Lycosa aragogi, Nadolny, Anton A. & Zamani, Alireza, 2017

Nadolny, Anton A. & Zamani, Alireza, 2017, A new species of burrowing wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae: Lycosa) from Iran, Zootaxa 4286 (4), pp. 597-600 : 597-600

Lycosa aragogi sp. nov. Figures 1–6 .

Type material: Holotype ♀ ( SMF), IRAN: Kerman Province: Kerman-Rafsanjan to Zarand pass., alt. 2200–2300m, 26 April 2016 (A.R. Naderi).

Comparative material: Lycosa praegrandis : 1 ♀ (TNU-10048), Crimea, Chernomorskoe Dist., Tarkhankut Peninsula , Kipchak Valley , 45°28′16″N 32°35′36″E, 15 June 2007 (M.M. Kovblyuk); 1 ♂ 1 ♀ (TNU-10047), same locality, 17 June 2007 (M.M. Kovblyuk).

Etymology. This species is named after Aragog, the famous fictional spider from “Harry Potter” book series by J.K.

Rowling, in a reference to the similarities between this species and the animatronic puppet version of the character used in the film “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”, which is actually based on a wolf spider.

Diagnosis. Lycosa aragogi sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by having two well-developed anterior epigynal pockets and a deep incision between them ( Fig. 1 , indicated by arrow).

Remarks. According to taxonomic characters for Lycosidae proposed by Zyuzin (1990), L. aragogi sp. nov. belongs to subfamily Lycosinae Simon, 1898: this species has large size, high cephalic area of carapace and setae on epigynal septum. Based on the morphology of male copulatory organs, Dondale (1986) divided Lycosinae into Lycosa and Trochosa groups. A similar subdivision was made by Zyuzin (1990, 1993) based on both male and female morphology. He divided Lycosinae into two tribes: Lycosini Sundevall, 1833, characterised by non-anchor-shaped epigynal septum and Trochosini Zyuzin, 1990, characterised by anchor-shaped epigynal septum. According to this character, L. aragogi sp. nov. should belong to the Lycosini. As reported by Dondale (1986), representatives of the Lycosa group include Alopecosa Simon, 1885 , Arctosa C.L. Koch, 1847 , Hygrolycosa Dahl, 1908 , Lycosa , Melocosa Gertsch, 1937 and Varacosa Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942 . Zyuzin (1993: 699) proposed to include in Lycosini “members of Lycosa s.str. with their very peculiar genitalia, and some allied species referred to ‘ Allocosa ’, ‘ Hogna ’ and probably Metatrochosina ( Roewer, 1959 - 1960, figs 124, 126, 129, 219, 304-305, 517)”. In general, the structure of vulva of L. aragogi sp. nov. is similar to those of L. praegrandis and L. tarantula ( Fig. 2 ; Logunov 2010: fig. 27), by having massive folds (invaginations), which are perhaps copulatory ducts. We placed L. aragogi sp. nov. in Lycosa on the basis of structures of vulva and shape of septum, which is not anchor-shaped. Still, presence of anterior epigynal pockets distinguishes L. aragogi sp. nov. from L. praegrandis and L. tarantula . To our opinion, L. aragogi sp. nov. has quite peculiar structure of epigyne and probably should belong to a separate new genus. This problem could be solved after studying the copulatory organs of the males.

Description. Total length 26; carapace 11.3 long, 7.5 wide. Carapace with slightly marked gradual descend of thoracic region, eye field not elevated ( Fig. 6 ). Carapace with 2 stripes of black and 3 stripes of white setae, which reach the posterior median eyes ( Figs 3, 6 ). Clypeus with black setae ( Fig. 4 ). Sternum and labium brown, covered with black setae ( Fig. 5 ). Abdomen yellow, covered with series of spots of black and white setae on the dorsum. Venter covered with black setae anteriorly of the epigastric furrow, and with white setae and some spots of black setae posteriorly. Area around spinnerets with black setae. Spinnerets yellow, covered with black setae ( Fig. 5 ). Chelicerae brown, covered with black setae. Basal segment of chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Palps brown with white and black setae; patellae, tibiae and tarsi with dorsal macrosetae. Palp spination: femur d 1-1-2, p 1, r 1; patella p 1; tibia p 2, r 1; tarsus p 2, r 1. Legs brown, with white and black setae. Distal part of femora with a dorsal black setae spot. Patellae with dorsal white setae and ventral and lateral black setae. Metatarsi and tarsi I–II with scopula, I–IV with spinules.

Epigyne with two anterior pockets, the edge between the pockets have a deep median incision. Shape of septum is somewhat similar to a conical flask, with an anterior, median furrow. Posterior part of septum with 2 setae. Length of septum more than 1.5 times the width of its posterior part. Spermatheca oval, with numerous pores on the head; a massive fold (unknown function; probably copulatory duct) is situated in front of spermatheca; gland located at base of spermatheca ( Figs 1–2 ).

Male unknown.

Distribution. Known from the type locality only.

Comments. The habitat was a mountainous area with xerophyte vegetation, mostly consisting of Astragalus sp. The specimen was collected from inside its burrow, which was made in a stony slope. Somatic characters (carapace profile, scopula and spinules on legs) of L. aragogi sp. nov. are equivalent to structural and functional features of burrowing wolf spiders, as proposed by Zyuzin (1990).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Epigyne of Lycosa aragogi sp. nov., ventral and dorsal. Abbreviations: C — copulatory opening; D — fertilization duct; F — massive fold; G — gland; H — head of spermatheca; P — anterior epigynal pocket; S — septum. Arrow indicates incision between epigynal pockets. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 3 – 6. Live and preserved habitus of the holotype of Lycosa aragogi sp. nov.: 3 – 5 general appearance, dorsal, frontal, and ventral; 6 prosoma, lateral.