Raveniola ferghanensis ( Zonstein, 1984 )

Zonstein, Sergei L., 2024, A revision of the spider genus Raveniola (Araneae, Nemesiidae). II. Species from Central Asia, European Journal of Taxonomy 967, pp. 1-185 : 61-64

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C08B8027-50CC-417E-BCD4-5183B9FF6738
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14026336
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03A8B723-5516-FF85-FDCA-E3B8FB53CDED
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Raveniola ferghanensis ( Zonstein, 1984 )
status

Treatment

Raveniola ferghanensis ( Zonstein, 1984) View in CoL

Figs 19 View Figs 19–27 , 54 View Figs 54–62 , 75 View Figs 69–75 , 80–81 View Figs 76–81 , 101 View Figs 100–108 , 128 View Figs 127–135 , 156 View Figs 148–159 , 186 View Figs 184–195 , 220 View Figs 220–228 , 247 View Figs 247–255 , 278–279 View Figs 274–281 , 340–342 View Figs 334–348 , 370 View Figs 364–378 , 439–440 View Figs 439–447 , 485 View Figs 475–486 , 534–536 View Figs 522–536 , 597–600 View Figs 593–601 , 715–716, 756

Brachythele ferghanensis Zonstein, 1984b: 43 , figs 7–12 (♂ ♀).

(?) Cyrtauchenius walckenaeri – Kroneberg 1875: 28 (♀) (misidentified, not Cyrtocephalus walckenaeri Lucas, 1846 : Zonstein 1985: 159).

Amblyocarenum walckenaeri View in CoL – Charitonov 1932: 14. — Spassky 1952: 195. — Mikhailov 1996: 77 (as synonym); 2013: 12 (noted as misidentification).

Brachythele ferghanensis – Zonstein 1985: 159.

Raveniola ferghanensis View in CoL – Zonstein 1987: 1015; 2002c: 174. — Platnick 1989: 91. — Zonstein et al. 1996: 133. — Mikhailov 1996: 77; 1997: 20; 2013: 12. — Logunov & Gromov 2012: 220 — Zonstein et al. 2018b: 73, 78, figs 145, 166 (♂).

Diagnosis

Raveniola ferghanensis is well distinguishable from all other species of the virgata group. Males possess a very long embolus that noticeably exceeds the tegulum in its length (vs subequal in length in other species; Figs 439–440 View Figs 439–447 cf. Figs 441–465 View Figs 439–447 View Figs 448–456 View Figs 457–465 ). Females can be distinguished by the characteristic shape of the spermathecae, where an elongate inner branch (i.e., a distal section of the trunk) appears to be considerably longer than the lateral diverticulum (vs shorter than the latter or both branches are subequal in length; Figs 534–536 View Figs 522–536 cf. Figs 537–554 View Figs 537–554 ). Additionally, R. ferghanensis is the largest member of the group. Unlike other group members, this obligate bothrobiont species lives in burrows; it can be encountered only in lowland subarid and arid biotopes.

Material examined

Holotype

KYRGYZSTAN • ♂; Fergana Mts (southwestern slope), foothills 1.6 km E of Jalal-Abad City; 40°55.9′ N, 73°02.0′ E; 950 m a.s.l.; 8 Apr. 1982; S. Zonstein leg.; ZISP. GoogleMaps

Paratypes (7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀)

KYRGYZSTAN • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 900–1000 m a.s.l.; 8–10 Apr. 1982; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZISP GoogleMaps • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 29 Apr. 1982; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 3 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding, foothills 5 km W of Jalal-Abad City ; 40°57′ N, 72°54′ E; 900–1200 m a.s.l.; 7 Apr. 1982; S. Zonstein and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps .

Additional material (6 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, 2 ♀♀ subad., 3 juvs)

KAZAKHSTAN • 1 ♀ subad.; hills west of Kaplanbek (also Kabylanbek) Town; 41°30′ N, 69°16′ E; 450–500 m a.s.l.; 30 Mar. 1983; A.B. Nenilin and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps .

KYRGYZSTAN • 2 juvs; Chatkal Mts (southern slope), foothills 3 km NNE of Tash-Kumyr; 41°22.6′ N, 72°14.7′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 23 Jun. 1992; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 6 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; environs of Jalal-Abad City ; 19 Oct. 1992; S. Zonstein and D.A. Milko leg.; SMNH .

TAJIKISTAN • 1 ♀; Turkestan Mts (northern slope), foothills south of Konibodom City (40°18′ N, 70°26′ E); 500–700 m a.s.l.; 15 Jun. 1968; V.F. Bahvalov leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps .

UZBEKISTAN • 2 ♀♀ (fragmented); Fergana Valley , near Kokand City; [40°32′ N, 70°57′ E]; 500 m a.s.l.; 1–30 Jun. 1871; A.P. Fedchenko leg.; ZMMU GoogleMaps • 1 juv.; environs of Ferghana City; [40°23′ N, 71°47′ E]; 600 m a.s.l.; 14 May 1981; D.M. Schwetz leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; foothills east of Andijan City; 40°49′ N, 72°27′ E; 500–600 m a.s.l.; 6 Apr. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♀ subad.; foothills of Qurama Mts near Uigursai Canyon , 10 km NNW of Pap Town; 40°57′ N, 71°02′ E; 600–650 m a.s.l.; 12 Apr. 2018; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps .

Redescription

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 19. View Figs 19–27

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 16.70, CL 7.17, CW 6.33, LL 0.52, LW 0.99, SL 3.51, SW 2.98.

COLOUR. Carapace, all femora and patellae, tibiae I–II and metatarsus I brownish orange; eye tubercle blackish brown; chelicerae and maxillae light red; sternum, labium, leg coxae, palpal tibia and cymbium, tibiae III–IV, metatarsi II–IV and tarsi I–IV light yellowish orange; labiosternal and sternal sigilla medium reddish brown; abdomen light grayish yellow, with darker brown chevron-like dorsal pattern; book-lungs and spinnerets pale yellowish brown.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 101 View Figs 100–108 . Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 156 View Figs 148–159 . Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.20(0.28), ALE 0.33, PLE 0.23, PME 0.17; AME–AME 0.21(0.13), ALE–AME 0.14(0.10), ALE–PLE 0.11, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.47. Anterior cheliceral edge only with slightly thickened setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 4–5 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 220 View Figs 220–228 . Maxillae with 10–11 cuspules each.

LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Fig. 278 View Figs 274–281 . Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsi I–II; widely divided and mixed with setae on tarsus III; sparse and widely divided on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 10–11 on tibiae, 15–21 on metatarsi, 15–18 on tarsi, 12 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 6–8 teeth on each margin.

SPINATION. Palp: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella pd2; tibia d3, p3, pv3, r2, rv2; cymbium d20–25 short spines. Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p1; tibia p3, pv2, r3, rv2+2M; metatarsus p1, v4. Leg II: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2; tibia p3, r1, v7; metatarsus d1, p2, r1(0), v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p3, r1; tibia d3, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d4, p4, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2(1), r1; tibia d2, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d4, p3, r3, v7. Tarsi I–IV aspinose.

PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 370 View Figs 364–378 . Embolus long and thin, spike-shaped, straight along almost all its length and very gently curved subapically ( Figs 439–440 View Figs 439–447 ).

SPINNERETS. PMS: length 0.29, diameter 0.08. PLS: maximal diameter 0.58; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.97, 0.69, 0.64; total length 2.30; apical segment triangular.

	Femur	Patella	Tibia	Metatarsus	Tarsus	Total
Palp	4.25 (5.14)	2.11 (2.61)	3.49 (3.56)	–	1.18 (3.19)	11.03 (14.50)
Leg I	6.97 (6.91)	3.31 (4.09)	5.41 (5.02)	4.97 (4.17)	3.33 (2.94)	23.99 (23.13)
Leg II	6.70 (6.13)	2.96 (3.86)	4.87 (4.61)	4.93 (4.11)	3.14 (2.98)	22.60 (21.69)
Leg III	5.53 (5.56)	2.45 (3.21)	4.37 (3.51)	5.94 (4.48)	3.13 (2.89)	21.42 (19.65)
Leg IV	7.37 (6.92)	3.05 (3.50)	5.72 (4.92)	8.07 (6.85)	3.61 (3.26)	27.76 (25.45)

Female (paratype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 54. View Figs 54–62

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 26.40, CL 9.76, CW 8.44, LL 0.88, LW 1.89, SL 5.03, SW 4.31.

COLOUR. Similar to that of male, but legs I–IV almost uniformly light yellowish orange (slightly and gradually lightening from femur to tarsus).

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 128 View Figs 127–135 . Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 186 View Figs 184–195 . Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.22(0.32), ALE 0.38, PLE 0.33, PME 0.18; AME–AME 0.27(0.17), ALE–AME 0.18(0.13), ALE–PLE 0.09, PLE–PME 0.08, PME–PME 0.71. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 4 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 247 View Figs 247–255 . Maxillae with 10–12 cuspules each.

LEGS. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II; absent and replaced by short dense setae on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 10–11 each on tibiae, 24–30 on metatarsi, 22–27 on leg tarsi, 16–17 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 4 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II with 4–5 teeth on each margin. PTC III–IV with 2–3 teeth on inner and 4–5 teeth on outer margins.

SPINATION. All femora with one basodorsal spine and 3–5 median and apical spikes; palpal patella and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia p2, v4; tarsus v3. Leg I: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p2, v5; metatarsus v6. Leg II: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p3, v5(4); metatarsus p1, v6. Leg III: femur rd3; patella p1, r1(0); tibia d1, p1, r2, v7; metatarsus p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur rd1; patella r1; tibia d1, p2, r2, v7; metatarsus p3, r3, v7.

SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae F-shaped, with long and relatively narrow base carrying long inner and much shorter outer branches ( Fig. 536 View Figs 522–536 ).

SPINNERETS. See Figs 599–600 View Figs 593–601 . PMS: length 0.37, diameter 0.18. PLS: maximal diameter 0.98; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.46, 0.87, 0.88; total length 3.21; apical segment triangular.

Variation

Carapace length in males (n =11) varies from 4.64 to 7.28, in females (n=8) from 7.49 to 10.47. Live spiders are shown in Figs 75 View Figs 69–75 , 80–81 View Figs 76–81 ; the tarsal organ, trichobothria of male tarsus I, and PMS – in Figs 340–342 View Figs 334–348 , 485 View Figs 475–486 . Variation in the structure of the male tibia and metatarsus I and in the conformation of the spermathecae as shown in Figs 279 View Figs 274–281 and 534–535 View Figs 522–536 , respectively.

Ecology

Unlike most other members of this species group, Raveniola ferghanensis occurs exclusively within aridized piedmont and foothill areas, where the spiders inhabit semidesert and steppe biotopes (most often, a sparse shrubland steppe on the loess substrate); see Fig. 715 View Figs 715–722 . They do not use any natural retreats, but build long, up to 40–50 cm deep, and weakly silk-lined burrows (the opening of an individual burrow is shown in Fig. 716 View Figs 715–722 ). Wandering adult males were found during periods of an optimal heat and moisture combination – in April and in October.

Distribution

The species is known from Fergana Valley and neighboring foothills and low mountains in eastern Uzbekistan and adjoining regions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. See Fig. 756 View Figs 751–760 .

SMNH	Canada, Saskatchewan, Regina, Royal Saskatchewan Museum
ZISP	Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
SMNH	Department of Paleozoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History
ZMMU	Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University

Copyright notice

No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.

Taxonomy

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Arachnida
Order	Araneae
Family	Nemesiidae
Genus	Raveniola