Zaitunia maracandica - group

Sergei Zonstein & Yuri M. Marusik, 2016, A revision of the spider genus Zaitunia (Araneae, Filistatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 214, pp. 1-97 : 68-69

Zaitunia maracandica - group

Remarks

This group includes pale-coloured species. The clypeus, post-ocular area, dorsal abdominal pattern and often also lateral margins of the carapace are slightly darker than the pale background colour. Legs I–IV with or without darker fasciae. The conical tegulum is much shorter than the cymbium. The relatively long embolus is provided with a low, more or less reduced keel. The vulva has two pairs of receptacles. Five species are included: Z. ferghanensis sp. nov. from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Z. maracandica ( Charitonov, 1946) from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and (tentatively, because of unknown male characters) Z. feti sp. nov. from Turkmenistan, Z. minuta sp. nov. from Uzbekistan and Z. zonsteini Fomichev & Marusik, 2013 from Kazakhstan.

Key to species of the Zaitunia maracandica- group

(Males of Z. feti sp. nov., Z. minuta sp. nov. and Z. zonsteini are unknown.)

1. Males ………………………………………………………………………………………………2

– Females ……………………………………………………………………………………………3

2. Palpal tibia considerably swollen, vestigial embolic keel terminates more gently ( Figs 37 D–E, 44F); Uzbekistan, southern Kazakhstan ……………………… Z. maracandica ( Charitonov, 1946)

– Palpal tibia only slightly swollen, vestigial embolic keel terminates more steeply ( Figs 35 A–C, 44E); Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan ……………………………………………… Z. ferghanensis sp. nov.

3. Receptacles short, globulate or stump-shaped, subequal in size; lateral and median receptacles located near each other ( Figs 40 , 41 I –M) …………………………………………………………4

– Receptacles more elongate and noticeably differ by size, lateral and median receptacles more distant from each other ( Figs 35 E–J, 36D–E, 38E–I) ………………………………………………5

4. Receptacles stump-shaped, with only few gland-pores apically ( Fig. 40 ); Uzbekistan …………… …………………………………………………………………………………… Z. minuta sp. nov.

– Receptacles globulate, with more numerous gland-pores spread evenly ( Fig. 41 I–M); Kazakhstan …………………………………………………………… Z. zonsteini Fomichev & Marusik, 2013

5. Distance between lateral and median receptacles is shorter; lateral pair of receptacles longer than median pair ( Fig. 35 E–J) …………………………………………………… Z. ferghanensis sp. nov.

– Distance between lateral and median receptacles is longer; lateral pair of receptacles subequal to median pair or shorter ( Figs 38 E–I, 36D–E) ………………………………………………………6

6. Receptacles are subequal in size ( Fig. 38 E–I) ……………… Z. maracandica ( Charitonov, 1946)

– Median receptacles considerably longer than lateral pair ( Fig. 36 D–E); Turkmenistan …………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Z. feti sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 35. Copulatory organs and somatic characters of Zaitunia ferghanensis sp. nov., paratype, ♂ from Osh (A – D) and paratypes, ♀♀ from Djalal-Abad (E – J) and Ferghana (K). — A. Palp, prolateral. B – D. Terminal part of palp, retrolateral, ventral and dorsal. E – J. Endogyne (variants), dorsal. K. Habitus, dorsal.

Fig. 36. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia feti sp. nov., holotype, ♀. A – B. Habitus, dorsolateral and lateral. C. Abdomen, ventral. D – E. Endogyne, dorsal.

Fig. 37. Somatic characters and palp of Zaitunia maracandica (Charitonov, 1946), ♂ from Ulus. A. Habitus, lateral. B – C. Prosoma, laterodorsal. D – E. Palp, retro- and prolateral. Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B = 0.5 mm; C – E = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 38. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia maracandica (Charitonov, 1946), ♀♀ from Bukhara (A – D), Kitab (E – H) and Ulus (I). A. Prosoma, dorsal. B, D. Body, dorsal. C. Habitus, dorsal. E – F, I. Endogyne, dorsal. G. Right pair of receptacles, anterior. H. Endogyne, anterior. Scale bars: B, D = 0.5 mm; C = 1.0 mm; I = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 40. Endogyne of Zaitunia minuta sp. nov., holotype, ♀. A. Anterior. B. Ventral. C – D. Dorsal.

Fig. 41. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia zonsteini Fomichev & Marusik, 2012 (A – H, J – K, M), and ♀♀ from Taldykorgon (I, L). — A – C. Habitus, dorsal, showing variations of pattern. D, G. Cephalic part of prosoma, dorsal. E, H. Calamistrum, lateral and dorsal. F. Posterior part of abdomen, ventral. I – J. Endogyne, dorsal. K, M. Same, anterior. L. Same, subcaudal (receptacles visible from below). Scale bars: A = 1.0 mm; B – C = 0.5 mm; D, F – H = 0.2 mm; I, L = 0.1 mm.