Zelotes jakesi, Zamani & Marusik, 2022

Zamani, A. & Marusik, Y. M., 2022, On A Small Collection Of Spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) From Iraq, With New Species And Records, Zoodiversity 56 (4), pp. 291-306 : 294-295

Zelotes jakesi sp. n. ( fig. 2 , A–D)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E3C7D40C-129A-48BE-9927-0572A2696B50

Material. Type. Holotype}: Iraq: Najaf Province: Ash Shabakah camp, 150 km SW of Najaf, stone desert, [30°48' N, 43°39' E], 260 m, 11.07.1978 (O. Jakeš) ( MMB).

Etymology. This species is named after Oldřich Jakeš, who collected the holotype.

Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to Z. khatlonicus Fomichev & Marusik, 2021 from Tajikistan, but differs by the accessorial glands directed mesally (vs. laterally), shape of the copulatory ducts (cf. fig. 2 , B–D and Fomichev & Marusik, 2021: figs 47–49), and wider receptacles (receptacle as wide as anterior hood vs. hood wider than receptacle).

Description. Female. Habitus as in fig. 2 , A. Total length 7.05. Carapace 2.53 long, 1.94 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.09, ALE: 0.11, PME: 0.08, PLE: 0.09. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium and maxillae dark reddish brown. Legs slightly lighter than carapace, without annulations. Abdomen beige. Spinnerets dark greyish brown, lighter distally. Measurements of legs: I: 6.16 (1.82, 1.11, 1.34, 1.13, 0.76), II: 5.53 (1.63, 0.91, 1.16, 1.06, 0.77), III: missing, IV: 6.56 + missing Ta (1.91, 1.03, 1.61, 2.01, missing).

Epigyne as in fig. 2 , B–D; epigynal plate about 1.4 times longer than wide; fovea long, 3 times longer than wide; anterior hood (Ah) short, as wide as receptacle (Re); accessorial glands (Ag) directed antero-mesally.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Currently known only from the type locality in Najaf Province, southern Iraq.

Family Hersiliidae Thorell, 1870

Genus Hersiliola Thorell, 1870

Comments. The genus is rather well studied in the Middle East thanks to several regional revisions and smaller taxonomic contributions (e. g. Foord & DippenaarSchoeman, 2005; Danışman et al., 2012; Marusik & Fet, 2009; Mirshamsi et al., 2016; Zamani et al., 2017). Six species are currently known from the Middle East ( WSC, 2022). The new species described herein represents the first record of Hersiliola in Iraq.

Figures

Fig. 2. Female of Zelotes jakesi sp. n.: A — habitus, dorsal view; B — epigyne, ventral view; C — vulva, dorsal view; D — same, dorsolateral view. Abbreviations: Ah — anterior hood, Ag — accessorial gland, Re — receptacle. Scale bars = 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.