Sahastata amethystina, Marusik & Zamani, 2016

Marusik, Y. M. & Zamani, A., 2016, A New Species Of Sahastata (Aranei, Filistatidae) From Southern Iran, Vestnik Zoologii 50 (3), pp. 267-270 : 267-269

Sahastata amethystina sp. n. ( figs 1–11 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l. Holotype ǫ ( SMF), Iran: Kerman Province, vicinity of Kahnuj-Faryab Rd., 27̊57'38" N 57̊35'04" E, December 2015 (S. Sami) .

E t y m o l o g y. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “ amethystinus ”, and refers to the amethyst colouring of the carapace in live specimens.

D i a g n o s i s. The new species is easily differentiated from the type species, S. nigra (Simon, 1897) , and S. sinuspersica Marusik, Zamani & Mirshamsi, 2014 by the bright violet colour of the carapace (black or dark brown in other congeners), the shape of the calamistrum, comprising 3 rows of thick, short and tightly-spaced bristles directed longitudinally ( fig. 10 ), in contrast to 2 distinct rows of long, wavy bristles directed almost transversely in S. nigra or 3 distinct rows of thick setae directed diagonally in S. sinuspersica ( Marusik et al., 2014: figs 26–29, 32, 33), and the complex shape of the receptacles, each having three distinct parts (globular or with two heads in sibling species, Marusik et al., 2014: figs 34–41).

D e s c r i p t i o n. Female. Total length 15.0. Carapace 5.75 long, 4.25 wide; clypeus 0.63 long. Sternum 2.88 long, 2.59 wide; labium 1.15 long, 0.86 wide. Fovea deep conical, without distinct margins.

Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.23, ALE 0.3, PME 0.26, PLE 0.27; AME-AME 0.16, PME-PME 0.33, PLE-ALE 0.11; anterior eye row 0.46, posterior eye row 0.57. Leg spination (apical spines not counted): I femur 1p, tibia 1p, 3-0v, metatarsus 1p, 3pv, ca. 10v; II Ti 3-3v, metatarsus 3p, 3r or 1r, ca. 10v; III tibia 1d, 2p, 3r, 3-1v, metatarsus 4p, 3e, ca. 6v; IV tibia r1, 3-0v; metatarsus 2p or 0p, ca. 8v. Spines short (shorter than regular setae) and thick ( figs 2–11 ). Ventral spines not paired. Calamistrum comprises three rows of thick, tightlyspaced bristles directed along the axis of metatarsus, transverse section crosses four bristles.

Colouration in alcohol ( figs 3, 4 ): carapace brown without distinct pattern, eye field dark, with dark median band from behind eye field to fovea; abdomen and legs uniformly dark brown. Colouration in live specimen ( figs 1, 2 ): carapace bright violet, abdomen and legs dark violet ( table 1 ).

Endogyne as in figures 7–9 . Each receptacle subdivided into three parts, the inner digitiform arm (Ir), triangular middle part (Mr) and elongate oval lateral arms (Lr). Inner and lateral arms are densely covered with glandular pores; pores with long cilia (longer than diameter of receptacle arms).

Male unknown.

H a b i t a t. The holotype was collected during the day from under a large stone in a dry, warm, rocky habitat of sparse Arecaceae forest.

D i s t r i b u t i o n. The species is known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figs 1–6. Somatic characters of the holotype of Sahastata amethystina sp. n.: 1–2 — live specimen, dorsal and frontal; 3–4 — preserved specimen, lateral and dorsal; 5–6 — prosoma, dorsal and ventral. Photographs 1–2 after Ali Mohajeran.

Figs 7–11. Endogyne and legs of the holotype of Sahastata amethystina sp. n.: 7, 9 — endogyne, dorsal, different aspects; 8 — right receptacle, dorsal; 10 — proximal part of metatarsus IV with calamistrum, dorsal; 11 tibia II, showing ventral spines. Scale bar 0.2 mm.

Tables

Table 1. Lengths of palp and leg segments

Limbs	Femur	Patella	Tibia	Metatarsus	Tarsus	Total
Palp	2.5	1.65	1.75	–	1.6	7.5
I	5.5	2.1	5.0	4.9	2.5	20.0
II	4.25	1.9	3.5	3.75	1.9	15.3
III	3.6	2.0	2.9	3.25	1.75	13.5
IV	5.0	2.0	4.0	4.25	2.0	17.25