Alopecosa cronebergi (Thorell, 1875)

Azarkina, Galina N., Esyunin, Sergei L., Kuz'Min, Evgeniy A. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2016, On the synonymy of two wolf spider species of the genus Alopecosa (Araneae, Lycosidae) from the steppe zone of Russia, Zootaxa 4205 (4), pp. 339-348 : 340-347

Alopecosa cronebergi (Thorell, 1875)

Figs 1–39

Tarentula cronebergii Thorell, 1875a: 103 (♀). Thorell 1875b: 156 (♀); Reimoser 1919, 149; Herman 1876, 101; Herman 1879, 264, 377; Margo 1879, 114; Henrich 1881, 66; Becker 1888, 374; Chyzer & Kulczyński 1891, 71; Chyzer & Kulczyński 1897, 26; Verzhbitskiy 1902, 483; Spassky 1925: 50, figs 27, 53 (♂ ♀, misidentified, the figure of at least one male refers to A. kovblyuki ); Szilady 1925: 165; Spassky 1927: 78; Charitonov 1932, 34.

Alopecosa cronebergi: Roewer 1955: 215 .

Alopecosa atypica Ponomarev, 2008: 53 , figs 12–13 (♂). Syn. n.

Types. Syntypes 2♀ of A. cronebergi : " Rossia merid. Croneberg ded." Sarepta and Dagestan: Derbent (A. Croneberg) in NHRS (Collectio Thorell 232/1456), examined.

Holotype ♂ of A. atypica : Kazakhstan, Atyrau Area, 13 km NE of Makhambet Vil., Ural River left bank, fluvial terrace with Artemisia – Salsola vegetation, c. 47°47'N, 51°37'E, 13.V.1986 (A.V. Ponomarev), in ZMUM, examined.

Additional material examined. RUSSIA: Astrakhan' Region: 5♂ 8♀ (UlSPU, PSU –7188), Bogdisko- Baskunchakskiy Reserve, near Karasun Lake , 48°15'35"N, 46°57'39"E, grass steppe with diverse herbs, 15.IX.2014 (E.A. Kuzmin) . Orenburg Region: 3♂ 6♀ ( PSU –7187), Svetlyi Distr., ca. 10 km N of Pervomayskiy Village, the ‘ Ashchisayskaya steppe’ division of the Orenburg Reserve, 50°58'N, 61°09'E, grassy-wormwood ( Artemisia ) steppe and saline-land, mesophytic herbaceous vegetation, wormwood ( Artemisia ) and Festuca steppes, 4.VI.–12.VII.2015, 20–27.IX.2015 (S. Sokolova).

Diagnosis. Alopecosa cronebergi belongs to the striatipes species group sensu Lugetti & Tongiorgi (1969) and resemble Alopecosa striatipes (C.L. Koch, 1837) in the shape of the epigyne, shape of the male palp as well as the body pattern (cf. Lugetti & Tongiorgi 1969: fig. 22; Fuhn & Niculescu-Burlacu 1971: fig. 80; Buchar & Thaler 2004: figs 3–4). It differs in having a thinner tegular apophysis, more prolateral position of the embolic base in the male pedipalpus ( Figs 21–23 ); and droplet-shaped receptacles in the females (Fig. 8). Alopecosa cronebergi also resembles A. kovblyuki (see Nadolny et al. 2012: figs 2–6) and differs from it by having a much thinner tegular apophysis, by lacking a membrane accompanying the embolus in the male pedipalpus; and by the female epigynum without epigynal pockets (Fig. 7).

Description. Males. Measurements (average (minimum–maximum)): total length 9.4 (8.2–11.4). Carapace 4.7 (4.0–5.6) long, 3.2(2.9–4.2) wide. Width/length ratio 0.70 (0.65–0.74). Chelicerae 1.6 (1.3–1.9) long. Opisthosoma 4.6 (3.9–5.8) long. For leg measurements, see Table 1 . Clypeus (male from PSU–7188, henceforward) 0.23 long. Anterior eye row 0.90, median eye row 1.25, posterior eye row 1.50; OA length 1.28. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.25, ALE 0.15, PME 0.50, PLE 0.45; AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.40, PLE–PLE 0.90, PME–PLE 0.58).

Colouration. Carapace light-brown with a single median and a pair of submarginal yellow bands; margin with a thin dark stripe; lateral dark bands thinner than the median and wider than the submarginal (Fig. 1). Sternum light yellow covered with sparse erect black setae (Fig. 2). Chelicerae yellow-brown with blackish tips, covered with white setae distally and with black setae proximally. Endites and labium fulvous, with white apices. Palps yellow with fulvous cymbium. Legs yellow, femora with indistinct dark dorsal stripes. Tarsi I–IV and distal parts of metatarsi I–II with scopula. Opisthosoma: dorsum variegated (Fig. 1), with slanting light stripes, covered with white and thin black setae, venter light yellow with a dark spot on epigastric furrow. For leg spinnation, see Table 2 .

Palp as in Figs 3–4, 15–18, 21–27, 31–34; tibia long, equal to 0.5–0.7 the length of the cymbium, with 2 prolateral spines in the basal third (Figs 3–4, 21) and a series of strong erect macrosetae retrolaterally (Figs 4, 21, 24); dorsal surface covered with short adpressed white setae ( Fig. 24 ) and suberect black setae; cymbium darker than tibia, elongate, clawless, with long tip about 0.4 of cymbial length; ventral part of tip with dense strong setae (Figs 3–4), base of cymbium with short adpressed white setae; bulb slightly longer than wide; subtegulum massive; tegular apophysis broad, with abrupt tip; terminal part of tegular apophysis located more anteriorly than the base; tip of tegular apophysis complex, with three outgrowths ( Figs 15, 17 ); tip bifurcated in anterior view ( Figs 23 , 33 ); palea small and base of embolus not hidden, originating at about 11:30 clock position; synembolus (Sy) short, sharply pointed ( Figs 26 , 32, 34 ); embolus long and thin, with smoothly rounded trajectory; accompanying membrane absent ( Figs 26 , 31, 32, 34 ).

Females. Total length 12.3 (8.8–14.4). Carapace 5.5 (4.0–6.3) long, 3.9 (2.8–4.7) wide. Width/length ratio 0.71 (0.65–0.79). Clypeus 0.20 long. Anterior eye row 1.18 wide; median eye row 1.50 wide, posterior eye row 1.70 wide. Eyes sizes and interdistances: AME 0.28, ALE 0.23, PME 0.63, PLE 0.55, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.38, PLE–PLE 1.08, PME–PLE 0.43. Chelicerae 2.4 (1.7–2.8) long. Opisthosoma 6.8 (4.9–8.2) long. For leg measurements, see Table 3 .

Colouration. Carapace dark brown covered with white setae, median light band distinct, submarginal light band indistinct; cephalic part covered with black setae (Fig. 5). Chelicerae from reddish brown to dark brown or almost black. Endites and labium from fulvous to dark brown with white apices. Sternum from yellow to dirty yellow, covered with thin white and black setae. Palps and legs grey yellow; femora with grey band or with dark strips dorsally; coxae yellow. Tarsi I–IV and distal parts of metatarsi I–II with scopula. Opisthosoma (Figs 5, 6, 19): dorsum grey with or without obvious pattern, covered with fulvous and black setae, venter yellow, covered with thin black setae. For leg spinnation, see Table 4 .

Epigyne as in Figs 7–14, 28–30; without atrium, septum large, from 1.5x to almost 2x wider than long in some specimens ( Fig. 30 ); connection between septum and epigynal plate not visible; receptacles droplet-shaped, copulatory ducts slightly shorter than receptacles (Figs 8, 10), with approximate right-angle bend in the middle.

Variation. The specimens collected in Orenburg steppe habitats are considerably larger in size and darker in coloration than those from the Astrakhan'. On the other hand, Orenburg and Astrakhan' specimens are not significantly different in structure of the copulatory organs. Moreover, a single male specimen collected in a mesophytic habitat at Orenburg Nature Reserve was nearly identical in size and colour to the Astrakhan' male specimens.

The shape and proportions of the epigynal septum, and the anterior margin of the same septum, are also variable. The anterior border of the epigynal septum have a seamless transition into the anterior border of the epigyne (Figs 7, 9, 11–14) in the majority of specimens, but some females have a septum, which occurs under the edge of epigyne ( Fig. 30 ). The lateral sides of the septum are highly variable in shape and degree of curvature ( Figs 9–14 , 28–30 ).

Phenology. Males and females from the Astrakhan' population have been collected together in September. Specimens from the Orenburg population were found at different time periods, males were trapped at the end of September, while females were collected from June to the beginning of July.

Habitats. Most of the specimens were collected in steppe habitats ( Figs 35–38 ), and only one specimen occurred in a mesophytic herbaceous biocenose.

Distribution. It is very likely that records from Hungary refer to another species, most probably to A. striatipes . Its occurrence there was not properly documented and the species was not recorded since 1925. Records of A. cronebergi from Rostov Region ( Spassky 1925) undoubtedly refer to its sibling species, A. kovblyuki , which was recorded from both regions by Nadolny et al. (2012). The currently known distribution of A. cronebergi stretches from Volgograd to the Southern Urals and from South Ukraine to the lower reaches of the Ural River ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

FIGURE 39. Geographic distribution records of Alopecosa cronebergi.

FIGURES 19 – 24. Syntype female (19) of Alopecosa cronebergi and holotype male of A. atypica (20 – 24). 19 – 20 habitus, dorsal; 21 male palp, ventral; 22 – 23 bulb without embolic division, ventral and anterior-prolateral; 24 cymbium and tibia, dorsal. Scale = 1 mm (19 – 20), 0.1 mm (21 – 24).

FIGURES 9 – 18. Epigyne and male palp of Alopecosa cronebergi. 9, 11 – 14 epigyne, ventral (11 – 14 A. cronebergi syntypes); 10 female internal genitalia, dorsal; 15, 17 male palp ventral (15 holotype of A. atypical); 16, 18 male palp, pro- and retrolateral. view. Scale = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 31 – 34. Dissected palp of A. cronebergi (holotype of A. atypica). 31 – 32 embolic division, posterior and ventral; 33 tegulum, anterior; 34 embolic division, anterior. Scale = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 25 – 30. Male palp and epigyne of A. cronebergi. 25, 27 tegular apophysis, ventral and retrolateral; 26 embolic division, ventral; 28 – 30 epigyne, ventral. 28 from Astrakhan', 29 – 30 from Orenburg. Scale = 0.1 mm (25 – 27) and 0.5 mm (28 – 30).

FIGURES 35 – 38. Habitats of Alopecosa cronebergi in Orenburg (35 – 37) and Astrakhan' (38) regions. 35 grassy-wormwood (Artemisia) steppe; 36 Artemisia – Festuca steppe; 37 saline-land; 38 grass steppe.

Tables

TABLE 1. Length of male legs.

Fe	Pt+Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
I 3.2–4.6	4.0–5.7	2.7–4.1	1.8–2.5	11.6–16.8
II 3.1–4.4	3.7–5.2	2.7–4.0	1.7–2.6	11.1–16.1
III 2.8–4.2	3.3–4.9	2.9–4.1	1.6–2.3	10.5–15.7
IV 3.7–5.2	4.6–6.3	4.2–6.4	2.0–3.0	14.7–20.8

TABLE 2. Spination of male legs.

Femur	Tibia	Metatarsus
I d1–1–1 p0–0–1 r1–1–1	p0–1–1 r0–1–1 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v 2–2–3
II d1–1–1 p0–1–1 r1–1–1	p0–1–1 r0–1–1 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v 2–2–3
III d1–1–1 p0–1–1 r1–1–1	d0–1–1 p0–1–1 r0–1–1 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v 2–2–3
IV d1–1–1 p0–1(0)–1 r0–0–1	d1–0–1 p0–1–1 r0–1–1 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v 2–2–3

TABLE 3. Length of female legs.

Fe	Pt+Ti	Mt	Ta	Total
I 3.2–4.6	3.7–5.5	2.3–3.3	1.6–2.2	10.8–15.6
II 3.1–4.5	3.5–5.1	2.2–3.3	1.5–2.2	10.2–15.0
III 2.7–4.3	3.2–4.7	2.4–4.0	1.6–2.2	9.8–14.9
IV 3.7–5.6	4.5–6.4	4.1–6.0	1.8–2.7	14.0–20.5

TABLE 4. Spination of female legs.

	Femur	Tibia	Metatarsus
I	d1–1–1 p1(0)–1–1 r0–0–1	r1–1–0 v2–2(3)–2	r0–1(0)–1 v2–2–2
II	d1–1–1 p1(0)–1–1 r0–1–1	r1–1–0 v2–2(3)–2	r1(0)–1–1 v2–2–2
III	d1–1–1 p1(0)–1–1 r1–1–1	d1–1–0 p1–1–0 r1–1–0 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v2–2–3
IV	d1–1–1 p1–0–1 r0–0–1	d1–1–0 p1–1–0 r1–1–0 v2–2–2	p1–1–1 r1–1–1 v2–2–3