Zaitunia psammodroma, Sergei Zonstein & Yuri M. Marusik, 2016

Sergei Zonstein & Yuri M. Marusik, 2016, A revision of the spider genus Zaitunia (Araneae, Filistatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 214, pp. 1-97 : 62-63

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2016.214
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CA243C98-9461-441A-BBD9-ECBDEC103DD9
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5634899
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C4E7DB83-2472-4BCF-85B6-B1CF85CA5714
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4E7DB83-2472-4BCF-85B6-B1CF85CA5714
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Zaitunia psammodroma
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Zaitunia psammodroma View in CoL sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4E7DB83-2472-4BCF-85B6-B1CF85CA5714

Fig. 30 View Fig. 30 G–K

Diagnosis

The species differs from all other congeners in having modified metatarsi IV – shortened, distally dilated and flattened, with ventrodistal spines ( Fig. 30 View Fig. 30 G, K).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from psammo- (a combining form of the Greek psámmos, “sand”) + -droma (a combining form of the Greek drómos meaning “running”), indicating the ability of these spiders to run on a loose, sandy substrate.

Material examined

Holotype

TURKMENISTAN: ♂, Karakum Desert, Repetek Nature Reserve , c. 38º34' N, 63º10' E, 200 m, 3 May 1972, V.I. Kuznetzov ( TAU). GoogleMaps

Paratype

TURKMENISTAN: 1 ♂, same data as holotype ( ZMMU). GoogleMaps

Description

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 30 View Fig. 30 G.

BODY LENGTH. 3.37.

COLOUR. Carapace light yellowish-orange, other parts of body and legs uniformly pale greyish-yellow.

CARAPACE. Subcircular, 1.47 long, 1.42 wide.

EYES. AME 0.09, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.12, PME 0.10, AME–AME 0.09.

PALP ( Figs 30 View Fig. 30 H–J, 44C). Femur in prolateral view 1/3 longer than tibia and 1.5 times thinner; cymbium slightly shorter than bulb; embolic neck straight, with thin, straight keel, its width equal to spermophore diameter; embolus relatively long and thin, bent ventrally.

LEG MEASUREMENTS.

	Femur	Patella	Tibia	Metatarsus	Tarsus	Total
Palp	0.97	0.42	0.78	―	0.32	2.49
I	2.23	0.72	1.54	1.65	0.90	7.04
II	1.86	0.65	1.32	1.51	0.68	6.02
III	1.78	0.67	1.32	1.30	0.53	5.60
IV	2.13	0.75	1.29	1.53	0.61	6.31

SPECIAL CHARACTERS. Tibia and metatarsus III with c. 20 short spines each; metatarsus IV short and flattened, with 7–8 short and stout ventroapical spines ( Fig. 30 View Fig. 30 K).

Female

Unknown.

Variation

Carapace length in males varies from 1.42 to 1.45; no differences in coloration are evident.

Ecology

The species occurs in an extra-arid sandy desert with Haloxylon shrubs; the males were collected in pitfall traps in rodent colonies. Most likely the spiders inhabit abandoned gerbil burrows.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 49 View Fig. 49 ).