Zaitunia spinimana sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FC2C0EDF-90DD-4D31-B159-45BA263BC9D8
Fig. 27
Zaitunia sp. – Zyuzin & Tarabaev 1994: 399.
Diagnosis
By structure of the bulb, Z. spinimana sp. nov. resembles Z. martynovae but differs from the latter by its shorter and narrower corkscrew-shaped embolus (cf. Figs 24 A–D, 43F, 27C–E, 44A). Additionally, it differs from Z. martynovae and all other congeners by having a femur, tibia and metatarsus I with unusually numerous, long spines (Figs 27 A). By structure of the vulva, Z. spinimana sp. nov. is similar to Z. inderensis; they differ by the receptacles, which are subequal in size (Fig. 27 H–I).
Etymology
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin spina- (thorn, spine) and -manus (hand, appendage); the proposed name refers to the spiny legs of the male.
Material examined
Holotype
TURKMENISTAN: ♂, Ustyurt Plateau (southern part), Kaplankyr Nature Reserve, 29 Apr. 1986, L. Mitroshina (TAU).
Paratype
KAZAKHSTAN: 1 ♀, Mangystau Province, 40 km S of Aktau, 7 Jun. 2013, G. Abdurrakhmanov (ZMMU).
Note
The holotype male and the only collected paratype female are very similar in possessing a very similar shape of the carapace (flattened more than usual) and a similar conformation of the eye group. Although the distance between the localities listed above is about 500 km, these slightly hilly and extremely uniform desert landscapes have no significant natural barriers. We prefer currently to treat these specimens as the same species (with no serious objectives against this assumption) rather than consider them representatives of two very close but distinct species.
Description
Male
HABITUS. See Fig. 27 A.
BODY LENGTH. 2.60.
COLOUR. Whole body and legs pale yellowish-white; clypeus with weak pale orange area; eye tubercle marked with medium to dark brown; abdomen dorsally with slightly darker and almost indistinct narrow median stripe.
CARAPACE. 1.12 long, 0.96 wide.
EYES (Fig. 27 B). AME 0.08, ALE 0.13, PLE 0.11, PME 0.08, AME–AME 0.06.
PALP (Figs 27 C–E, 44A). Femur and tibia subequal in length; tibia 1.4 times wider than femur; cymbium slightly shorter than bulb; spermophore relatively wide; neck of embolus shorter than embolus proper; embolus long and arched, slightly screw-shaped.
SPECIAL CHARACTERS. Leg I with numerous long spines, located proapically on femur, prolaterally and ventrally on tibia and metatarsus (Fig. 27 A).
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
| Femur | Patella | Tibia | Metatarsus | Tarsus | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palp | 0.63 (0.73) | 0.22 (0.29) | 0.58 (0.48) | ― | 0.28 (0.57) | 1.71 (2.08) |
| I | 1.61 (1.54) | 0.46 (0.51) | 1.47 (1.48) | 1.35 (1.27) | 1.09 (0.88) | 5.98 (5.68) |
| II | 1.33 (1.23) | 0.43 (0.46) | 1.15 (1.06) | 1.08 (0.95) | 0.84 (0.70) | 4.83 (4.40) |
| III | 1.14 (1.03) | 0.36 (0.44) | 1.04 (0.84) | 1.03 (0.84) | 0.58 (0.59) | 4.15 (3.74) |
| IV | 1.52 (1.49) | 0.44 (0.53) | 1.43 (1.17) | 1.48 (1.15) | 0.64 (0.75) | 5.51 (5.09) |
Female
HABITUS. See Fig. 27 F.
BODY LENGTH. 3.87.
COLOUR. As in male except for darker brownish abdomen.
CARAPACE (Fig. 27 G). 1.62 long, 1.23 wide.
EYES. AME 0.07, ALE 0.13, PLE 0.10, PME 0.08, AME–AME 0.06.
ENDOGYNE (Fig. 27 H–I). Both pairs of receptacles club-like, lateral receptacles longer than median, with distinct corrugated stem; median receptacles separated by more than 2.5 diameters; gland pores cover entire head of lateral receptacles and only top of median ones.
Ecology
According to Zyuzin & Tarabaev (1994) and the label data, this species occurs in upland desert area; no more details are known.
Distribution
Northwestern Turkmenistan, southwestern Kazakhstan (Cis-Caspian area) (Fig. 48).