Raveniola caudata, Zonstein, Sergei, 2009

Zonstein, Sergei, 2009, A review of the mygalomorph spiders of the Raveniola caudata species-group (Araneae, Nemesiidae), Zootaxa 2217, pp. 37-42 : 38-39

Raveniola caudata sp. n.

Figures 1, 3, 5, 6 , 8 .

Material examined. Holotype: 3, western slope of Mt Astana, highest point of Pyandzh Karatau Mt. Ridge (1701 m), 1.5 km SW of summit, forested bottom of rocky canyon at altitude 1020 m, 37°22'49"N 69°12'50"E, South Tajikistan, 24.IV.1991, leg. S.V. Ovchinnikov ( TAUI).

Additional material examined: TAJIKISTAN: Aruktau Mts., surroundings of Gandzhina, 700-800 m, 37°58'N 68°34'E, 16.IV.1968, leg. V.F. Bakhvalov, 1 juv. ( TAUI); Vakhsh Karatau Mt. Ridge, 3 km NW Mt Khodzhamaston, 940 m, 38°01'22"N 68°56'50"E, 21.IV.1989, leg. S.L. Zonstein 13 ( TAUI).

Diagnosis: The new species differs from R. redikorzevi by the almost indistinct dorsal abdominal pattern and the leg tarsi lack laterodistal tufts of scopuliform hairs. Males of R. caudata sp. n. differ from those of R. redikorzevi by their relatively longer legs, broader spaced megaspines, more slender palpal tibia and cymbium, and shorter embolus as well as by details of the embolic keel and tip.

Description: (male holotype). Total body length including chelicerae 19.30. Color in alcohol: carapace ( Fig. 1 ), palps and legs dark brownish-rufous; carapace with numerous dense and partially fused lighter polkadots on slightly darker background; eye tubercle with central and two symmetrical lateral brownish-black spots surrounding AME and lateral eyes respectively; chelicerae brownish-red; sternum, labium and maxillae light brown; metatarsi and tarsi gradually lighten toward apices; entire abdomen light yellowish gray, dorsally with almost indistinct darker pattern represented by few very weakly developed pairs of posteriorly-inclined grayish fasciae; spinnerets uniformly light yellowish gray. Carapace: length 7.13, width 6.27, covered, except marginal setae, with sparse short and thin brownish-black bristles, and with relatively scarce pubescence consisting of very short, tiny and adpressed brownish-black hairs. Clypeus narrow. Eye tubercle moderately high, occupies ca. 0.35 of clypeus width. Ratio of AME, ALE, PLE, PME: 16, 28, 16, 12. Interspaces: AME–AME 16, ALE–AME 6, ALE–PLE 6, PLE–PME 4, PME–PME 43. Thoracic fovea short and straight. Chelicerae: furrow with 10 promarginal teeth and 5 mesobasal denticles. Labium ( Fig. 3 ): length 0.57, width 1.26; cuspules absent. Maxillae ( Fig. 3 ): 52–57 cuspules in large triangle area; serrula absent. Sternum ( Fig. 3 ): length 3.52, width 3.21. Paired sternal sigillae small, rounded, submarginal. Legs. Measurements (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus, total, mm). Palp: 4.23, 2.27, 3.46, –, 1.35, 11.31. I: 6.32, 3.65, 5.03, 5.27, 3.10, 23.37. II: 6.22, 3.23, 4.98, 5.02, 3.03, 22.48. III: 5.55, 2.88, 4.10, 5.87, 3.27, 21.67. IV: 6.97, 3.25, 5.53, 7.70, 3.73, 27.18. Spination. Palp: Fm d1–1–1–1, pd1–2, rd1–1; Pt p1–1; Tb d1–1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1, v1–1 –1–1; Tr d5(6). Leg I: Fm d1–1–1–1, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; Pt p1–1; Tb p2(1)–1(0), v2–1 –1–m–m+1(0); Mt v1. Leg II: Fm d1–1–1–1, pd1–1–1; Pt p1–1; Tb p1–1–1, v3 (2)–2(1)–3; Mt p1; v2–2 –2. Leg III: Fm d1–1–1–1, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; Pt p1–1, r1; Tb d1–1, p1–1, r1–1, v2–1 (2)–3(2); Mt d1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1, v2–2 (1)–1–3. Leg IV: Fm d1–1– 1–1, pd1–1–1–1(0), rd1–1–1; Pt p1–1, r1; Tb d1–1(0)–1, p1–1–1, r1(0)–1–1, v2–2 –3; Mt d1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–1 –1–1(0)–2–3. Megaspines more or less widely spaced ( Fig. 5 ). Leg tarsi aspinose. Scopula: distal 1/3 on metatarsi I–II, entire on tarsi I–II, widely divided by setae on tarsi III, absent on tarsi IV. Paired claws: outer and inner margins with 8–11 teeth each. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–12 on tibiae, 13–15 on metatarsi, 15–18 on tarsi, 9–10 on cymbium. Palpus ( Fig. 8 ). Genital area with ca. 60 large epiandrous fusillae. PMS: length 0.75; diameter 0.28. PLS: maximal diameter 0.65; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.22, 0.85, 1.23; total length 3.30; apical segment digitiform.

Female: Unknown.

Variability: Carapace length in males varies from 7.13–7.50. The difference in the coloration between both males is almost indistinct.

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from Latin caudatus – long-tailed; it emphasizes the length of the PMS, which are unusually long for the congeners.

Distribution: South Tajikistan: foothills and low mountains surrounding and bordering Tajik depression.

Ecology: The species inhabits open low forest biotopes (Pistacea vera L., Acer spp., Amygdalus spp., Cercis griffithii Boiss. ). Males were found under rocks, the only juvenile specimen was found, according to the original label data, inside a gerbil's burrow.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 7. Raveniola caudata sp. n., holotype male (1, 3, 5, 6, 8) and R. redikorzevi Spassky, conspecific male (2, 4, 7, 9). 1. Carapace and chelicerae, dorsal view. 2. Body in dorsal view. 3, 4. Sternum, labium, maxillae and chelicerae; ventral view. 5, 7. Left tibia and metatarsus I, retrolateral view. 6. Left palp, tibia to tarsus, retrolateral view. Scale bar = 5 mm for 2; 1 mm for 1, 3 – 7.

FIGURES 8, 9. Distal part of left palp showing palpus, retrolateral view. 1. Raveniola caudata sp. n., holotype male. 2. R. redikorzevi Spassky, conspecific male. Scale bar = 1 mm.