Dysdera azerbajdzhanica Charitonov, 1956

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2024, New data on Dysdera Latreille, 1804 and Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 (Araneae: Dysderidae) of the Caucasus, with new species and records, Zootaxa 5397 (2), pp. 195-217 : 199

Dysdera azerbajdzhanica Charitonov, 1956

Figs 3A–D , 11A–D , 13B

Dysdera azerbajdzhanica Charitonov, 1956: 34 , fig. 14 (♂♀).

Dysdera azerbajdzhanica : Deeleman-Reinhold & Deeleman 1988: 222, fig. 263, 266 (♂♀); Dunin 1992b: 66, fig. 11 (♂♀); Mcheidze 1997: 77, figs 69, 70 (♂♀).

Material. AZERBAIJAN: Baku Region: 3♂ 1♀ ( ZMMU) , Absheron Peninsula, Wolf Ravine Gate , [40°30'N 49°53'E], 04.2010 (N. Snegovaya); 2♂ ( ZMMU) , same locality, 03.2010 (N. Snegovaya); 1♂ ( ZMMU) , Baku, near Institute of Zoology , [40°30'N 49°53'E], 03–04.2010 (N. Snegovaya) .

Comments. This species has been considered in four taxonomic publications ( WSC 2023) and is relatively well studied. A large amount of material collected in the type locality, Baku, has shown some variability in spination ( Dunin 1992b), although most of the specimens have spination similar to that of the holotype. In the lowland of the Kura-Aras ( Azerbaijan), it inhabits the dry foothills of the Caucasus Major up to 1000 m, and can be found under stones, in soil cracks, rodent burrows, and often in cotton or cereal (grain) fields ( Dunin 1992b).

Distribution. Caucasus (from ca. 43ºN to 38º40'N). There are over 30 records of this species in the Caucasus region, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, and the North Caucasus (Dagestan, North Ossetia-Alania) ( Otto 2022). The majority of the records are from the eastern part of the region. However, the record from Adjara in Georgia stands out from the other known localities and may potentially refer to another species.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Male of Dysdera azerbajdzhanica, left bulb. A retrolateral B prolateral C dorsal D ventral. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: AL—additional lateral sheet, C—crest, DH—distal haematodocha, L—lateral sheet, LML—lateral margin of the lateral sheet, P—posterior apophysis, T—tegulum.

FIGURE 11. Males of Dysdera azerbajdzhanica (A–D), D. mazini (E, F), and D. hungarica atra (G–I), SEM images of left palps. A, E, I bulbs, retrolateral C, G close-ups of psembolus, retrolateral H same, retrodorsal D, F same, dorsal B cymbium, ventral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Females of Dysdera atabekia sp. n. (A), D. azerbajdzhanica (B), D. dunini (C), D. daghestanica (D), D. dunini (E), and D. hungarica atra (F), dorsal view of endogynes. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.Abbreviations: DA—dorsal arch, Re—receptacle, TB—transverse bar.