Setaphis mediterranea, Levy, Gershom, 2009

Levy, Gershom, 2009, New ground-spider genera and species with annexed checklist of the Gnaphosidae (Araneae) of Israel, Zootaxa 2066, pp. 1-49 : 21-23

Setaphis mediterranea n. sp.

Figs 47–50

Type material. Adult male holotype and female paratype from Sedot Mikha , foothills of Judea, Israel, leg. Yael Mandelik, May 14, 2002, pitfall trap ( HUJ 15525).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the distribution of the species.

Description. Prosoma and legs brown to deep brown, opisthosoma grey to almost black. Legs with widened femora. Male with small, inconspicuous scutum. Eyes large with AME smallest. Chelicerae in male with 3 pro- and 0–1 retromarginal teeth; in female with 6–7 pro- and 2 retromarginal teeth.

Male. Measurements (holotype + 10ɗɗ; holotype listed first): total length 4.4, 3.9–5.1; carapace length 2.0, 1.9–2.3, width 1.5, 1.4–1.8, index 1.33, 1.25–1.35; labial index 1.69, 1.47–1.77;clypeal index 2.67, 1.75–3.0; MOQ index 10.0, 8.2–11.1; legs length: I 4.6, 4.3–5.5, II 4.1, 4.1–4.9, III 3.5, 3.4–4.4, IV 5.8, 5.2–6.7; patella-tibia index 0.85, 0.82–0.95.

Palpus. Medium sized with short, slightly attenuated tibial apophysis. Large loops of embolus encircle a tegular black, sclerotic, leaf-like, scooped sclerite ( Figs 47, 48 ).

Female. Measurements (5 ΨΨ): total length 5.4–6.9; carapace length 2.4–2.8, width 1.9–2.3, index 1.20–1.33; labial index 1.27–1.40; clypeal index 1.22–1.33; MOQ index 7.7–9.0; legs length: I 6.7–7.1, II 5.3–6.1, III 4.7–5.2, IV 7.2–8.5; patella-tibia index 0.89–1.04.

Epigynum . Large epigynal plate with median septum and thick, raised blackish rims extending along anterior and lateral sides of plate ( Fig. 49 ); dark internal tubes discernible at septum base. Large spermathecal ducts consist of partly thick brown coiled tubes and loops of yellow ducts giving rise to fine transparent ducts with small globular distensions ( Fig. 50 ).

Diagnosis. Setaphis mediterranea is easily distinguished from all other Setaphis species by the shape of the peculiar sclerite on the male palpal tegulum and the large embolar loops, and by the alignment of the spermathecal ducts of the epigynal plate.

Distribution. Israel. Records: Ramat Avishur , Sedot Mikha , Zekharya , Nehusha, Lehavim .

Figures

FIGURES 47, 48. Setaphis mediterranea n. sp. ♂, holotype, left palpus. 47. Mesal view. 48. Retrolateral view.

FIGURES 49, 50. Setaphis mediterranea n. sp. Ψ. 49. Epigynum, ventral view. 50. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.