Parasyrisca platnicki, Marusik & Fomichev & Omelko, 2019

Marusik, Yuri M., Fomichev, Alexander A. & Omelko, Mikhail M., 2019, New data on Parasyrisca (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Mongolia, Zootaxa 4688 (2), pp. 199-212 : 202-208

Parasyrisca platnicki sp. n.

Figs 1d , 3 a–d, 4g–i, 5i, 6i, 8a–c, 9g–j, 10c, 11

Types. Holotype ♂ ( ZMMU) MONGOLIA, Govi-Altai Aimag, Khasagtyn-Nuruu Mt. Range , near Khoit-Bogd-Uul Mt. (46°47’N, 95°50’E), mountain stony tundra with screes and rocks, 3400–3500 m, 8.07.2017 (A.A. Fomichev) . Paratypes: 2♀ ( ZMMU) together with the holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of our colleague, Norman Platnick (New York, USA), who has made an unprecedented contribution to Arachnology and has described the majority of Parasyrisca species.

Diagnosis. The new species clearly differ from congeners by the possession of a long filamentous embolus and conductor longer than the terminal apophysis (vs. non-filamentous embolus, and conductor shorter than terminal apophysis) as well as the triangular peak of the subdivided anterior pocket of the epigyne having 2 separate pits (vs. peak absent in anterior pocket, and the pocket never subdivided in 2 parts and without pits.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 8.0. Carapace 3.7 long, 2.95 wide. Colouration: carapace and sternum yellow-brown. Chelicerae, labium and endites dark brown. Palps: Fe–Ti pale yellow. Cymbium yellow-brown. Legs and spinnerets pale yellow. Abdomen yellow-gray. Leg spination: I: Fe d2 p1, Ti v4, Mt v2; II: Fe d2 p2, Ti v2, Mt v2; III: Fe d2 p2 r1, Ti p2 r2 v4, Mt d1 p1 r1 v2; IV: Fe d2 r1, Ti p2 r2 v5, Mt d2 p1 r 1 v 2. Leg measurements: I 14.5 (3.8, 2.0, 3.75, 3.05, 1.9); II 12.3 (3.35, 1.4, 3.15, 2.6, 1.8); III 11.45 (3.1, 1.55, 2.6, 2.45, 1.75); IV 15.35 (4.25, 1.65, 3.9, 3.6, 1.95).

Palp as in Figs 3 a–d, 4g–i, 5i, 6i, 8a–c. Tibia with gradually tapering apophysis lacking transversal ridges. Cymbium droplet shaped. Conductor long bent, slightly twisted around longitudinal axis, with a few small spines (Cs) in basal 1/3; embolus filamentous, embedded into conductor; terminal apophysis smaller than median apophysis, with sharply pointed tip.

Female. Total length 11.7. Carapace 4.25 long, 3.6 wide. Chelicera with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Colouration: carapace and sternum yellow-brown. Chelicerae, labium and endites dark-brown. Palps: Fe–Ti pale yellow, Ta dark brown. Legs pale yellow, with Mt–Ta of legs I, II brown. Abdomen yellow-gray. Spinnerets pale yellow. Leg spination: I: Fe d2 p1, Ti v3, Mt v2; II: Fe d2 p2, Ti v2, Mt v2; III: Fe d2 p2 r2, Ti p2 r2 v4, Mt d1 p1 r1 v2; IV: Fe d2 r1, Ti p2 r2 v6, Mt d2 p1 r 1 v 2. Leg measurements: I 14.0 (4.0, 2.1, 3.2, 2.7, 2.0); II 13.1 (3.7, 2.0, 3.0, 2.55, 1.85); III 12.3 (3.4, 1.85, 2.65, 2.5, 1.9); IV 16.2 (4.55, 2.1, 3.95, 3.5, 2.1).

Epigyne as in Figs 9 g–j. Anterior pocket triangle, strongly raised over epigynal plate ( Fig. 9j ), subdivided into 2 round pits ( Fig. 9i ); posterior pocket subdivided by septum in 2 parts; copulatory openings broad and rounded; anterior edge of receptacles lie over anterior edge of anterior pocket. Receptacles bent, directed postero-mesally, almost touching each other, anterior part of receptacle with hemispherical head (Rh) directed antero-mesally, heads about 3 times thinner than receptacle; receptacular ducts (Rd) converging in posterior direction, about 3 times thinner than receptacle.

Size variation. Females vary from 10.0 to 11.7 in the body length, carapace 4.1–4.25 long, 3.25–3.6 wide (n=2).

Comments. Although this species has unique features like filamentous embolus, long conductor, anterior pock- et subdivided in two parts and anteriorly bent receptacles, we place P. platnicki sp. n. in the P. potanini -group.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Parasyrisca khubsugul (a–c) and P. platnicki sp. n. (holotype ♂, d). a, d male, dorsal; b female, dorsal; c male, lateral. Scale: a–b, d = 2 mm; c = 1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Male palp of the holotype of Parasyrisca platnicki sp. n. (a–d) and P. khubsugul (e–g). a, e ventral; b, g dorsal; c, f retrolateral; d prolateral. Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Epigynes of Parasyrisca polchaninovae sp. n. (a–c), P. szinetari sp. n. (d–f) and P. platnicki sp. n. (g–j).