Mesiotelus patricki, Zamani & Marusik, 2021

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2021, A new genus and ten new species of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) from Iran, ZooKeys 1054, pp. 95-126 : 95

Mesiotelus patricki sp. nov.

Figures 4E, F , 11A-E , 12A-C

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 2♂ (MHNG), Iran: Golestan Province: Gol-e Loweh, 37°20'N, 55°44'E, 21.8.1975 (A. Senglet).

Etymology.

This new species is named after our colleague and friend L. Brian Patrick (Dakota Wesleyan University, USA), in recognition of his efforts in popularizing taxonomy via his podcast "New Species".

Diagnosis.

The new species differs from the generotype, Mesiotelus tenuissimus (L. Koch, 1866), by having a relatively longer, thinner and gradually tapering RTA which is about 3 times longer than its basal width (vs RTA with subparallel margins and less than 2 times longer than wide), a much longer median apophysis, about ½ of tegulum’s length (vs about 4 times shorter than tegulum), and a longer embolus terminating anteriorly from the tegulum (vs embolus short, spine-like and terminating beyond the anterior edge of the tegulum). The two species also differ by the course of sperm duct and the shape of the anterior tegular apophysis (Aa).

Description.

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figure 4F . Total length 5.22. Carapace 2.00 long, 1.85 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.12, ALE: 0.13, PME: 0.10, PLE: 0.10. Carapace, labium, chelicera, maxilla and sternum light brown. Chelicera with 2 pro- and 3 retromarginal teeth (Fig. 4E ). Legs yellowish-brown, without annulations. Abdomen dark grey, dorsally with indistinct chevron markings, ventrally lighter with distinct tracheal marks. Spinnerets light grey, unicolourous. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 4.77 (1.74, 1.08, 1.08, 0.87), legs: I: 10.86 (2.77, 1.39, 2.95, 2.45, 1.30), II: 7.67 + missing tarsus (2.31, 1.08, 2.30, 1.98, missing), III: 7.38 (1.94, 0.91, 1.67, 1.95, 0.91), IV: 10.38 (2.63, 1.10, 2.48, 3.06, 1.11).

Palp as in Figures 11A-E , 12A-C ; palp very long, almost as long as body, patella as long as tibia; tibia with 3 times longer than wide and gradually tapering RTA; cymbium twice shorter than femur, and 2 times longer than wide, tip as long as RTA, prolateral side with few very long and curled setae (Cs, Fig. 12A, B ); bulb oval, 1.67 times longer than wide; sperm duct almost reaching posterior margin of tegulum; median apophysis long, almost as long as ½ of tegulum’s length; anterior tegular apophysis (Aa) bifid; embolus (Em) originates at about ca 6:30 o’clock position, free part long, bent in terminal part and directed anteriorly.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Golestan Province, northern Iran.

Figures

Figure 4. Males of Zagrotes borna sp. nov. (A), Z. parla sp. nov. (B), Micaria atropatene sp. nov. (C), Sestakovaia hyrcania sp. nov. (D) and Mesiotelus patricki sp. nov. (E, F) A-D, F habitus, dorsal E chelicerae, ventral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.

Figure 11. Male palp of Mesiotelus patricki sp. nov. A-D ventral, retrolateral, prolateral and dorsal, respectively E whole palp, prolateral. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.

Figure 12. SEM images of the male palp of Mesiotelus patricki sp. nov. A, B ventral C retroventral. Abbreviations: Aa - anterior apophysis, Co - conductor, Cs - curved setae, Em - embolus, Ta - tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.