Zelotes shaked Levy, 1998

Levy, Gershom, 2009, New ground-spider genera and species with annexed checklist of the Gnaphosidae (Araneae) of Israel, Zootaxa 2066, pp. 1-49 : 39-41

Zelotes shaked Levy, 1998

Figs 83, 84

Zelotes shaked Levy, 1998: 130 , figs 75–77, ♂ from Sayyeret Shaked , Negev, Israel.

Hitherto unknown mate: Adult female from Sedot Mikha , Israel, leg. Yael Mandelik, August 14, 2002, pitfall trap (HUJ15508).

Description. Carapace black with light spots; opisthosoma grey; legs light with brown femora, patellae and tibiae. Small eyes, ALE largest. Chelicerae without teeth, fangs relatively long and curved.

Female. Measurements (6 ΨΨ): total length 2.7–4.5; carapace length 1.2–1.5, width 0.8–1.2, index 1.29–1.55; labial index 1.29–1.71; clypeal index 1.3–2.5; MOQ index 9.3–12.5; legs length: I 2.6–3.4, II 2.4–3.1, III 2.2–2.8, IV 3.3–4.2; patella-tibia index 0.78–0.87.

Epigynum . Small with contiguous anterior corner-caps extended into fine arched rim. Fine, partly looped spermathecal tubes discernible at base of narrow U-shaped median depression ( Fig. 83 ). Globular spermathecae extend into expanded tubes ( Fig. 84 ).

Diagnosis. Zelotes shaked resembles Z. zin closely. The female of Z. shaked can, however, be separated, also from all other Zelotes species, by the shape of the epigynal plate, the peculiar spermathecae and the lack of teeth on the chelicerae.

Distribution. Israel. Records: Sedot Mikha , Adullam Reserve, Zekharya , Nehusha, Devira, Sayyeret Shaked .

Comment. Adult males and females were collected together by pitfall traps substantiating thus the setting of the matching sexes.

Zelotes zin Levy, 1998 Figs 85, 86

Zelotes zin Levy, 1998: 129 , figs 73, 74, ♂ from Nahal Zin , Negev, Israel.

Hitherto unknown mate: Adult female from Sedot Mikha , Israel, leg. Yael Mandelik, August 15, 2002, pitfall trap (HUJ15521).

Description. Colouration brown. Small eyes, ALE largest, others subequal. Chelicerae with 2–3 pro- and 1 retromarginal teeth.

Female. Measurements (1Ψ): total length 3.1; carapace length 1.3, width 0.95, index 1.37; labial index 1.53; clypeal index 2.0; MOQ index 10.0; legs length: I 2.9, II 2.5, III 2.0, IV 3.3; patella-tibia index 0.84.

Epigynum . Small. Anterior corner-caps set close together. Median depression drop-like shaped with inner, relatively large, round spermathecae discernible through nearly transparent integument ( Fig. 85 ). Fine meandering tubes issue at upper part of globular spermathecae ( Fig. 86 ).

Diagnosis. The males and females of Zelotes zin and Z. shaked resemble closely each other by their genital features. Careful consideration of subtle details is required for their separation. A somatic character like the presence or absence of cheliceral dentition (present in zin , absent in shaked ), might be useful for preliminary separation.

Distribution. Israel. Records: Ramat Avishur , Sedot Mikha , Sede Zin near Sede Boqer.

Figures

FIGURES 83, 84. Zelotes shaked Levy, 1998, Ψ. 83. Epigynum, ventral view. 84. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.

FIGURES 85, 86. Zelotes zin Levy, 1998, Ψ. 85. Epigynum, ventral view. 86. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.