Raveniola dunini sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:91C857A7-FBD3-4676-8F5C-5C7795232F57

Figs 45, 69, 85, 103, 118, 130, 150, 174–175, 199, 220, 222

Diagnosis

Different from other members of the same group by having an embolus with its flagelliform apical part arising laterally from the basal part, carrying a short acute keel forming a paraembolic apophysis (Figs 174–175; cf. Figs 171–173, 176–179), and by possessing high-arched spermathecae with median and lateral receptacles, subequal in size and located close to each other (Fig. 199; cf. Figs 198, 200–203).

Etymology

The specific epithet is given in honour of Dr. Pyotr Dunin (1952–1998), a prominent Soviet and Russian arachnologist, for his immense contribution to the study of the Caucasian spider fauna.

Material examined

Holotype AZERBAIJAN: ♂, foothills of Karabakh Mts, hills alongside right (south) bank of Kendelanchai River, 1 km WSW of Kadzhar (Qacar), 39°38.6′ N, 47°02.2′ E, 650 m, 13 Sep. 1987, S.L. Zonstein leg. (TAU).

Paratypes (1 ♂, 5 ♀♀) AZERBAIJAN: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same collection data as for holotype (TAU); 4 ♀♀, from same locality but collected 11 Aug. 1986, P.M. Dunin leg. (ZMMU, TAU).

Additional material (2 ♀♀, 2 juvs)

ARMENIA: 1 ♀, Kafan, 39°12′ N, 46°24′ E, 800–900 m, 18 May 1988, P.M. Dunin leg. (TAU); 1 ♀, Kafan Distr., Shikahoh, 39°06′ N, 46°28′ E, 1000–1200 m, 19 May 1988, P.M. Dunin leg. (TAU); 1 juv., Megri, 38°54′ N, 46°14′ E, 700–800 m, 20 May 1988, P.M. Dunin leg. (TAU).

IRAN: 1 juv., East Azerbaijan Province,Arasbaran Reserve, Makīdī Valley, 1650–1800 m, 4–5 Jun. 1978, J. Martens and H. Pieper leg. (SMF).

Description

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 45.

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.20, CL 5.38, CW 4.67, LL 0.42, LW 1.05, SL 2.68, SW 2.43.

COLOUR. Carapace, palps and legs dorsally light reddish brown; eye tubercle with darker spots surrounding AMEs and lateral eyes; chelicerae cherry-red; sternum, labium, maxillae, palps and legs ventrally light brown; abdomen dorsally light brown, with darker brown dorsal pattern represented by weak and narrow median lanceolate spot and four pairs of inclined chevron-like fasciae located posteriorly, ventral abdominal surface and spinnerets pale yellowish grey.

PROSOMA. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 69. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 103. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.17), ALE 0.18, PLE 0.13, PME: 0.10, AME–AME 0.12(0.09), ALE–AME 0.07(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.06, PLE–PME 0.03, PME–PME 0.38. Each cheliceral furrow with 9–11 promarginal teeth and 6–7 mesobasal denticles. Maxillae with 5–6 relatively long cuspules each.

LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as shown in Fig. 130. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II, entire on tarsi I– II; few scopuliform hairs mixed with bristles on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–11 each on tibiae, 11–13 on metatarsi, 11–14 on tarsi, 9 on cymbium. Paired claws: inner margin with 6–8 teeth; 7–8 teeth on outer margin.

SPINATION. Palp: femur d1–1–1(0), pd1, rd1; tibia d1–1, p1–1–1(0), pv1–1–1, r1, v1–1; cymbium d4(5). Leg I: femur d1–1–1(0)–1(0), pd1–1; tibia p1–1, v2(3)–2(1)–2(1). Leg II: femur d1–1–1(0)–1(0), pd1– 1; tibia p1–1–1, v1–2–1–3; metatarsus p1, v1–2–2. Leg III: femur d1–1–1(0)–1(0), pd1–1–1, rd1–1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–2; metatarsus pd1, rd1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3. Leg IV: femur d1–1–1–1(0)–1(0), pd1, rd1; patella p1(0), r1; tibia d1, p1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–2; metatarsus pd1–1, rd1, p1–1–1, r1–1, v2–1(2)–3. Metatarsus I and patellae I–II aspinose.

PALP. Tibia, cymbium and palpal organ as shown in Fig. 150. Palpal organ provided with moderately short sideward-arising lamellose embolus with keel forming short paraembolic apophysis (Figs 174– 175).

SPINNERETS. PMS: length 0.47; diameter 0.20. PLS: maximal diameter 0.45; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.93, 0.70, 0.82; total length 2.45; apical segment shortly digitiform.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀).

Female (paratype)

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.65, CL 4.67, CW 4.50, LL 0.37, LW 0.97, SL 2.65, SW 2.33.

COLOUR. As in male.

PROSOMA. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 85. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 118. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.09(0.11), ALE 0.21, PLE 0.12, PME 0.10, AME–AME 0.18(0.16), ALE–AME 0.09(0.08), ALE–PLE 0.06, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.39. Each cheliceral furrow with 10 promarginal teeth and 6–7 mesobasal denticles. Maxillae each with 5–7 relatively long cuspules.

LEGS. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II, entire on tarsi I–II and palpal tarsus, widely divided on tarsus III, elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 10–12 on metatarsi, 11–13 on tarsi, 9 on palpal tarsus. Paired tarsal claws: outer and inner margins with 5–6 teeth, palpal claw with 4 teeth on inner margin.

SPINATION. Femora I–IV with one basodorsal spine and 3 dorsal bristles alongside midline; femur III also with two prodorsal and retrodorsal rows of 2–3 bristles each; femur IV without prodorsal bristle row; palpal patella and patellae I–II aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia v2–2–3; tarsus d8(9). Leg I: femur d1, pd1; tibia v1–1–1(0)–2(3); metatarsus v2–2–2. Leg II: femur d1, pd1; tibia p1–1, v1–1–2(3); metatarsus v2–2–2. Leg III: femur d1, rd1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus pd1–1, p1–1, r1–1, v2–2–3. Leg IV: femur d1, rd1; patella r1; tibia d1, p1–1, r1–1, v2–2–2; metatarsus d1, p1–1–1–1, r1–1–1–1, v2–2–2.

SPERMATHECAE. Broad, large and symmetrical, with receptacles close to each other (Fig. 199).

SPINNERETS. PMS: length 0.50; diameter 0.22. PLS: maximal diameter 0.52; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.90, 0.64, 0.73; total length 2.27; apical segment shortly digitiform.

Variation

Carapace length in males varies from 5.15 to 5.38, in females from 4.55 to 5.20. The copulative organs of both sexes do not show any significant variation.

Ecology

The type series was collected in a low open oak forest ( Quercus sp. mixed with Crataegus sp.); all spiders were found under stones.

Distribution

Eastern part of the Caucasus Minor (eastern Armenia, south-western Azerbaijan, far north-western Iran). See Figs 220 and 222.