Tmeticus nigriceps ( Kulczynski , 1916)

Marusik, Yuri M. & Koponen, Seppo, 2010, A review of the Holarctic genus Tmeticus Menge, 1868 (Araneae, Linyphiidae), with a description of a new genus, ZooKeys 59, pp. 15-37 : 22-26

Tmeticus nigriceps ( Kulczynski, 1916) Figs 1823 –2435– 445255

Gongylidium nigriceps Kulczyński 1916: 8, pl. 1, f. 10 (♀).

Tmeticus nigriceps : Holm 1973: 89.

Tmeticus nigriceps : Eskov 1994: 107.

Misidentifications.

(all refer to Zornella cultrigera (L. Koch, 1879) see Holm (1973):

Gongylidium nigriceps : Tullgren 1955: 355, f. 56 (♀).

Gongylidium nigriceps : Hauge 1969: 6, f. 12 (♀).

Material examined.

RUSSIA: Arkhangel’sk Area: 1♂ (IBPN), Barents Sea, Dolgiy Ilsand, 69°12'N, Summer 2004 (O.L. Makarova). Polar Ural: 1♂ (ZMUT), Oktyabrskij, Ob River shore, Salix viminalis vegetation, 12.-13.7.1994 (S. Koponen); 1♀ (PSU-95), North Ural expedition by Fridolin, sample 36, Sob’ River right bank, 4.07.1925 (V. Fridolin). Yamal Peninsula: 1♂ 5♀ (ZMMU), Yorkugayakha River, environs of “Canary” trading station, riparian willow stand, 08.07.2002 (D. Osipov); 4♂ 1♀ (ZMMU), south Yamal, Shchuchye Vill, Shchuchya River (A.L. Tikhomirova); 1♂ (PSU-96), South Yamal, Khadyta-Yakha River, meadow valley, pitfall traps, 8.08.1982 (S.L. Esyunin); 1♂ 1♀ (PSU-97), same locality, river bank, drift, 26.07.1981 (S.L. Esyunin). Taimyr Peninsula: 1♂ 1♀ (ZMMU), Taimyr Reserve, Novaya River, Ary-Mas Site, 25.07.1992 (A.B. Ryvkin); 10♂ 1♀ (ZMMU), SW Taimyr, Nyapan’ Ridge, 70°09N; 87°47E, Carex-moss bog, pitfall trapping, 1-10.08.1999 (D. Osipov); 3♂ (ZMMU), NW shore of Pyasino Lake, 70°04'54N; 87°32'12E, Carex bog with sphagnum tussocks, 10-20.07.1999 (D. Osipov); 3♂ 2♀ NW shore of Pyasino Lake, 70°04'54N; 87°32'17E, Carex bog with sphagnum tussocks, Summer 1999 (D. Osipov); 2♀ (ZMMU), NW shore of Pyasino Lake, Lazannakh Lake, sandy beach, 70°05'47N; 87°26'28E, 1-10.07.1999 (D. Osipov). Yakutia: 2♀ (IBPN), Yana River down flow, environs of Kular Village, 70°35N; 134°34E, grass-herb- Arctagrostis meadow on the former open mine, Summer, 2000 (N.K.Potapova). Chukotka: 2♂ (IBPN), western Chukotka, Chaun River mouth part, 68.810°N; 170.432°E, Summer, 1986 (A.S. Ryabukhin); 1♂ (IBPN), western Chukotka, Chaun Bay, Pucheveyem River mouth, 25.07.1985 (A.S. Ryabukhin); 1♂ (IBPN) Lamutskoye Vil., 65°32'39N; 168°51'08E, along creek, 17.08.1968 (Novikova); 1♂ (IBPN), western Chukotka, Markovo Town, July 1986 (G. Chernova); 1♂ (IBPN), Vulvyveyem River upper flow, Gytlenumkuum Stand, 67°10N; 178°E, 8.06.1988 (Yu.M. Marusik).

Diagnosis.

Tmeticus nigriceps is easily distinguished from the other Palaearctic species by the dark cephalic region contrasting with the reddish thoracic area. Only the Nearctic Tmeticus ornatus has a similar colour pattern. The male palp is almost undistinguishable from the Siberian Tmeticus tolli and the Nearctic Tmeticus ornatus . In addition to the carapace pattern, females can be distinguished by the shape of their epigyne.

Description.

♀ 2.9-3.3, ♂ 2.3-2.7. TmI 0.69-0.72. Carapace orange with dark, blackish cephalic region (Figs 23-24, 38) and chelicera. Legs orange. Abdomen black. Palp as in Figs 35-37, 40-42, 52, epigyne as in Figs 18, 39, 43-44.

Comments.

Holm (1973) re-examined the specimens from Sweden identified and recorded as Gongylidiun nigriceps by Tullgren (1955) and concluded that they were misidentifications of Zornella cultrigera (L. Koch, 1879). The figure of the female epigyne from Norway in Hauge (1969) identified as Gongylidium nigriceps also refers to Zornella cultrigera .

Distribution.

This species is known from Dolgiy Island and the Polar Urals to Chukotka ( Eskov 1994). It is restricted to the tundra zone.