Karakumosa alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875) Logunov & Ponomarev, 2020

Logunov, Dmitri V. & Ponomarev, Alexander V., 2020, Karakumosa gen. nov., a new Central Asian genus of fossorial wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae: Lycosinae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 275-313 : 280-284

Karakumosa alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875) comb. nov.

Figs 2-29 , 76

Tarentula alticeps Kroneberg, 1875: 40 , pl. 4, fig. 28 (description of male and female; syntypes in the ZMMU).

Lycosa alticeps . – Schmidt, 1895: 449 (partim). – Zyuzin et al., 1994: 4, 9.

Hogna alticeps . – Roewer, 1955b: 247.

Lectotype (designated here; Figs 17-21 ): ZMMU, Ta-1219 ; male; “ Turkestan region ” (no exact locality); no date; [A.P.] Fedchenko (Turkestan scientific expedition of the Imperial Society of Devotees of Natural Science).

Paralectotype: ZMMU, Ta-1218 ; 1 male; [ KAZAKHSTAN], “Dyusebai” [well] (an unknown locality, apparently in Chardara Distr. of South Kazakhstan Area); no date; [A.P.] Fedchenko (Turkestan scientific expedition of the Imperial Society of Devotees of Natural Science). For information about other former syntypes of T. alticeps , see below under K. turanica sp. nov.

Other material: ISEA, 001.8403; 6 males, 1 female ; KAZAKHSTAN, Zhambyl Area, Chu Distr., c. 9th km of road from Tole Bi (= Novotroitskoe) to Moyyunkum, Chu river valley (c. 43°45’N, 73°46’E), sands; 31.V.- 2.VI.1990; leg. А.А. Fedorov & А.А. Zyuzin. – MHNG; 2 males; same data . – ISEA 001.8404 ; 1 male, 1 female; KAZAKHSTAN, South Kazakhstan Area, Chardara Distr., Kyzyl-Kum Desert , Karatau Mt. Range , Karamola Mt. (c. 42º20’N, 67º45’E); [late May] 1994; leg. A.A. Zyuzin. – ZMMU; 1 male, 1 female; same data . – MMUE; 1 male, 1 female; same data . – MMUE; 1 male ; KAZAKHSTAN, Turkestan Area, Syr Darya River valley, near Zhankel’ Vil. (42°32’46.1”N, 68°10’42.7”E), tugay (= gallery forest), 191 m a.s.l.; 28.V.2017; leg. Yu.V. Dyachkov . – MMUE; 1 male; KAZAKHSTAN, Kyzylorda Area, Syr- Darya River valley , near Tartogay Vil. (44°24’42.8”N, 66°16’40.1”E), tugay (= gallery forest), 142 m a.s.l.; 12.VI.2017; leg. Yu.V. Dyachkov . – MMUE; 1 male, 3 females; KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty Area, Ili Distr., near Kapchagay (on left side of road before reaching town (c. 43°50’17.3”N 76°58’14.9”E), sands; 25.-26.V.1990; leg. A.A. Zyuzin.

Etymology: According to Parker (1980) the specific epithet could be translated as ‘high headed’, originating from the Latin ‘ altus ’ meaning high, and ‘ caput ’ meaning the head.

Diagnosis: The male of K. alticeps is most similar to that of K. turanica sp. nov., but can be easily distinguished by the narrower, obtuse prolateraddirected shoulder of the proximal extension of the median apophysis of the palpal organ (wider and markedly pointed in K. turanica sp. nov.; Figs 2 , 12 cf. Fig. 161 ) and by the comparatively smaller, triangular median tooth with a serrate median edge (wide and quadrangular in K. turanica sp. nov.; Figs 5-8 cf. Fig. 164 ). The female of K. alticeps is most similar to that of K. shmatkoi sp. nov., from which it can be distinguished by almost straight lateral edges of the epigynal atrium and by the narrow, slightly procurved posterior transverse plate (sigmoid edges and a low inverted triangle-shaped posterior transverse plate in K. shmatkoi sp. nov.; Fig. 27 cf. Figs 122 , 139 ), as well as by the narrow, not swollen spermathecae (markedly swollen in K. shmatkoi sp. nov.; Fig. 28 cf. Fig. 121 ).

Description: Male (from Chu river valley; ISEA, 001.8403). Measurements: Carapace 10.00 long, 7.50 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.43, ALE 0.35, PME 1.10, PLE 1.05, AME-AME 0.25, AME- ALE 0.15, PME-PME 0.90 PME-PLE 1.90. Width of anterior eye row 2.10, of second row 2.80, of third row 3.40. Clypeus height 0.25; chelicera length 4.75. Abdomen 9.80 long, 6.50 wide. Length of leg segments: I 10.00 + 4.20 + 8.30 + 8.80 + 4.20 (35.50); II 8.50 + 4.20 + 7.60 + 8.70 + 4.50 (33.50); III 8.70 + 3.40 + 6.50 + 9.00 + 4.40 (32.00); IV 10.70 + 3.80 + 8.20 + 11.30 + 4.90 (38.90). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III.

Colouration in alcohol ( Figs 22-23 ): Carapace brownish, with a wide median longitudinal yellowish white band of setae along the entire length of the carapace and two wide lateral brownish longitudinal bands of setae; carapace sides with wide marginal bands of white setae. Sternum light brown, densely covered with yellowish white setae. Maxillae brown. Labium brown, with a yellow tip. Chelicerae brown, proximal half of frontal side densely covered with yellowish white setae. Abdomen: dorsum densely covered with white setae, with a long, wide, yellow brownish cardiac mark outlined by a brown line; sides and venter densely covered with yellowish white setae. Book-lung covers yellow, covered with yellowish white setae. Spinnerets light brown. All legs yellow brownish, densely covered with white setae; Mt I and Tr I ventrally brown, but dorsally densely covered with white setae. Palp yellow, with brownish cymbium, densely covered with white setae.

Palp structure ( Figs 2-20 ): Acutely pointed synembolic lamellae subparallel to each other; median tooth mediumsized, notched at its tip and with a serrate median edge; proximal extension wide and obtuse at its prolateraddirected shoulder; inner plate large and ovoid, clearly visible in ventral view; conductor triangular, acutely pointed and bent at its tip.

Female (from Chu river valley; ISEA, 001.8403). Measurements: Carapace 10.70 long, 8.00 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.50, ALE 0.45, PME 1.20, PLE 1.15, AME-AME 0.35, AME-ALE 0.15, PME-PME 1.15, PME-PLE 2.55. Width of anterior eye row 2.35, of second row 3.15, of third row 3.80. Clypeus height 0.20; chelicera length 5.75. Abdomen 12.00 long, 9.80 wide. Length of leg segments: I 9.30 + 4.10 + 7.20 + 6.50 + 3.80 (30.90); II 8.70 + 4.10 + 6.40 + 6.10 + 3.80 (29.10); III 7.70 + 3.50 + 5.60 + 6.70 + 4.00 (27.50); IV 10.00 + 4.00 + 7.20 + 9.20 + 4.70 (35.10). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III.

Colouration in alcohol ( Figs 24-26 ): Carapace brownish, densely covered with yellowish white setae and with two longitudinal bands of brownish setae; carapace sides with wide marginal bands of white setae. Sternum brownish yellow, densely covered with white setae. Maxillae and labium brown. Chelicerae dark brown, proximal half of frontal side densely covered with yellowish white setae. Abdomen: dorsum densely covered with yellowish white setae and with a large, wide, brownish cardiac mark; sides and venter, including book-lung covers, densely covered with white setae. Spinnerets light brown. All legs and palps yellow, densely covered with white setae; tarsi of all legs and palps darker (brownish). Palps with a single claw at their tips.

Epigyne and vulva ( Figs 27-29 ): Epigynal atrium twice as long as wide, markedly narrower at its anterior end and with only slightly sigmoid lateral edges; posterior transverse plate narrow and slightly procurved; spermathecae tube-shaped, not incrassate, directed antero-mediad, inclined towards each other.

Comments: The original type series of Tarentula alticeps , deposited in the ZMMU, consists of two species. Two syntype males (Ta-1218 and Ta-1219) were collected from today’s southern Kazakhstan and are conspecific. In order to stabilize the species-group name Tarentula alticeps , one of them (Ta-1219; Figs 17-21 ) is here designated as the lectotype. Both males are conspecific with those collected from southern Kazakhstan together with females in the last two decades (see above under ‘Other material’). Thus, there is no doubt about matching the sexes in this species.

The female paralectotype ( Figs 165, 168 ) and juveniles of Tarentula alticeps were collected from present-day Uzbekistan (Ulus and Samarkand). This adult female differs from those of K. alticeps in having a much wider epigynal atrium ( Fig. 168 cf. Fig. 27 ) and subparallel spermathecae (convergent in K. alticeps ; Fig. 166 cf. Fig. 28 ). This female conforms to the description of K. turanica sp. nov. from Turkmenistan (see below; Figs 166-167 ). Hence, we assign the female paralectotype of Tarentula alticeps and its Uzbekistani records ( Fig. 155 ) to K. turanica sp. nov.

Moreover, the immature syntypes of T. alticeps examined (Ta-1216) contain specimens of two different genera. One immature female has a brown, contrastingly coloured venter, which is typical of Allohogna Roewer, 1955a, Lycosa (s.str.), Zyuzicosa and some other burrowing wolf spiders, but that was never observed in Karakumosa gen. nov. It is additional evidence that the original type series of Tarentula alticeps is indeed not conspecific.

Distribution: Southern Kazakhstan (Kroneberg, 1875; Zyuzin et al., 1994; present data) ( Fig. 76 ); all the known records of K. alticeps lie in the same South-Turkestan Phytogeographic Province (see Pravdin, 1978 for further details). At one of the localities examined (Karamola Mt.), K. alticeps was found together with another large burrowing wolf spider, Zyuzicosa turlanica Logunov, 2010 ; see Logunov (2010, 2012) for further details about the latter species and its records.

Many of the earlier records of K. alticeps are in need of confirmation by re-examining the corresponding material, which was not available for the present study. For instance, the records from Uch-Adzhi (c. 38°05’N, 62°48’E) and Turkmenbashi (c. 40°02’N, 52°59’E) in Turkmenistan by Schmidt (1895: sub. Lycosa alticeps ) most likely belong to K. turanica sp. nov., while his record from the Fergana region of Uzbekistan (no exact locality) could belong to K. tashkumyr sp. nov. The records of K. alticeps from Tajikistan (Kondara, Kvak, Varzob Canyon, Hissar Mt. Range, Ramit, Gandzhina) by Andreeva (1975, 1976: sub Lycosa alticeps ) are likely based on misidentifications. To date we have been able to re-examine only two samples from Tajikistan that are deposited in the ZMMU (Ta-2916: 1 male from Kondara; Ta-2915: 3 females, 4 juveniles from Yavan-su Vil.) and earlier identified by Jan Buchar as Lycosa alticeps . Both samples turned out to be misidentified and in fact belong to Zyuzicosa laetabunda ( Spassky, 1941) .

Figures

Figs 2-11. Karakumosa alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875), left male palp; specimens from Chu river valley (2-4, 7-11) and Karamola Mt. (5- 6). (2, 9) Bulbus, ventral view. (3, 11) Ditto, retrolateral view. (4) Embolic division, ventral view. (5-8) Median tooth of MA, proximal view. (10) Bulbus, apical view. Scale bars 0.25 mm (2-3), 0.1 mm (4-11). Abbreviations as explained in Material and methods.

Figs 12-21. Karakumosa alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875); male specimens from Tartogay Vil. (12-15) and Zhankel’ Vil. (16), and the male lectotype (17-21). (12, 17) Left bulbus, ventral view. (13, 20) Ditto, retrolateral view. (14, 19) Ditto, posterior view. (15, 16) Left male palp, retrolateral view. (18) Left bulbus, apical view. (21) Original data labels of the lectotype. Scale bars 0.5 mm (15, 16), 0.2 mm (12-14, 17-20). Abbreviations as explained in Material and methods.

Figs 22-29. Karakumosa alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875); male (22-23) and female (24-28) from Chu river valley, and female (29) from Karamola Mt. (22, 24) Body, dorsal view. (23, 25) Ditto, ventral view. (26) Ditto, lateral view. (27) Epigyne, ventral view. (28-29) Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars 1 cm (22-26), 0.25 mm (27-29).

Fig. 76. Localities of five species in the genus Karakumosa gen. nov.

Figs 161-168. Karakumosa turanica sp. nov., male holotype (161-164), female paratype (166-167) and paralectotype of Tarentula alticeps newly identified as K. turanica (165, 168). (161) Bulbus, ventral view. (162) Ditto, retrolateral view. (163) Synembolus, apical view. (164) Median tooth of MA, posterior view. (165-166) Vulva, dorsal view. (167-168) Epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars 0.25 mm (161-162, 166), 0.2 mm (165, 167-168), 0.1 mm (163-164).

Figs 115-125. Karakumosa shmatkoi sp. nov.; male paratypes (115-120, 123-125) and female paratype (121-122); specimens from Tyub-Karagan Peninsula (115-116, 118, 120, 123, 125), Island Kulaly (117), Zhuzguntyube stow (121-122) and Tengiz (119, 124). (115, 118-119) Bulbus, ventral view. (116) Embolic division. (117) Left male palp, ventral view. (120) Bulbus, retrolateral view. (121) Vulva, dorsal view. (122) Epigyne, ventral view. (123-125) Median tooth of MA, posterior view. Scale bars 0.25 mm (115, 117, 120, 122), 0.2 mm (118-119), 0.1 mm (116, 121, 123-125).Abbreviations as explained in Material and methods.

Figs 136-141. Karakumosa shmatkoi sp. nov., female from Azerbaijan, Absheron peninsula. (136) Prosoma, frontal view. (137) Ditto, ventral view. (138) Ditto, lateral view. (139) Epigyne, ventral view. (140) Tarsus I, ventral view. (141) Tarsus IV, ventral view. Scale bars 2 mm (137-138), 1 mm (136), 0.5 mm (140-141), 0.2 mm (139).

Fig. 155. Localities of four species in the genus Karakumosa gen. nov.