Pardosa consimilis Nosek, 1905

Figs 1, 2, 3 (A, D, G, J), 4 (A, D, G), 5 (A, D, G), 6 (A, D, G).

Pardosa consimilis Nosek, 1905: 140, pl. V, fig. 18 (♀); Deltshev et al. 2012: 87, tab. 2; Komnenov 2014: 120; Ponomarev & Komarov 2015: 132; Uyar & Dolejš 2018: 44; Kůrka et al. 2020: 14, tab. 2; Zamani et al., 2022: 560, fig. 5A-B (♁ ♀).

Pardosa albata Buchar, 1968: 122 (in part), fig. 3N (♁, misidentified). Pardosa albatula: Deltshev 1998: 217, tab. 2, misidentified; Lazarov et al. 2001: 18, tab. 1, misidentified; Tsonev & Lazarov 2001: 73, tab. 1 (part), misidentified; Lazarov 2007: 138, tab. 1 misidentified.

Holotype: TURKEY (Nosek 1905: 140): 1 ♀ (NMV), examined, Mount Erciyes (Erdschias, Erjies), Kayseri Province, originally labelled: “Die von Herrn Dr. A. Penther im Jahre 1902 erbeuteten Arachniden stammen ... ausschliesslich aus Kleinasien. ... Ein einziges Weibchen ... aus dem Erdschias–Gebiet”.

Material examined. Published data: ALBANIA (Kůrka et al. 2020): 1♁, 1♀ (NMP), Zebës Mts, Maja e Zebës peak, N41.9389, E20.2493, 1500–1900 m a.s.l., 08.06.2014, A. Kůrka leg. ; BULGARIA (Deltshev et al. 2012): 1♀ (NMNHS), W Rhodopes Mts, Smolyan town – Shiroka Laka village, 21.07.1935, P. Drensky leg. ; GEORGIA (Ponomarev & Komarov 2015): 2♁, 2♀ .

Unpublished data (NMNHS): BULGARIA: 183♁, 81♀, Slavyanka Mts, Alibotush BR, near Shabran peak, N41.3896, E23.6080, 2000 m a.s.l., 05.07– 10.08.2006, M. Langourov & N. Simov leg. , soil traps, subalpine, 1♁, 20♀, Alibotush BR, near Govedarnika place, N41.4158, E23.6138, 1560 m a.s.l., 09.08– 01.09.2006, M. Langourov & N. Simov leg. , soil traps, 3♁, Paril village, 810 m, 13.07.1971, C. Deltshev leg. , 1♁, Gotsev Vrah peak, 2200 m, 09.06.1935, P. Drensky leg. ; 1♁, W Rhodopes Mts, Persenk peak, N41.834, E24.565, 1950–2050 m, 24.05.2004, 1 ♁, 4♀, Gela village, N41.644, E24.573, 1450 m, 11.06.1986, D. Bozhkov leg. , 1♁, 2♀, Byala Cherkva, N41.935, E24.678, 1600 m, 16.06.1994, D. Bozhkov leg. , 1♁, 1♀, Smolyanski Ezera lakes, N41.619, E24.667, 24.08.1977, 1490 m a.s.l D. Raychev leg. , 1♁, 2♀, Golyam Perelik peak, 1950–2050 m, 24.05.2004, B. Georgiev leg. ; 1♁, Osogovo Mts, Popovi Livadi place, 1 ♁, 1♀, Eleshnitsa, 1♁, Shapka peak, (Tsonev & Lazarov 2001); 80 ♁, 21♀, Sashtinska Sredna Gora Mts (Lazarov et al. 2001); 24 ♁, 88♀, Stara Planina Mts (Deltshev 1998), NP Central Balkan, Ray hut, 24.05.1994, B. Georgiev leg. ; 19♁, 4♀, Maleshevska Mts, 1500–1550 m (Lazarov 2007) .

Records from the literature (not re-examined). South Ossetia, Atsriskhev hamlet, 1200–1210 m a.s.l., 29.06– 5.08.2012, 20.06.2014, Y. Komarov leg. ; IRAN (Zamani et al. 2022): 7♁, 3♀, East Azerbaijan Province, Arasbaran Wildlife Refuge, 1400–2650 m, 06– 16.06.1978, J. Marten & H. Pieper leg.; NORTH MACEDONIA (Komnenov 2014): 25♁, 11♀, Osogovo Mts, Kočani, Kratovo, 710–1580 m a.s.l., 12– 21.07.2007, 13.04– 04.08.2008, M. Komnenov leg .; TURKEY (Uyar & Dolejš 2018): 2♀, Bursa, Kadýyayla, Uludað Mts, N40.1503, E29.0886, 1233 m a.s.l., 23.07.2006, Z. Uyar leg.

Comparative material examined (NMNHS). P. albatula . BULGARIA: 3♁, 5♀, Stara Planina Mts, NP Central Balkan, 2375 m (Deltshev 1998), 5♀, NP Central Balkan, Ray hut, 1430 m, 24.05.1994, B. Georgiev leg.; 6♁, 5♀, Pirin Mts (Deltshev 1988), 5♁, 18♀, Pirin Mts, 1800–2665 m (Deltshev & Blagoev 1997); 1♁, Osogovo Mts, Shapka peak, 2100 m, 05.08.1995 (Tsonev & Lazarov 2001, in part); MONTENEGRO: 14♁, 52♀, 1310–2100 m. (Naumova et al. 2019).

P. blanda . BULGARIA: 41♁, 9♀, Slavyanka Mts, Alibotush BR, Suhoto Ezero place, N41.3805, E23.6138, 2065 m, 06.2007, M. Langourov & N. Simov leg., pitfall traps, subalpine; 1♁, the same data , 08.2006; 7♁, 1♀ near Shabran Peak, N41.3896, E23.6080, 2000 m, 07–08.2006, 26♁, the same data , 06.2007, 3♀, the same data, 08.2007; 1♀, Stara Planina Mts (Deltshev 1998) , 9♀ NP Central Balkan, Ray hut, 1430 m, 08.09– 08.10.1999, S. Lazarov leg.; 6 ♁, 22♀, Pirin Mts (Deltshev 1988) ; 5♀, Sashtinska Sredna Gora Mts (Lazarov et al. 2001); 4 ♁, 2♀, Maleshevska Mts, 1550 m (Lazarov 2007) .

Diagnosis: Pardosa consimilis is similar to P. albatula and P. blanda both in habitus and in terms of its copulatory organs, as well as of the partial presence of white setae on the male palp. Males are distinguishable by the following traits: white setae (WS) covering palpal patella, tibia and more than 2/3 of cymbium in P. consimilis (Figs 4G, 5A, D, G) vs. reaching 1/2 of the cymbium in P. albatula (Figs 4H, 5B, E, H), and covering only the patella in P. blanda (Figs 4I, 5C, F, I); erect setae (ES) visibly longer than the tibial length on palpal femur, patella and tibia in P. consimilis (Figs 4G, 5A, D, G) vs. shorter or equal to tibial length in P. albatula (Figs 4 H, 5B, E, H) and P. blanda (Figs 4I, 5C, F, I); massive, wide and almost rectangular tegular apophysis in P. consimilis (Figs 1A, 6A) vs. medium-sized, tapering in P. albatula (Figs 6B) and P. blanda (Figs 8C). Females are distinguishable as follows: epigynal plate width exceeding 0.85 mm in P. consimilis (Figs 1B, 2A–I, 3D) vs. less than 0.8 mm in P. albatula (Fig. 3E) and P. blanda (Fig. 3F); medial lumen (L) of epigyne narrower than the copulatory ducts behind the spermathecae in P. consimilis (Figs 1C, 3G, J) vs. equal or wider in P. blanda (Figs 3I, L). Spermathecae about 0.15 mm wide in P. consimilis (Figs 1C, 3G, J) vs. less than 0.10 mm in P. albatula (Figs 3H, K) and P. blanda (Figs 3I, L).

Description: Male (n=10). Habitus as in Fig. 4A. Total length 6.36–7.50 (6.93). Carapace 3.0–3.75 (3.38) long, 2.55–2.86 (2.71) wide. Opisthosoma 3.75–3.90 (3.83) long. Carapace dark brown, median band yellow, spindle– shaped, or ending star–shaped behind the eyes. Lateral bands yellow, narrow and continuous, stripes near prosoma margins whitish. Clypeus 0.20–0.23 (0.22) high. Chelicerae 1.13–1.43 (1.28) long, 0.38–0.60 (0.49) wide; reddish. Labium and endites pale brown. Sternum 1.50–1.88 (1.69) long, 1.50–1.52 (1.51) wide; brown, without pattern; with dense white setae. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09–0.11 (0.10), ALE 0.07–0.09 (0.08), PME 0.27, PLE 0.20–0.25 (0.23); AME–AME 0.09–0.11 (0.10), ALE–AME 0.05, PME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.25–0.36 (0.31), PME–PLE 0.43–0.45 (0.44), PLE–PLE 0.81–0.86 (0.84).

Legs (Figs 4A–D) reddish-brown; coxae yellowish; femora brown, dorsally with annulation; tibiae and metatarsi reddish, spotted; tarsi yellowish. Leg I 10.7–11.4 (11.05) [Fe 2.71–3.00 (2.86)/ Pa 1.13–1.20 (1.17)/ Ti 2.51–2.63 (2.57)/ Mt 2.63–2.71 (2.67)/ Ta 1.63–2.03 (1.83)]; leg II 10.43–10.95 (10.69) [Fe 2.66–2.85 (2.76)/ Pa 1.12–1.14 (1.13)/ Ti 2.25–2.48 (2.37)/ Mt 2.62–2.64 (2.63)/ Ta 1.80–1.88 (1.84)]; leg III 10.13–10.76 (10.45) [Fe 2.62–2.64 (2.63)/ Pa 0.90–1.13 ()/ Ti 2.24–2.26 (2.25)/ Mt 2.63–3.00 (2.82)/ Ta 1.72–1.74 (1.73)]; leg IV 14.48–14.70 (14.59) [Fe 3.38–3.75 (3.57)/ Pa 1.13–1.20 (1.17)/ Ti 3.00–3.15 (3.08)/ Mt 4.05–4.73 (4.39)/ Ta 2.25–2.55 (2.40)].

Opisthosoma oval, dorsally dark brown with bright lanceolate cardiac mark in anterior half and 5–6 pair of light irregular markings and white dots in posterior half; ventrally yellowish, with indistinct dark longitudinal strips (Fig. 4A). Lateral sides brownish. Spinnerets yellow.

Male palp as in Figs 4G, 5A, 5D, 5G, 6A, 6D, 6G. Femur (Fe), patella (Pa) and tibia (Ti) yellow with darker marbling and with white setae (WS) and long erected setae (ES), visibly longer than the tibial length. Fe 2.5 times longer than wide, Ti as long as wide (in ventral view), 2 times shorter than bulb. Cymbium 1.6 times longer than wide, more than 2/3 of it covered with WS, yellow with light–brown tip. Tip almost equilateral-triangular, 3.7 times shorter than bulb, WS lacking. Bulbus oval, 1.3 times longer than wide. Tegular apophysis (Tg) massive, almost rectangular (Figs 5A, 6A). Terminal apophysis (Ta) large, curved, with elongated tip. Conductor (Co) filamentary, semi-transparent, poorly visible. Embolus (Em) wide and short like in other species of the group, poorly visible (Fig. 1A).

Female (n=10). Habitus as in Fig. 3A. Total length 6.0–7.13 (6.57). Carapace 3.23–3.38 (3.31) long, 2.40–2.63 (2.52) wide. Abdomen 3.71–3.75 (3.73) long. Clypeus 0.20–0.23 (0.22) high. Chelicerae 1.13–1.44 (1.29) long, 0.38–0.60 (0.49) wide. Sternum 1.50–1.73 (1.62) long, 1.49–1.51 (1.50) wide. Coloration lighter than in male. AME 0.09–0.11 (0.10), ALE 0.05–0.09 (0.07), PME 0.25–0.27 (0.26), PLE 0.20–0.25 (0.23); Eye sizes and interdistances: AME–AME 0.11, ALE–AME 0.05, PME–ALE 0.05–0.09 (0.14), PME–PME 0.27–0.36 (0.32), PME–PLE 0.35– 0.36 (0.36), PLE–PLE 0.78–0.81 (0.80).

Leg coloration as in males, with more distinct annulation/spotting. Leg I 9.98–10.20 (10.09) [Fe 2.63–2.85 (2.77)/ Pa 1.05–1.20 (1.13)/ Ti 2.24–2.26 (2.25)/ Mt 2.18–2.40 (2.29)/ Ta 1.65–1.73 (1,69)]; leg II 9.00–9.98 (9.49) [Fe 2.48–2.63 (2.56)/ Pa 1.05–1.13 (1.09)/ Ti 1.73–2.25 (1.99)/ Mt 2.10–2.40 (2.25)/ Ta 1.58–1.65 (1.62)]; leg III 9.08–9.83 (9.46) [Fe 2.24–2.26 (2.25)/ Pa 1.05–1.13 (1.09)/ Ti 1.88–2.25 (2.07)/ Mt 2.25–2.63 (2.44)/ Ta 1.56–1.65 (1.61)]; leg IV 13.43–13.65 (13.54) [Fe 2.85–3.15 (3.00)/ Pa 1.05–1.20 (1.13)/ Ti 2.99–3.01 (3.00)/ Mt 4.13–4.28 (4.21)/ Ta 2.18–2.25 (2.22)].

Opisthosoma (Fig. 3A) as in male, usually dorsally lighter and more contrasting. Median septum relatively large, occupying about 1/8 to 1/6 of the venter, reddish and glossy; well visible.

Epigyne as in Figs 2A–I, 3D. Septum wider than long, trapezoid, 0.63–0.76 long, 0,86–0.96 wide, with ratio hight/width 0.68–0.75, with median depression (MD); well–developed lateral angles of septum (LA), with straight anterior margin descending toward posterior end. Spermathecae oval and about 0.15 wide but variable in shape and size. Medial lumen (L) narrower than copulatory ducts behind spermathecae (Figs 3G, J).

Distribution. The known species range represents a narrow strip from Albania to NW Iran (Fig. 7).