a nomen dubium. In the present paper the genus is redefined and its affinities discussed. The four known species (of which one is new) are described and keyed. One species is newly synonymized and three lectotypes designated. The measurements were made in the manner described by Wanless (1978#). The known species of Brettus are closely related and occur in the Oriental region. They resemble spiders of the genus Portia, but are generally smaller in size and lack the abdominal hair tufts. Unfortunately their biology is unknown though it is considered that their behaviour may be similar to that described for some species of Portia (Wanless, 19786), and that specimens may be found living in diplurid or pholcid webs. Genus BRETTUS Thorell Brettus Thorell, 1895 : 354. Type species Brettus cingulatus Thorell, by original designation and monotypy. Simon, 1901 : 402 [= Portia] Petrunkevitch, 1928 : 213. Bonnet, 1955 : 915. Wanless, 19786 : 84 [gen. rev.]. DEFINITION. Small to medium spiders ranging from about 3-0 to 8-0 mm in length. Sexes alike; leg fringes present, but abdominal hair tufts apparently lacking; colour patterns composed of setae (easily rubbed). Carapace : high, longer than broad ; fovea present, behind posterior lateral eyes ; sculpturing not marked, cuticle weakly iridescent (under some angles of illumination) ; in most species, broad marginal bands composed of white setae extend from clypeal region to posterior thoracic margin. Eyes: anteriors subcontiguous with apices recurved; posterior median eyes relatively large, nearer to anterior laterals than to posterior laterals ; posterior row narrower than anterior row; quadrangle length between 40 and 50 per cent of carapace length. Clypeus: moderately high to high, concave. Chelicerae : medium to large, more or less vertical ; promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 3 to 4. Maxillae : elongate, usually divergent. Labium : subtriangular, about half maxilla length. Sternum: elongate scutiform. Pedicel: short. Abdomen: elongate ovoid; scuta lacking, but four impressed spots usually present; anterior and posterior spinnerets robust, subequal in length, medians slender, relatively short; trachea not examined (insufficient material). Legs : long and slender, fringes present on legs I and sometimes II ; spines numerous, moderately robust; claws pectinate, tufts present, scopula lacking; legs I-II with minute setae in parallel row on venter of tarsi and metatarsi. Female palp : long and slender with terminal claw (difficult to see). Male palp: femoral apophyses lacking; tibiae with lateral and ventral apophyses, the former with an associated duct which appears to arise from a flask-like vacuole (Fig. IE, F). Cymbium modified proximally; embolus very long and slender; conductor apparently lacking; tegulum with peripheral seminal reservoir, a curved furrow (Fig. 1A, B) and a bipartite mem-braneous apophysis (apparently lacking in B. adonis) adjacent to the embolic base; median Bull. Br. Mus. not. Hist. (Zool.) 35 (2): 127-200 Issued 26 April, 1979 183
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