TEGENARIA MONTISZASENSIS SP. NOV.

(FIGS 14I, 16A, B)

Male unknown. Types

Holotype. Greece: Cyclades, Naxos, ‘au-dessus de Filoti, au pied du mont Zeus, grotte spilia Aria ou Zeus ’, ♀ (MHNG), 14.v.1985, Hauser.

Etymology

Named after ‘Mount Zas’, where the type was collected. According to Greek mythology, the young Zeus was raised in a cave on ‘Mount Zas’ on Naxos.

Diagnosis

Tegenaria montiszasensis sp. nov. can be recognized by the distinctly ‘half-mask’-shaped epigyne and the shape of the vulva.

Description

Measurements: Female (holotype): CL 3.70, CW 2.88, STL 1.86, STW 1.78, OL 5.50, OW 3.40. Leg I (6.10, 1.49, 6.02, 6.36, 3.00), II (5.40, 1.43, 5.00, 5.98, 2.40), III (5.10, 1.38, 4.51, 5.76, 2.13), IV (6.10, 1.39, 5.75, 7.44, 2.74). Pedipalp (2.12, 0.78, 1.42, 1.90). EPL 0.56, EPW 0.91, ATL 0.22, ATW 0.55. Eyes (moderately reduced): PME 0.10, PLE 0.11, AME 0.06, ALE 0.10. Eye distances: PME–PME 1.5–2 x PME, PME–AME 1.5 x PME, PME–PLE 2 x PME, PME–ALE 1.5–2 x PME, AME–AME 1.5 x AME, AME–ALE 2 x AME. CLY1 4.5 x AME, CLY2 2.5–3 x ALE.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne distinctly ‘half-mask’- shaped. Median plate strongly sclerotized and only laterally separated from epigynal plate. Posterior sclerite absent. CO distinct, almond-shaped holes. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD less sclerotized than RC, straight. RC distinctly formed, smoothly sclerotized. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three teeth, retromargin with five equally sized 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 longer than basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria at palp tarsus and cymbium absent. Tarsal trichobothria eight to ten. Leg spination: female palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–2– 0–0 or 2–0–0–0), leg femora (2–3–2–0, 2–3–2–0, 2–2– 2–0, 2–2–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (2–2–1– 1+1p, 2–1–1–1+1p or 2–2–1–2p, 2–2–2–1+2p or 2–2– 2–3p, 2–2–2–1+2p), metatarsi (0–0–0–3p+1 or 0–1–0– 3p+1, 0–1–0–3p+1, 0–3–3–3p+1, 1–3–3–1p+1+1p+ 1+1p+1 or 1–3–3–1p+1+2p+1), tarsi (all 0).

Coloration: No colour pattern visible on carapace (may be a result of alcohol preservation). Sternum

with indistinct pale median region. Opisthosoma yellowish. Colulus and spinnerets pale.

Distribution

Reported from Greece (Naxos).