Raveniola hyrcanica group

Diagnostic characters

Male palpal tibia short to moderately short and subcylindrical, without subapical sensilla (Figs 149– 152). Embolus relatively short, more or less twisted, always with well-developed and horizontallyoriented keel (as in Figs 171–179). Spermathecae very wide (Figs 198–203).

Species included

Raveniola adjarica sp. nov., R. dunini sp. nov., R. hyrcanica Dunin, 1988, R. pontica (Spassky, 1937) and R. sinani sp. nov.

Key to species of hyrcanica group

Males

Male of Raveniola sinani sp. nov. unknown.

1. Proximal part of embolus short to very short, and more or less flattened; keel arising from basal or median part of embolus (Figs 171–177) ………………………………………………………2

– Proximal part of embolus long, gradually tapering and curved; keel arising from subapical part of embolus (Figs 178–179) ………………………………………… R. pontica (Spassky, 1937)

2. Distal part of embolus (following keel) noticeably shorter than preceding part; keel rounded or acute, but not forming paraembolic apophysis (Fig. 171–173, 176–177) …………………3

– Distal part of embolus (following keel) considerably longer than preceding part; keel extended into paraembolic apophysis (Figs 174–175) …………………………………………… R. dunini sp. nov.

3. Larger body size: CL 7.25–8.57. Distal part of embolus relatively wide; embolic keel acute (Figs 176–177) ………………………………………………………… R. hyrcanica Dunin, 1988

– Smaller body size: CL 5.15–5.38. Distal part of embolus narrower; embolic keel rounded (Figs 171–173) ………………………………………………………………… R. adjarica sp. nov.

Females

1. Bases of spermathecae 2–3 times as wide as long; median receptacles arise only slightly more anterior than laterals (Figs 200–202) ……………………………………………………………2

– Bases of spermathecae 1.2–1.6 times as wide as long; median receptacles arise considerably more anterior than laterals (Figs 198–199, 203) …………………………………………………3

2. Median and lateral receptacles little more than their diameter apart (Fig. 202) ……………… ………………………………………………………………………… R. pontica (Spassky, 1937)

– Median and lateral receptacles several diameters apart (Figs 200–201) … R. hyrcanica Dunin, 1988

3. Median and lateral receptacles arising laterally on spermathecae (Figs 198–199) ……………4

– Median and lateral receptacles arising from ventral side of spermatecae (Fig. 203) ……… …………………………………………………………………………………… R. sinani sp. nov.

4. Spermathecae asymmetrical; median receptacle heads noticeably longer than laterals (Fig. 198) ………………………………………………………………………………… R. adjarica sp. nov.

– Spermathecae symmetrical; median and lateral receptacle heads subequal (Fig. 199) ……… …………………………………………………………………………………… R. dunini sp. nov.