Raveniola diluta species group

Diagnostic characters

Maxillae with a few cuspules confined to probasal maxillary edge (Figs 216–219, 243–246). PMS absent; apical segment of PLS triangular or shortly digitiform (Figs 589–596). Males: tibiae and metatarsi I–II without modified hairs (Figs 273–277, 303); cymbium moderately short (as in Figs 365–369); embolus bent and screwed subapically, with or without subapical keel (Figs 429–438). Females: each paired spermatheca Ⱶ-shaped, mostly low and moderately wide, with wide base and inner branch incorporated into the entire cone-shaped trunk, and with short and club-like or fusiform lateral diverticulum (Figs 526– 533).

Species included

Raveniola diluta sp. nov., R. fedotovi (Charitonov, 1946), R. pallens sp. nov. and R. zyuzini sp. nov.

Key to the species of the diluta group

Males

1. Embolus with well-defined and raised triangular keel (Figs 429–433)............................................. 2

– Embolic keel rudimentary or absent (Figs 434–438) ........................................................................ 3

2. Copulatory bulb elongate; proximal part of embolus much longer than its apical part; pointed triangular keel less acute and forms an angle> 60° (Figs 429–431)........................ R. diluta sp. nov.

– Copulatory bulb short; proximal and apical parts of embolus subequal in length; short and acute triangular keel forms an angle <45° (Figs 432–433)......................... R. fedotovi (Charitonov, 1946)

3. Metatarsus I weakly curved (Fig. 276); scopula on tarsi and metatarsi I–II sparser. Copulatory bulb shorter; proximal part of embolus more tapering (Figs 434–435).......................... R. pallens sp. nov.

– Metatarsus I strongly curved (Fig. 277); scopula on tarsi and metatarsi I–II denser. Copulatory bulb longer; proximal part of embolus less tapering (Figs 436–438)............................. R. zyuzini sp. nov.

Females

1. Carapace, palps and legs intensely brownish orange (Figs 18, 53, 73–74). Spermathecal trunks and fundus of lateral diverticulum weakly sclerotized (Figs 532–533) ........................ R. zyuzini sp. nov.

– Carapace, palps and legs pale brownish yellow or pale brownish orange (Figs 50–52). Spermathecae differ in their structure (Figs 526–531).............................................................................................. 2

2. Interdistance AME–AME slightly wider than diameter of AME (Figs 182–183). Palpal tarsus with entire scopula. Cone-shaped spermathecal trunk clearly longer than wide (Figs 526–529) ............. 3

– Interdistance AME–AME considerably wider than diameter of AME (Fig. 184). Palpal tarsus with widely divided scopula. Dome-shaped spermathecal trunk about as wide as long (Figs 530– 531)......................................................................................................................... R. pallens sp. nov.

3. Patellae I–II with spines. Scopula on tarsi II and III narrowly and widely divided, respectively. Spermathecal trunk shorter and more tapering toward apex (Figs 526–527)........... R. diluta sp. nov.

– Patellae I–II aspinose.Scopula on tarsi II and III widely divided and absent, respectively.Spermathecal trunk longer and less tapering toward apex (Figs 528–529) ............... R. fedotovi (Charitonov, 1946)