Zaitunia ferghanensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:71E3378A-5770-4E84-B96F-6E1662074823

Figs 34–35, 44 E

Diagnosis

By structure of the bulb, males of Z. ferghanensis sp. nov. resemble those of Z. maracandica but differ by the shape of the palpal tibia, which is considerably less swollen and lacks thickened setae, as well as by the shape of the vestigial embolic keel, which terminates more sharply than in the latter species (cf. Figs 35 A–D, 37A–C). Females are similar by the structure of the vulva to Z. maracandica and Z. wunderlichi sp. nov.; they differ from the former species by the relative size of the median receptacles, which are larger than the lateral pair (in Z. maracandica, all receptacles are subequal in size, cf. Fig. 38 I), and from the latter by the longer median and lateral receptacles (which are shorter in Z. wunderlichi sp. nov., cf. Fig. 33 A–B, D). Unlike Z. maracandica and Z. wunderlichi sp. nov., the lateral receptacles in Z. ferghanensis sp. nov. are dilated basally (Fig. 35 E–J).

Etymology

Named after the distribution area, Ferghana Valley.

Material examined

Holotype

KYRGYZSTAN: ♂, eastern border of Ferghana Valley, foothills of Alai Mts, Mt. Taht-i-Suleiman in Osh city, 40º32' N, 72º47' E, 1100 m, 7 Jun. 1985, A.A. Zyuzin (TAU).

Paratypes (2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 4 ♀♀ subad.)

KYRGYZSTAN: 2 ♂♂, same data as holotype (TAU, ZMMU); 2 ♀♀, 3 ♀♀ subad., Kugart riverbank near Djalal-Abad city, 40º57' N, 72º57' E, 770 m, 29 Apr. 1982, S. Zonstein (TAU) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♀ subad., same locality, but 29 Aug. 1982 (TAU); 1 ♀, Kurshab River valley 16 km E of Osh city, 40º30' N, 73º02' E, 1200–1400 m, 1 Jun. 1988, S.N. Rybin (ZMMU) .

UZBEKISTAN: 1 ♀, surroundings of Ferghana city, 40º23' N, 71º47' E, 14 May 1981, D.M. Schwetz (TAU).

Description

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 34 B.

BODY LENGTH. 3.14.

COLOUR. Whole spider medium brownish-yellow; eye tubercle dark brown to brownish-black; cephalic part, clypeus and margins of carapace not darkened; abdomen with almost indistinct and slightly interrupted darkened spot dorso-medially.

CARAPACE (Fig. 34 F; paratype from the type locality). 1.44 long, 1.09 wide.

EYES. AME 0.09, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.13, PME 0.11, AME–AME 0.05.

PALP (Figs 35 A–D, 44E). Femur and tibia subequal in length; tibia about 1.5 times wider than femur, wider in basal part than terminally; cymbium and bulb subequal in length; bulb conical, embolus gently curved and roundly bent subapically.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)

Female (Kurshab)

HABITUS. See Fig. 34 A.

BODY LENGTH 4.11.

COLOUR. As in male but darker brownish pattern on carapace (narrow median longitudinal stripe, two shorter stripes located sideward and reticulated area covering clypeus) better developed; abdomen also a little darker, with almost indistinct brownish median spot.

CARAPACE (Fig. 34 C–D). 1.53 long, 1.19 wide.

EYES. AME 0.09, ALE 0.14, PLE 0.13, PME 0.10, AME–AME 0.05.

ENDOGYNE (Fig. 35 E–J). Receptacles separated; median receptacles club-like, and lateral receptacles subconical; both pairs with corrugated stems; head of median receptacles separated by 3 diameters; pores present on stem and heads.

Variation

Carapace length in males varies from 1.35 to 1.47, in females from 1.40 to 1.65. Carapace with clypeus and margins slightly or noticeably pigmented; abdomen with or without weak dorsal pattern, consisting of a narrow interrupted median stripe and several pairs of short lateral chevrons (Figs 34, 35 K).

Ecology

This species inhabits semi-desert habitats in piedmont plains and foothills.

Distribution

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan (Fig. 49).