Echemus kaltsasi Chatzaki, 2019

Chatzaki, Maria & Keer, Johan Van, 2019, Ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae, Liocranidae, Prodidomidae) from the Greek islands Rodos, Symi and Karpathos, with the description of new species, Zootaxa 4646 (3), pp. 434-460 : 439-440

Echemus kaltsasi Chatzaki sp.n.

Figs 13–14 , 17−18

Diagnosis. Females of this species are very similar to E. angustifrons (Westring, 1861) but differ from it by the mushroom-like epigynal frame formed by the widely open lateral margins which connect to the anterior margin ( Figs 13–14 ), in E. angustifrons continuing anteriorly as parallel S-shaped lines and not connecting to the anterior margin ( Figs 9–12 ). It differs from E. levyi Kovblyuk, 2009 by the larger atrium of the epigynal plate and the larger glandular heads of the vulva.

Holotype: female, Symi, Panormitis, pitfalls in phrygana, 16.V to 12.VII.2006 ( NHMC: 8473), leg. M. Chatzaki & D. Kaltsas.

Comparative material examined. E. angustifrons: Evros district, Dadia forest, 1 ♀, pitfalls 5.VII to 5.VIII.2009 ( NHMC: 12116), leg. M. Chatzaki ( Figs 9 ─10); Loutros N to Dadia, 17 Km after Loutros, 1♂ 1♀, pitfalls 22.VI to 21.VII.2015 ( NHMC: 17189), leg. K. Zografou.

Etymology. The name is given in honor of the biologist and colleague Dr. Dimitris Kaltsas, who contributed to the collection of the material presented here.

Description. Female holotype. Yellow spiders of medium to small size. Body and legs uniformly colored. Measurements: TL 4.965; CL 2.075; CW 1.555; AL 2.627. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.117, PME 0.092x0.119, PLE 0.107, ALE 0.123, AME-ALE almost touching, AME-AME, PME-PME and PME-PLE ca equidistant and separated by less than 1/2 their diameter.All eyes round and pearly white with black surroundings, especially AME. PER procurved, AER straight to slightly recurved. Prosoma with widening thoracic region, fovea at posterior half of its length. Labium triangular, longer than wide. Chelicerae with 1 and 3 denticles on RM and PM respectively. Leg formula is IV>I>II>III. Legs spination: Leg I: Fe 2d 1pl; leg II: Fe 2d 1pl, Mt 1v; leg III: Fe 4-5d, Pa 1rl, Ti/Mt spinose; leg IV: Fe 3d, Pa 1rl, Ti/Mt spinose. Preening brush at Mt III and IV, Ta densely scopulated.

Epigyne ( Figs 13 , 17 ). Mushroom like atrium with large cup and short base formed by lateral margins which open widely to meet anterior margin and bend medially to form the base. Sclerotized median lines also present in the atrium.

Vulva ( Figs 14 , 18 ). Coiled copulatory ducts with long transverse glandular heads on anterior ends. Enlarged spermathecal sacs connected to copulatory ducts and attached to anterior margin. Spermathecae of rather irregular shape (not easily distinguished in the available specimen).

Distribution: Greece, Symi island.

Figures

FIGURES 13–16. Echemus species: E. kaltsasi sp.n. (13–14), E. levyi (15–16). Left column epigynes, right column vulvae.

FIGURES 17–20. Echemus species: E. kaltsasi sp.n. (17–18), E. levyi (19–20). 17, 19 Epigyne. 18, 20 Vulva. AM: anterior margin, at: atrium, g: glandular head.

FIGURES 9–12. Echemus species: E. angustifrons (9–12).