Lepthyphantes, Menge, 1866 sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2014, Linyphiid spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from caves of Morocco, Revue suisse de Zoologie 121 (2), pp. 277-290 : 285-289

Lepthyphantes s. lat. taza sp. n. Figs 22-24

HOLOTYPE: ♀; MOROCCO, Middle Atlas Mts , “Ifri Tselet” Cave near Ain Teslit , Châra region south-west of Taza, 1250 m a.s.l.; 3.VI.1978; leg. P. Strinati [Mar 78/14].

PARATYPES: 2 ♀; same data, “Ifri Tselet” Cave; 3.VI.1978; leg. B. Hauser [Mar 78/15] .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a noun in opposition that refers to the region of the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is characterized by the peculiar conformation of the epigyne, such as: the presence of a long process on each lateral wall, the absence of the proscape, as well as the reduced, lateral lobes and stretcher.

DESCRIPTION: Female (holotype). Total length 2.50. Carapace 1.13 long, 0.88 wide, pale brown, unmodified. Eyes relatively small, with dark rings. Chelicerae 0.42. long, anterior margin with two teeth and a denticle; posterior margin with a very small and poorly visible denticle. Legs pale brown to yellow, relatively thin and long. Leg I 7.23 long (1.88+0.42+1.95+1.88+1.13), leg IV 6.09 long (1.83+0.33+1.38+1.67 +0.88). Chaetotaxy. Fe I: 0-2-0-0, II-IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI-II: 2-2-2(3)-0, III-IV: 2-1-1-0; MtI-IV: 1-1-1-1. TmI 0.13. Abdomen 1.46 long, 0.83 wide, pale, almost white, dorsal pattern absent. Epigyne (Figs 22-24): Lateral walls very long, each one with a long apical process. Proscape and middle part of scape totally reduced. Distal part of scape massive, bucket-shaped, lateral lobes and stretcher reduced. Posterior median plate drop-shaped.

REMARKS: The general appearance of the epigyne of L. s. lat. taza sp. n. is similar to that of the cave-dwelling L. s. lat. aelleni and L. s. lat. maurusius, but the proscape in the new species is totally reduced, while in the other species the proscape is distinct.

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the type locality only.

Megalepthyphantes brignolii sp. n. Figs 25-28 HOLOTYPE: Ƌ; MOROCCO, Middle Atlas Mts , Bab bou Idir , region of Taza, Ras Chiker

Cave, 1410 m a.s.l.; 30.IX.1979; leg. P. Strinati & V. Aellen. PARATYPE: 1 ♀; from same locality, collected together with the holotype .

FIGS 22-24

Lepthyphantes s. lat. taza sp. n., ♀ paratype. (22-24) Epigyne, ventral, dorsal and lateral view, respectively.

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is characterized by the trifid apex of the lamella characteristica, as well as by the narrow, long, smoothly curved posterior median plate of the epigyne.

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype), partly damaged and previously probably dried up; only one palp present, separated. Cephalic part of carapace with chelicerae dissected and lost, remaining part of carapace pale sandy-yellow, 1.05 wide. Legs pale yellow, almost transparent, probably bleached. Legs thin and relatively long, leg I 10.25 long (2.80+0.50+2.60+2.80+1.55), IV 9.90 long (2.75+0.40+2.50+2.80+1.45). Chaetotaxy: TiI-II: 2-1-1-2(3), III-IV: 2-1-1-0; MtI-IV: 1-1-1-0. MetatarsusIVwithout trichobothrium. TmI unknown, trichobothrium not found. Palp (Figs 25-26): Patella FIGS 25-28

Megalepthyphantes brignolii sp. n., Ƌ holotype (25-26) and ♀ paratype (27-28). (25) Right palp, retrolateral view. (26) Part of embolic division. (27-28) Epigyne, ventral and dorsal view, respectively.

dissected and lost. Tibia with a small rounded apical outgrowth. Cymbium with a posterodorsal protuberance. Paracymbium relatively large, posterior pocket transformed into an obtuse tooth directed upward. Lamella characteristica trifurcate apically. Embolus narrow, crescent-shaped, carina present. Abdomen 1.50 long, 1.10

FIGS 29-32

Tenuiphantes tenuis ( Blackwall, 1852) . (29) Left palp, retrolateral view. (30) Embolic division. (31-32) Epigyne, ventralanddorsalview, respectively.

wide, dorsally pale, with an indistinct grey median stripe flanked by grey paramedian spots connected to it with thin bands and transverse bands posteriorly.

Female. Totallength 4.10. Carapace 1.50 long, 1.10 wide, brown. Eyesnormal. Chelicerae 0.65 long; anterior margin with two large teeth and one denticle, posterior marginwithfourdenticles. Legspalebrown. LegI 10.15 long (2.80+0.50+2.80+2.60 +1.45), IV?, FeIV 2.50 long. TiI: 2-1-1-3(4), II: 2-1-1-?, III-IV: 2-1-1-0; MtI-IV: 2-1-1-0. TmI unknown, trichobothrium not found. Abdomen 2.65 long, 1.90 wide, dorsal pattern as in male. Epigyne (Figs 27-28): Proscape strongly sclerotized, wider than long, with a deep notch apically. Lateral lobes and stretcher merged together, forming rectangular distal part of scape. Posterior median plate like a long, narrow, smoothly curved stripe.

REMARKS: The new species resembles the Algerian M. bkheitae ( Bosmans & Bouragba, 1992), but males of both species differ by the shape of the palpal tibia and by the structure of the lamella characteristica. The female of the new species differs by the tapered proscape, while in M. bkheitae the proscapus has parallel edges.

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the type locality only; detailed information on it can be found in Gigon et al., 1980.