Raveniola concolor species group

Diagnostic characters

Maxilla with numerous cuspules arranged in a triangular area (Figs 205–215, 230–242). PLS chiefly medium-sized, sometimes small (Figs 559–588). Apical segment of PLS mostly triangular, though in some species shortly digitiform (as in Figs 577–579, 581). Males: tibiae and metatarsi I–II in many species of the group with long, thin and erect hairs (Figs 262, 265, 267, 269–272, 297–302); cymbium very short (as in Figs 352–364); tapering embolus bent and screwed subapically, with or without subapical keels (Figs 385–428). Females: spermathecae mostly U- or V-shaped with wide bases and with inner and outer branches more or less widely separated apart (Figs 490–512, 520–525), or spermathecae narrow F- or Y-shaped in some species (Figs 489, 513–519).

Species included

Raveniola afghana sp. nov., R. alajensis sp. nov., R. concolor Zonstein, 2000, R. cucullata sp. nov., R. dolosa sp. nov., R. hirta sp. nov., R. ignobilis sp. nov., R. insolita sp. nov., R. karategensis sp. nov., R. ornata sp. nov., R. ornatula sp. nov., R. pamira sp. nov. and R. sororcula sp. nov.

Key to the species of the concolor group

Males

Males of Raveniola afghana sp. nov., R. karategensis sp. nov. and R. sororcula sp. nov. are unknown.

1. Hairs on tibia and metatarsus IV unmodified. Embolus either subequal to tegulum in length, or considerably longer than the latter (Figs 385–399, 403–428) ........................................................... 2

– Tibia and metatarsus IV with dense thin and long modified hairs (Fig. 313). Embolus shorter than tegulum (Figs 400–402)............................................................................................. R. hirta sp. nov.

2. Embolus approximately as long as tegulum (Figs 397–399, 403–408)............................................. 3

– Embolus considerably longer than tegulum (Figs 385–396, 409–428)............................................. 4

3. Proximal part of embolus (viewed from lateral aspect) with two raised opposite keels (Figs 403, 406) ...................................................................................................................... R. ignobilis sp. nov.

– Proximal part of embolus with two poorly discernible vestigial keels (Figs 397– 398) ........................................................................................................................ R. dolosa sp. nov.

4. Sternum broadly oval (Figs 205–211, 214–215). PMS medium-sized to moderately small; apical segment of PLS triangular (Figs 560, 563, 565, 568, 571, 573, 575, 584)........................................ 5

– Sternum subcircular (Figs 212–213). PMS small and thin; apical segment of PLS shortly digitiform (Figs 577, 781)................................................................................................................................... 9

5. Abdomen with darker chevron-like pattern (Figs 4–7, 9–10, 13–14) ............................................... 6

– Abdomen uniformly dark coloured ......................................................... R. concolor Zonstein, 2000

6. Palpal tibia very long, 4.7–5.1 times as long as wide (Figs 352, 360). Embolus with long proximal and short distal sections, as in Figs 385–387, 409–411 ..................................................................... 7

– Palpal tibia shorter, 4–4.5 times as long as wide (Figs 354–355, 363–364). Embolus differs (Figs 389– 396, 418–428) .................................................................................................................................... 8

7. Palpal tibia longer, 5–5.1 times as long as wide (Fig. 352). Proximal part of embolus stouter and clearly keeled (Figs 385–387) ............................................................................. R. alajensis sp. nov.

– Palpal tibia relatively shorter, 4.7 times as long as wide (Fig. 360). Proximal part of embolus with keel vestige and thinner (Figs 409–411)................................................................ R. insolita sp. nov.

8. Tibia and metatarsus I elongate, slender, and covered with very long thin setae (Figs 271– 272). Metatarsus I, viewed from ventral aspect, with narrowed arcuate proximal section (Figs 301, 302). Embolus with almost equally short and low dorsal and ventral keels (Figs 418– 428) ....................................................................................................................... R. pamira sp. nov.

– Tibia and metatarsus I stouter and covered with less modified shorter setae (Figs 263–264). Metatarsus I, viewed from ventral aspect, without certain basal constriction (Figs 293–294). Embolus with long and raised ventral keel; dorsal keel absent (Figs 389–396, 469–470)................ R. cucullata sp. nov.

9. Labium longer and narrower, maxillae with relatively smaller but more numerous cuspules (Fig. 212). Tarsi I–IV apically with relatively dense laterodistal tufts of long setae. Embolus longer and less tapering, with relatively shorter distal part (Figs 412–414)....................... R. ornata sp. nov.

– Labium shorter and broader, maxillae with relatively larger but less numerous cuspules (Fig. 213). Tarsi I–IV apically with sparse laterodistal tufts of short setae. Embolus shorter and more tapering, with relatively longer distal part (Figs 415–417) ................................................ R. ornatula sp. nov.

Females

Females of Raveniola insolita sp. nov. are unknown.

1. Anterodistal edge of chelicera with dense brush of stout setae in front of fang base. Tibia and metatarsus IV with dense, evenly thin, long, and more or less uniformly arranged modified hairs (Figs 310–311, 314, 316–317)........................................................................................................... 2

– Anterodistal edge of chelicera without dense brush of stout setae. Hairs on tibia and metatarsus IV heterogeneous and unmodified (as in Figs 312, 315, 318) ................................................................ 5

2. Clypeus shorter then diameter of ALE; anterior eye row nearly straight (Fig. 167). Spermathecae with short and straight branches (Figs 491–493, 504–508, 510–512)............................................... 3

– Clypeus noticeably wider than diameter of ALE; anterior eye row strictly procurved (Fig. 167). Spermathecae with long twisted branches (Figs 489–490) .................................. R. afghana sp. nov.

3. Abdomen dorsally uniformly dark or with poorly discernible dark chevron-like pattern (Figs 42, 44). Spermathecae with unevenly wide pair of branches: outer branch clearly slenderer than the massive and often multilobate inner branch (Figs 504–508, 510–512) .......................................................... 4

– Abdomen dorsally with distinct, dark chevron-like pattern (Fig. 38). Each spermatheca with almost uniformly slender inner and outer branches (Figs 491–493)............................... R. alajensis sp. nov.

4. Abdomen dorsally uniformly dark brown or with almost indistinct paler chevrons (Fig. 42). Tibia and metatarsus IV dorsally with extremely dense modified hairs (Fig. 314). Spermathecae as in Figs 504–508 ............................................................................................................. R. hirta sp. nov.

– Abdomen dorsally medium brown with poorly discernible dark brown chevron-like pattern (Fig. 44). Tibia and metatarsus IV dorsally with moderately dense modified hairs (Figs 316–317). Spermathecae as in Figs 510–512 .................................................................. R. karategensis sp. nov.

5. Abdomen with darker chevron-like or reticulate pattern (Figs 39–41, 43, 45–49). Spermathecae with dissimilar inner and outer branches on low common base (Figs 495–503, 509, 520–525), or with main trunk and lateral diverticulum (Figs 513–519)......................................................................... 6

– Abdomen uniformly dark coloured. Spermathecae with similar inner and outer branches on high common base (Fig. 494) .......................................................................... R. concolor Zonstein, 2000

6. Sternum broadly oval (Figs 233–235, 237, 241–242). Abdomen without darker ventral pattern or with a few dark marks on ventral side. PMS mostly medium-sized; apical segment of PLS shorter and triangular (as in Figs 566–567, 574, 585–588)........................................................................... 7

– Sternum subcircular (Figs 239–240). Abdomen with more or less dense maculate pattern on ventral side (Figs 580, 583). PMS small and thin; apical segment of PLS longer and shortly digitiform (Figs 578–579, 582)..........................................................................................................................11

7. Habitus as in Figs 39–40, 48–49. Each paired spermatheca U-shaped, with outer and inner branches distinctly separated from each other; inner branch often multilobate (Figs 494–499, 520–525) ..... 8

– Habitus as in Figs 41, 43. Each paired spermatheca V-shaped, with outer and inner branches arising very close to each other; inner branch entire (Figs 500–503, 509) ................................................. 10

8. Maxillae with 70–90 cuspules (Figs 241–242). Tarsus II with entire scopula. Spermathecae usually shorter and broader spaced from each other (Figs 520–525). Basal segment of PLS ventrally with denser spigots confined to about posterior 0.35–0.40 of its length (Figs 585, 587).......................... 9

– Maxillae with 35–60 cuspules (Figs 233–234). Scopula on tarsus II widely divided. Spermathecae usually longer and closer spaced from each other (Figs 495–499). Basal segment of PLS ventrally with sparser spigots confined to about posterior 0.20–0.25 of its length (Figs 564, 566) .................................................................................................................... R. cucullata sp. nov.

9. Spermathecae with stouter multilobate inner branches (Figs 520–523). Apical segment of PLS longer and about 1.5 times as long as wide (Figs 585–586)................................... R. pamira sp. nov.

– Spermathecae with thinner and smaller inner branches (Figs 524–525). Apical segment of PLS shorter and about as long as wide (Figs 587–588) ............................................. R. sororcula sp. nov.

10. PMS smaller; apical segment of PLS longer (Figs 569–570). Inner and outer spermathecal branches shorter (Figs 500–503)............................................................................................. R. dolosa sp. nov.

– PMS larger; apical segment of PLS shorter (Fig. 574). Inner and outer spermathecal branches longer (Fig. 509) ............................................................................................................. R. ignobilis sp. nov.

11. Habitus as in Figs 45–46. Labium longer and narrower, maxillae with relatively smaller but more numerous cuspules (Fig. 239). Spermathecae with entire trunks (Figs 513–519). Ventral abdominal pattern sparser (Fig. 580)......................................................................................... R. ornata sp. nov.

– Habitus as in Fig. 47. Labium shorter and broader, maxillae with relatively larger but less numerous cuspules (Fig. 240). Spermathecae with mostly two- or three-lobate trunks (Figs 517–519). Ventral abdominal pattern denser (Fig. 583).................................................................... R. ornatula sp. nov.