Diplocephalus marijae 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 : 16-17

Diplocephalus marijae Bosmans new species

( Figs 23–29)

Diplocephalus sp. ; Bosmans 1996: 144, figs 68–69.

Type material: Male holotype, 4 male paratypes from Spain, Cádiz , Tarifa, III.1994, P. Poot leg. ; holotype and 2 paratypes deposited in KBIN, 2 paratypes deposited in MNHNP; paratype female from Spain, Algeciras , Algeciras S.W., 1 female along smalle rivulet, 5.V.1956, G. Fagel leg. (deposited in KBIN) .

Etymology: The species is dedicated to Marij Decleer for her help and support in the arachnological work of the first author.

Diagnosis: The combined characters of the shape of the prosoma, the two particular apophyses of the palpal tibia and the elongated embolus make the male of this species easily recognisable. The female has a typical Diplocephalus -like epigynum with a division into two plates; the pockets at the inner corners of each plate, mostly visible as darker areas diagnose this species.

Description: Male: Measurements: Total length 1.8–2.0; prosoma 0.84–0.90 long, 0.56–0.60 wide. Colour: Prosoma brown, striae and margin grey brown, cephalic lobe greyish white; legs orange brown; abdomen grey. Prosoma ( Fig. 23): With protruding clypeus and rounded thoracic tubercle carrying the PL; postocular sulcus of the same diameter as the PL. Eyes: a = 0.75, b = 2.5, c = 3, d = 4. Legs: Spine formula 2211; L Sp Ti I–II = 0.5, Sp III–IV = 1.2; Tb Mt I = 0.36, Tb Mt IV absent. Palp ( Figs 24–26): Tibia strongly protruding over cymbium, distally with small prolateral hook and large retrolateral lobe with membranous border; cymbium at its base with retrolateral hook; paracymbium hook-like, basal branch with three hairs; tegulum with concave ventral margin; radix terminally with two pointed teeth; embolus describing a wide, oval circle; suprategular apophysis a triangular tooth, near terminal part of embolus.

Female: Measurements: Total length 1.7–2.2; prosoma 0.68–0.81 long, 0.46–0.58 wide. Colour as in male except for the unmodified brown prosoma. Eye disposition: a = 0.75, b = 1, c = 1.2, d = 1.3. Spine formula and Tb as in male, except for L Sp Ti I–II = 1.2, Ti III–IV broken off. Epigynum ( Figs 27, 28): With two plates separated by a median fissure, plates only touching in their basal half, anteriorly with transverse ridge, posteriorly generally with darker area at intern corners; dorsal plate small, part of it visible as a triangular piece between the fissures. Vulva ( Fig. 29): Spermathecae L-shaped, situated laterally of the transverse ridge, connected to copulation openings at the base of the plates; two distinct pockets at interior corners of plates.

Additional material examined: PORTUGAL: Beja: Vale do Guadiana NP, Mértola , Braciais , 1 female, 7.V.2003, P. Cardoso leg. (CRB); Mértola, Montes Altos, 1 male, 1 female, 22.V.2000 (CPC); Mértola, São Domingos, 2 females, 26.III.2003, 1 male 2 females, 9.IV.2003, 1 male, 21.V.2003, 1 male 1 female, 22.V.2000 (CPC, CRB). Bragança: Douro Internacional NP, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Palão, 1 male, 28.XI.2002 (CPC). Coimbra: Paúl de Arzila NR, 2 females, 28.V.2008, L. Crespo et al. leg. (CRB). Leiria: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, Porto de Mós , Serro Ventoso, 1 male, 9.IV.2002, 1 male, 7.V.2002 (CPC, CRB); idem, Santo António, 1 female, 21.V.2002 (CRB); idem, São Mamede, 1 male, 21.V.2002 (CPC). Lisboa: Lisboa, Monsanto, 3 males, 17.III–2.IV.2007, A. Rebelo leg. ( CAR, CLC) . Portalegre: Nisa, 2 females, 28.V.2005, A. Rufino leg. (IMAR). Santarém: Paúl do Boquilobo NR, Torres Novas, montado, 1 male, 24.IV.2002 (CRB) .

SPAIN: Alicante : Sierra de Aitana, 1 female, 20.III.1994, M. Perez leg. (CRB). Málaga: Alozaina N., 200m, 1 male, stones in small Quercus suber forest, 9.IV.1999, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB). Mallorca: Cala Rajada, 1 female, stones in open Pinus forest, 3.IV.2003, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB); road Felatnix-Porto Colon, Can Gelat, 1 female, stones in open Pinus forest, 4.IV.2003, R. Bosmans leg. (CRB) .

MOROCCO: Al Hoceima: Ketama, 1030m, 1 female, stones in grassland, 20.IV.1984 (as Diplocephalus sp. ; Bosmans 1996; CRB). Chechaouen: Chechaouen N., 520m, 1 female, in herbs along rivulet, 20.IV.1984 (as Diplocephalus sp. ; Bosmans 1996; CRB).

Distribution: The species occurs all over Portugal, the south of Spain, Mallorca and the north of Morocco.

Habitat type: Found in different habitat types.

Phenology: Most adults have been collected from March to May, but one adult capture in November suggests that this species hibernates.