Zelotes limnatis, Russell-Smith, 2017

Russell-Smith, Anthony, 2017, New species and new records of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Cyprus, Zootaxa 4329 (3), pp. 237-255 : 250-251

Zelotes limnatis sp. n.

Figs 35 , 37–40

Diagnosis. The species belongs to the metellus group (sensu Senglet, 2011) and is very similar to Z. metellus Roewer, 1928 ( Senglet 2011, p.556, Figs 171-178, Fig. 49 of the present study). It differs by the presence of a prolateral process of the embolar base, evident in ventral and prolateral view, in addition to a dorsal apophysis which is evident only when the upper part of the cymbium is removed. The embolus in both species has a hump before ending to a small tip, but that of Z. metellus is larger and vertical to the embolus ( Fig. 36 ), while in the new species it is more protruding in relation to the embolus and at a ca 60o angle from it ( Fig. 35 ). The shape of the posterior lamina ( Fig. 40 ) is also different.

Holotype: male, Cyprus, Valley of R. Limnatis near Kouris Dam, under stones, 04.V.2007, leg. R. Snazell.

Comparative material examined. Zelotes metellus Roewer, 1928 , 1 ♂, Iran, Fars, Kavãr (29°12'N 52°37'E), leg. Senglet, 05.VI.1974 ( MHNG, ex. Coll. A. Senglet) .

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition, taken from the type locality on the river Limnatis.

Description. Male (holotype). Small spider of yellow colouration, abdomen light grey. Measurements: TL 3.671; CL 1.608; CW 1.225; AL 1.890. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.042, PME 0.048x0.077, PLE 0.067, ALE 0.060 AME-AME 0.053, AME-ALE 0.024, PME-PME (min/max) 0.031/0.112, PME-PLE 0.055. PER slightly procurved to straight, AER recurved. All eyes pearly white with black surrounding except for AME which are black. Chelicera promargin armed with 3-4 teeth and retromargin unarmed. Labium 0.228 long, 0.210 wide at its base. Sternum 1.036 long, 0.792 wide. Scutum triangular and small, covering about 1/5 of abdominal dorsal surface. Legs same colour as body except for all Fe which are darker brown. Legs size are IV>I>II>III. Leg spination: Leg I: Fe 3d; Leg II: Fe 3d Mt 1- 2v; Leg III: Fe 6d Pa 1rl Ti/Mt spinose; Leg IV: Fe 6d Ti/Mt spinose. Palp ( Figs 35–40 ). Tibial apophysis oblique, ca Ḣ of cymbium’s length. Terminal apophysis connected prolaterally to embolar base and with rounded rims, retrolaterally membranous and with pointed apical tip. Embolar base sclerotized with prolateral process protruding ventrally from terminal apophysis and with dorsal apophysis invisible from ventral side or even from prolateral side unless upper part of cymbium is removed. Embolus short, horizontal with roughly surfaced terminal hump. Embolar radix with acute dorsal apophysis.

Comments. The metellus group within the genus Zelotes was formed by Senglet (2011) to include species that possessed distinct configuration of genitalic characters in both sexes which deviated from the “true” Zelotes (see Senglet, 2011, p. 554); one of those is the absence of intercalary sclerite. Since this character is a putative synapomorphy of the genus sensu stricto and a diagnostic character of all its members ( Platnick & Shadab, 1983), it is possible that this group now including three species ( Z. prishutovae Ponomarev & Tsvetkov, 2006 , Z. metellus and Z. limantis sp. n.) should be elevated to a distinct genus.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 36. Left palp, ventral view. 35. Zelotes limnatis sp. n. holotype. 36. Zelotes metellus Roewer, 1928.

FIGURES 37 – 40. Zelotes limnatis sp. n. holotype, left palp. 37. Ventral view. 38. Retrolateral view. 39. Prolateral view. 40. Dorsal view. (p): prolateral process of embolar base, (ed): dorsal apophysis of embolar base, (rx): embolar radix, (l): posterior lamina.