TEGENARIA PODOPRYGORAI (KOVBLYUK, 2006) COMB. NOV.

Malthonica podoprygorai Kovblyuk, 2006: 24–26, figs 1–10.

No material examined.

Description

A detailed description was provided by Kovblyuk (2006).

Distribution

Reported from Ukraine.

Discussion

The presence of a colulus, the number of cheliceral teeth, and the genital characters place this species clearly into Tegenaria .

TEGENARIA RACOVITZAI SIMON, 1907

(FIG. 17C, F, G, M, N)

Tegenaria racovitzai Simon, 1907: 548, 549, fig. 3b, male; Ribera & Barrientos, 1986: 191–193, figs 6, 7, female.

Tegenaria antrorum Simon, 1916: 211, female, syn. nov.

Types

Holotype. Spain: Aragon: Huesca, Hoya de Huesca, Fanlo, ‘ Cueva abaho de los Gloces’, ♂, 1 juv. (MNHN, 1965, 45, 23627), 20.viii.1905, Racovitza & Janel.

Sub Tegenaria antrorum: syntypes. France: Pyrénées-Orientales: Prades, Villefranche-de- Conflent, ‘ Grotte de Villefranche’, 2 ♀ (MNHN, 1965, 581), Simon .

Other material examined

Spain (3 ♂) .

Diagnosis

Tegenaria racovitzai can be recognized by the distinct reduced conductor, the distinct epigyne with sharply pointed ‘pseudo teeth’, and the posterior sclerite having a convex anterior margin.

Description

Measurements: A description of female, including some measurements, was provided by Ribera & Barrientos (1986).

Male (N = 1): CL 4.22, CW 2.98, STL 2.16, STW 1.81, OL 4.70, OW 2.78. Leg I (5.24, 1.66, 5.26, 5.55, 3.01), II (5.05, 1.60, 4.82, 5.56, 2.78), III (4.79, 1.49, 4.40, 5.75, 2.60), IV (6.01, 1.84, 5.38, 7.00, 3.40). Pedipalp (1.84, 0.66, 0.92, 1.77), bulbL 1.01. Female (N = 1): CL 3.66, CW 2.65, STL 1.92, STW 1.68. Leg I (4.41, 1.28, 3.90, 4.40, 2.36), II (4.25, 1.35, 3.79, 4.27, 2.24), III (3.86, 1.23, 3.36, 4.31, 1.85), IV (4.83, 1.26, 4.39, 5.76, 1.78). Pedipalp (1.51, 0.60, 0.98, 1.61). EPL 0.72, EPW 1.11, ATL 0.22, ATW 0.39. Eyes: PME 0.14–0.15, PLE 0.15–0.16, AME 0.10–0.11, ALE 0.16– 0.17. Eye distances: PME–PME 1–1.5 x PME, PME– AME 1 x PME, PME–PLE 1–1.5 x PME, PME–ALE 0.5–1 x PME, AME–AME 0.5–1 x AME, AME–ALE 0.5–1 x AME. CLY1 2.5 x AME, CLY2 1–1.5 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with three branches, ventral branch long, drawn-out bulge with distinct ventral ridge, lateral branch much smaller, protruding and distally pointed, dorsal branch strongly sclerotized, broadly protruding, moderately longer than wide, distally broadly truncated. Filiform embolus length about 1.5 x CB, originating at 8–9 o’clock position, distal tip at 2 o’clock position. Conductor reduced to transparent lamelliform appendage with lateral margin moderately folded. Terminal end simple and moderately pointed. Connection of conductor to tegulum membranous or moderately sclerotized. MA originating at 4–5 o’clock position, moderately protruding, distally with spoon-like sclerite. MA membranously connected to tegulum. Basal part of tegulum clearly visible, with continuous margin.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with pale, membranous area. Posterior sclerite expressed as sclerotized bulge with anterior margin convex. CO between the membranous median area and the posterior sclerite. Epigynal ‘pseudo teeth’ present and sharply pointed. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD very short leading into globular, smoothly sclerotized RC. RC almost touching each other. An additional small globular structure (second pair of RC) attached to the large RC, which are visible through the epigynal plate. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three, retromargin with four to five teeth. Colulus developed as trapezoidal plate with the distal margin medially notched. Same pattern of distal spigots on PMS (in females) as described for the type species. PLS with distal segment shorter than basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus absent. Tarsal trichobothria seven to nine. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0 or 3–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–0–2–0), female palp (2–1–0–0 or 3–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (2–2–2–0 or 2–3–2–0, 2–2–2–0, 2–2–2–0, 2–1–1–0 or 2–2–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (1–2–0–2p+1 or 1–2–2–2p+1 or 1–2–0–3p, 1–2– 2–1+2p or 1–2–2–3p, 1–2–2–2+1p or 1–2–2–3p, 1–2– 2–2+1p or 1–2–2–3p), metatarsi (0–2–2–3p+1, 0–3–2– 3p+1, 2–3–3–3p+1, 2–3–3–3p+1), tarsi (I & II 0, III & IV 0–0–1–0).

Coloration: No coloration pattern visible on the specimens examined.

Distribution

Reported from northern Spain and south-west France (Pyrenees region).

Discussion

Simon (1907) assigned Teg. racovitzai to his Tegenaria domestica -group. Later, he described Teg. antrorum (Simon, 1916), which he placed near Teg. racovitzai within his Tegenaria armigera -group. Fage (1931) agreed with this placement, in contrast to Brignoli (1977c) who mentioned that Teg. racovitzai does not show close affinities to any of the Tegenaria domestica, atrica, or armigera / oribata -groups. In our analyses, the original hypothesis of Simon had most support because Teg. racovitzai represents a basal branch of Tegenaria (Figs 3, 7).