Sintula iberica Bosmans, 2010

Bosmans, Robert, Cardoso, Pedro & Crespo, Luis Carlos, 2010, A review of the linyphiid spiders of Portugal, with the description of six new species (Araneae: Linyphiidae) 2473, Zootaxa 2473 (1), pp. 1-67 : 50

Sintula iberica Bosmans new species

( Figs 105–110)

Type material: Holotype male, 4 paratype females from Portugal, Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, Serro Ventoso, 7–18.VI.2002, P. Cardoso leg.; deposited in KBIN.

Diagnosis: Males of the species can be easily distinguished from other congeneric species by the presence of a dorsal tibial apophysis with terminal spine, absent in all other Sintula species and the absence of a tubercle in the cymbium, with one or two strong tubercles in the other species. The epigynum has three lobes, whereas the other Sintula species have one or two lobes.

Etymology: As the species occurs in a great part of the Iberian Peninsula, it is called iberica .

Description: Male: Measurements: Total length 1.5; prosoma 0.64–0.66 long, 0.58–0.60 wide. Colour: Prosoma pale olive brown with broad grey margin; legs pale olive brown, coxae paler; abdomen dark grey. Eyes closely set: a = 0.33, b = 1, c = 0.5, d = 0.33. Leg spinulation: Fe spineless; Ti I 2d, pl, rl; Ti II 2d pl rl; Ti III 2d rl; Ti IV 2d; Mt I d; Mt II (d); Mt III–IV spineless; Tb Mt I = 0.29; L Sp I Ti = 2. Palp ( Figs 105–107): Tibia with conic dorsal apophysis with thick terminal spine; cymbium unmodified; basal part of paracymbium with four hairs and transverse ridge, distal part terminally rounded; lamella a nearly rectangular sclerite, terminally rounded; radix wide, much shorter than pointed embolus.

Female: Total length 1.4–1.8; prosoma 0.59–0.64 long, 0.45–0.50 wide. Colour: As in male, except the abdomen being pale grey with 6 pale grey chevrons, but in pale specimens hardly visible. Eye disposition and leg spinulation as in the male. Epigynum ( Figs 108, 109): With two gradually narrowing lateral lobes, a median, slightly longer scape and two small triangular projections between them. Vulva ( Fig. 110): Spermathecae oval, transverse; insemination ducts with several loops, copulation openings at base of two small projections.

Additional material examined: PORTUGAL: Aveiro: Dunas de São Jacinto NR, 1 female, spring 2003, A. C. Rufino leg (IMAR). Coimbra: Paúl de Arzila NR, 1 male 1 female 31.V.2006, 1 male 28.V.2008 (CLC). Leiria: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Porto de Mós , Barrenta, 9 females, 12.II–21.V.2002; Porto de Mós , Serro Ventoso, 2 males 3 females, 26.II–18.VI.2002, 6 males 2 females, 8–22.X.2002 (CPC). Lisboa: Casais de Ervideira , 1 female, hand collected in Eucalyptus plantation, 21.IV.2001 (CGT); Lisboa, Monsanto, 1 male 9.XI.2004, 1 male 25.III.2005, 1 male 29.III.2005, A. Rebelo leg. ( CAR) ; Picanceira, 1 male, in pine forest, 22.IV.2001 (CGT); Tapada de Mafra, 1 male, in Eucalyptus plantation, 17.V.2002 (CGT). Santarém : Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Vila Nova de Ourém , Bairro , 1 male 7 females, 12. III –4.VI, 9 males 20 females, 24.IX–3.XII.2002 (CPC). Setúbal: Arrábida NP, Serra da Arrábida , 1 male, 19.II.1998, 2 females, 19.XI.1997 (CPC) .

SPAIN: Alicante: Benidorm, Sierra de Aitana, 1000–1250m, 12 males 3 females, 30.III.1994, M. Perez leg. (CRB). Granada: Sierra de Huetor , 1 female, stones in pine forest, 18.XII.1997 (CRB). Cantabria: between Potes and Puerto de San Glorio, 1150m, 1 male, in Quercus forest, 17.VII.1985 (CRB) .

Distribution: Iberian Peninsula.

Habitat type: Only occurs in closed canopy forests.

Phenology: Present during most of the year, excluding July and August.