Canariphantes epigynatus, V. & Tanasevitch, 2013

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2013, On linyphiid spiders (Araneae) from Israel, Revue suisse de Zoologie 120 (1), pp. 101-124 : 104-107

Canariphantes epigynatus sp. n. Figs 9-16

HOLOTYPE: Ƌ; ISRAEL, ca 10 km SW of Bait She’an, Gilboa , pitfall traps; 23.IV.2010; leg. C. Drees & L. Friedman.

PARATYPES: 4 Ƌ, 1 ♀; 3 Ƌ ( MHNG), from same locality, collected together with the holotype .

ETYMOLOGY: The species name, a latinized adjective, refers to the peculiar shape of the epigyne.

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is characterized by the paracymbium carrying a sharp tooth and by the shape of the lamella characteristica in the male, as well as by the peculiar conformation of the epigyne in the female. In there the scapus is strongly modified and consists mainly of the proscapus; the stretcher and the lateral lobes are both reduced, while each bursa copulatrix flanks the apex of the scapus.

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype). Total length 1.90. Carapace pale brown, unmodified, 0.83 long, 0.56 wide. Chelicerae 0.33 long, unmodified. Legs pale brown. Leg I 3.78 long (1.00+0.25+0.98+0.95+0.60), IV 3.44 long (1.00+0.23+0.93+ 1.00+0.58). Chaetotaxy: Ti I: 2-1-1-0, II: 2-0-1-0, III-IV: 2-0-0-0; Mt I-III: 1-0-0-0, IV: 0-0-0-0. TmI 0.16. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp as in Figs 9-14: cymbium without posterodorsal outgrowth. Paracymbium with a wide and well sclerotized FIGS 3-4

Araeoncus banias sp. n., Ƌ holotype. (3-4) Left palp, retrolateral and prolateral view, respectively.

proximal part, distal part small and almost transparent; lower edge of proximal part of paracymbium with a sharp tooth. Lamella characteristica narrow, slightly curved, hook-shaped apically. Embolus relatively large, its thumb well developed. Abdomen 1.13 long, 0.65 wide, grey.

Female. Single female in bad condition: body deformed, legs mostly lost. Epigyne as in Figs 15-16: strongly sclerotized, scapus consisting only of a proscapus, lateral lobes and stretcher reduced. Proscapus straight, parallel-sided; bursae copulatrix situated at apex of proscape.

FIGS 5-8

Araeoncus banias sp. n., ♀ paratype (5-7) and A. caucasicus Tanasevitch, 1987 , specimen from Kazakhstan (8). (5-6) Epigyne , ventral view. (7-8) Vulva, dorsal view .

TAXONOMIC REMARKS: According to the male palp conformation, C. epigynatus sp. n. clearly belongs to the Mediterranean Canariphantes Wunderlich, 1992 , but the structure of the epigyne is unusual and strongly resembles that of Fistulaphantes canalis Tanasevitch & Saaristo, 2006 , a species known from Nepal.

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the type locality only.

FIGS 9-14

Canariphantes epigynatus sp. n., Ƌ paratype. (9-10) Right palp, retrolateral and ventral view, respectively. (11) Cymbium, lateralview. (12) Embolicdivision, ventralview. (13-14) Lamella characteristica, different aspects.