Zelotes criniger-metellus

Senglet, Antoine, 2011, New species in the zelotes tenuis-group and new or little known species in other zelotes groups (gnaphosidae, araneae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (3), pp. 513-559 : 552-554

Zelotes criniger-metellus -group

DEFINITION: This heterogeneous group differs notably from Zelotes s. str. by: Absence of intercalary sclerite; radix with a dorsal apophysis, radix connected to embolus by a membranous link; embolar base with a prolateral-dorsal apophysis. Due to the presence of a posterior sclerite on the terminal apophysis, the shape of the ocular group and the general appearance, I leave this group in the genus Zelotes .

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF THE Z. CRINIGER-METELLUS -GROUP

1 Embolus elongated and coiled (Fig. 160)..................... Z. criniger

- Embolus short and massive (Figs 165, 175).......... Z. metellus -subgroup

Zelotes criniger Denis, 1937 Figs 157-164 Zelotes criniger Denis, 1937: 1036 , plate 2, fig. 4 (description of Ƌ). – Di Franco, 1987: 149,

figs 8, 11 (Ƌ).

Zelotes denisi Marinaro, 1967: 693 , fig. 9 (description of ♀), syn. n. – Di Franco, 1987: 152, figs 12-13 (♀). – Deltshev et al. 2006: 712, figs 12-13 (♀).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: SPAIN, Andalusia, Cordoba, Breña dam, Almodóvar del Rio (evergreen oak litter), 37°51'N 05°04'W ; 4 Ƌ, 6 ♀ (with palpus, and vulva in microvial); 01.06.2002. – Cordoba, Almodóvar del Rio (Breña dam), 37°50'N 05°04'W ; 2 Ƌ, 5 ♀; 01.06.2009. – Sevilla, east of Cazalla de la Sierra (deep leaf litter), 37°57'N 05°45'W ; 1 ♀; 04.06.2009.

DESCRIPTION: Prosoma brown, adorned with fine adpressed hairs. Opisthosoma black, covered with medium adpressed hairs. Legs brown, with darker femora. Posterior median eyes larger than posterior laterals in slightly recurved line. – Ƌ from Breña dam: Total length 4.20. Prosoma: 1.76 long, 1.33 wide, 0.64 wide at level of posterior eyes. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.71, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.07; AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.02, PME-PLE 0.04, ALE-PLE

FIGS 157-164

Zelotes criniger . (157-161) Left male palp. (157) Prolateral view. (158) Ventral view. (159) Retrolateral view. (160) Cymbium and subtegulum discarded, apical view. (161) Id., cleared, prolateral view. (162) Epigynum. (163) Vulva, ventral view. (164) Id., dorsal view. Bold lines indicate epigynal folds. Scale lines 0.2 mm.

0.04. MOQ length 0.24, front width 0.31, back width 0.37. Clypeus: 0.10 from AME, 0.07 from ALE. Pedipalp (Figs 157-161). Patella dorsally longer than tibia. Tibia dorsally wider than long. Retrolateral tibial apophysis curved dorsally, tip rounded and provided with a small tooth. Ventrad-directed terminal apophysis cone-shaped, its strong posterior sclerite connected to mid part of radix. Large folded embolar base with a narrow connection to its dorsal apophysis (remains of an intercalary sclerite?). Embolar base with an acute mesal apophysis and expanding into a large retrolateral lobe (Figs 160-161). Embolar radix fused to dorsal side of lobe of embolar base; fused sclerite, shaped into a large bowl with ventral convexity, reaching embolus through a membranous fold. Leg spination: Metatarsi I, II v220; III r122. Tarsi I, II entirely scopulate. Scutum occupying 40% of opisthosoma length. – ♀ from Breña dam: Total length 3.20. Prosoma: 1.80 long, 1.28 wide, 0.67 wide at level of posterior eyes. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08; AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.01, PME-PME 0.02, PME-PLE 0.03, ALE-PLE 0.03. MOQ length 0.24, front width 0.36, back width 0.39. Clypeus: 0.08 from AME, 0.04 from ALE. Epigynum (Fig. 162) with large and sinuous lateral folds extended close to anterior anchoring pockets. Median epigynal surface membranous. Additional lateral pockets present. Vulva in dorsal view with large spiralled pouches almost reaching anterior anchoring pockets (Figs 163-164); sclerotized elements present in the posterior dorsal part. Leg spination: Metatarsi I v210; II v210; III r122.