Nurscia minuscula Zamani & Marusik, 2024

Zamani, Alireza, Esyunin, Sergei L., Mikhailov, Kirill G. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2024, New data on the spider fauna of Iran (Arachnida: Araneae), Part XI., Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (2), pp. 285-309 : 305-306

Nurscia minuscula Zamani & Marusik , sp. n. ( Figs 2F, 10H–I)

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:491D2EBA-2D41-4B08-9975-8B2243B70CF0

Type Material. Holotype ♀ ( ZMUT), IRAN: West Azerbaijan Prov.: surroundings of Urmia Lake Bridge, 37°45'N 45°17'E, 10.IX.2016, collector unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin minusculus, referring to the small size of the species.

Diagnosis. The epigyne of the new species is most similar to that of N. albomaculata (Lucas, 1846) [sensu Kovblyuk et al., 2016] due to having (almost) parallel copulatory ducts, but differs by the shape of the endogyne with less inclining and longer receptacles + copulatory ducts (3 times longer than wide vs. 1.5), and the copulatory ducts converging posteriorly (vs. diverging) (cf. Fig. 10H–I and Kovblyuk et al., 2016: figs 326–328).

Description. Female (Holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 2F. Total length 4.06. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.35 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.10, ALE: 0.10, PME: 0.07, PLE: 0.09. Carapace, maxillae, labium and sternum dark brown. Chelicerae reddish brown. Legs slightly lighter than carapace, with faint annulations. Calamistrum uniseriate, occupying almost the entire length of metatarsus. Abdomen black, with 3 pairs of sigilla, without any patterns. Spinnerets uniformly greyish brown. Cribellum bipartite. Measurements of legs: I: 5.24 (1.54, 0.70, 1.18, 1.14, 0.68), II: 4.41 (1.37, 0.56, 0.92, 0.96, 0.60), III: 4.05 (1.26, 0.56, 0.82, 0.87, 0.54), IV: 4.68 (1.35, 0.57, 1.11, 1.12, 0.53).

Epigyne as in Fig. 10H–I; epigynal plate slightly wider than long, with subparallel weakly sclerotized copulatory ducts visible through integument; anterior part of copulatory duct together with oval receptacle forming kidney-like shape, ca. 3 times longer than wide; copulatory ducts closely spaced anteriorly; receptacles spaced by 1.4 diameters.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in West Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran.