Mesiotelus mediterraneus Zamani, Fomichev & Marusik, sp. nov.

Figs 10, 55‒57

Material. Holotype ♀ (ZMMU), TÜRKIYE: Mersin Prov.: Sertavul Pass, 36°53'50"N, 33°16'09"E, 1504 m, juniper forest on steep slope, under stones, 19–20.IX.2010 (leg. Y.M. Marusik).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the distribution of the species in the Mediterranean region.

Diagnosis. The female of this species differs from those of the congeners by having a very wide anterior hood (Ah) 1.5 times wider than receptacles (vs. thinner or subequal), and receptacle longer than wide and oriented longitudinally (vs. globular, wider than long, or subtriangular).

Description. Female (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 10. Total length 5.30. Carapace 2.35 long, 1.90 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.10, ALE: 0.15, PME: 0.13, PLE: 0.13. Carapace, chelicerae, maxillae, labium and sternum light yellowish brown. Legs slightly lighter than carapace, without annulations. Abdomen light beige, without any patterns. Spinnerets uniformly light beige. Paired ventral tibial spines: I, II: 2p; III, IV: 3p. Measurements of legs: I: 8.49 (2.17, 1.20, 2.33, 1.76, 1.03), II: 7.96 (2.23, 1.14, 2.03, 1.65, 0.91), III: 7.47 (2.12, 0.92, 1.70, 1.82, 0.91), IV: 10.90 (2.79, 1.16, 2.70, 3.07, 1.18).

Epigyne as in Figs 55‒57; epigynal plate 1.2 times longer than wide; fovea as long as wide; hood (Ah) very wide, about half of fovea’s width and 1.5 times wider than receptacle; lateral margins: posterior part subparallel, anterior part diverging (forming about right angle); copulatory ducts very short, as long as wide; receptacles longitudinal suboval, almost 2 times longer than wide.

Male. Unknown.

Comments. Mesiotelus mersinensis Demircan Aksan, 2023 was described based on a single male from Mersin (Demircan Aksan 2023). This nomen is, however, unavailable, as the paper was published in an electronic journal without registration in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank); see Article 8.5.3 of the Code (ICZN 1999) and ICZN (2012). It is possible that the male described and illustrated by Demircan Aksan (2023) is conspecific with either M. mediterraneus sp. nov. or M. alanyensis sp. nov., both of which are distributed in the same region.

Distribution. Known only from Mersin Province, southern Türkiye (Fig. 75).