Zaitunia persica species group

Sergei Zonstein & Yuri M. Marusik, 2016, A revision of the spider genus Zaitunia (Araneae, Filistatidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 214, pp. 1-97 : 30-31

Zaitunia persica species group

Remarks

The group unites almost uniformly light-coloured species with females possessing only one pair of receptacles (entire or subdivided). Males and their characters are unknown for this group. Six members are included: Z. afghana ( Roewer, 1962) from Afghanistan, and five species from Iran: Z. akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015 , Z. alexandri Brignoli, 1982 , Z. brignoliana sp. nov., Z. medica Brignoli, 1982 and Z. persica Brignoli, 1982 .

Key to species of the Zaitunia persica species group

(Only females; males of all included species are unknown.)

1. Receptacles long, sinuous and looped ( Figs 15 E–G, 18D–E) ……………………………………2

– Receptacles short, without loops ( Figs 14 G–K, 16A–B, D–F, 17D, F–J) ………………………3

2. Receptacles longer, with four loops ( Fig. 18 D–E); southern Iran ……… Z. persica Brignoli, 1982

– Receptacles shorter, with two loops ( Fig. 15 E–G); northern Iran ………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… Z. akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015

3. Receptacles undivided ( Figs 16 A, D, 17D, F–J) …………………………………………………4

– Receptacles subdivided ( Figs 14 G–K, 16D–F) ……………………………………………………5

4. Receptacles longer, sac-shaped ( Fig. 16 A–B); southern Iran……… Z. alexandri Brignoli, 1982

– Receptacles shorter, knob-shaped ( Fig. 17 D, F–J), central Iran ………… Z. medica Brignoli, 1982

5. Receptacles with stems and subdivided dumbbell-shaped head ( Fig. 14 G–K); Afghanistan ……… ………………………………………………………………………… Z. afghana ( Roewer, 1962)

– Receptacles without stems, boomerang-shaped ( Fig. 16 D–F); Iran ……… Z. brignoliana sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 14. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia afghana (Roewer, 1962), holotype, ♀. A – B. Habitus, dorsal and ventral. C. Prosoma, dorsal. D. Habitus, lateral. E – F. Calamistrum from above and lateral. G – I, K. Endogyne, dorsal. J. Right receptacle, dorsal. Scale bars: A, D = 1.0 mm; B – C = 0.5 mm; E – G, I = 0.2 mm; H = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 15. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015, holotype, ♀. A – B. Habitus, lateral and dorsal. C. Prosoma, dorsal. D. Calamistrum lateral. E, G. Endogyne, dorsal. F. Left receptacle, ventral. Scale bars: A – B = 1.0 mm; C – D = 0.2 mm; G = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 16. Zaitunia alexandri Brignoli, 1982 (A – B) and Z. brignoliana sp. nov. (C – F), holotype; ♀♀, habitus and structure of endogyne. — A – B, D, F. Endogyne, dorsal. C. Habitus, dorsal. E. Left receptacle, dorsal. Scale bars: A, F = 0.2 mm; C = 1.0 mm.

Fig. 17. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia medica Brignoli, 1982, holotype, ♀. A. Prosoma, lateral. B – C. Prosoma, dorsal. D, F – G. Endogyne, dorsal (D: after Brignoli 1982). E. Calamistrum, dorsal. H. Right receptacle, dorsal. Scale bars: A, B = 1.0 mm; C = 0.2 mm; F = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 18. Somatic characters and endogyne of Zaitunia persica Brignoli, 1982, holotype, ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal. B. Prosoma, dorsal. C. Metatarsus and tarsus IV, dorsal. D – E. Endogyne, dorsal. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; C, E = 0.2 mm.