Trachyzelotes miniglossus, 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 : 27-29

Trachyzelotes miniglossus n. sp.

Figs 59–62

Type material. Adult male holotype and female paratype, from Ramat HaNadiv, Mt. Carmel, Israel, leg. Iris Musli, May 7, 2004, pitfall trap ( HUJ 15532).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the close relationship between this miniature species and T. glossus ( Strand, 1915) .

Description. Small. Carapace and legs brown, opisthosoma black with dorsal scutum barely visible in male. AME smallest, other eyes subequal. Chelicerae armed with one tooth.

Male. Measurements (holotype + 9 ɗɗ; holotype listed first): total length 3.7, 2.9–3.5; carapace length 1.8, 1.4–1.6, width 1.4, 1.2–1.3, index 1.29, 1.16–1.23; labial index 1.25, 1.11–1.25; clypeal index 1.8, 1.5–2.0; MOQ index 10.0, 8.0–9.4; legs length: I 4.2, 3.4–4.0, II 3.3, 2.9–3.2, III 3.1, 2.5–2.9, IV 4.9, 3.5–4.8; patella-tibia index 0.88, 0.81–0.94.

Palpus. Narrow retrolateral loop of embolus extends to about half length of bulb ( Figs 59, 60 ); median apophysis slightly outwards stretched. Strong tibial apophysis tapers moderately ( Fig. 60 ).

Female. Measurements (2ΨΨ): total length 3.1–3.4; carapace length 1.3–1.6, width 1.0–1.2, index 1.30–1.33; labial index 1.0; clypeal index 1.8–2.5; MOQ index 8.9–9.3; legs length: I 3.0–3.8, II 2.5–3.0, III 2.1–2.8, IV 3.5–4.7; patella-tibia index 0.88–0.92.

Epigynum . Small with sclerotized caps on anterior sides, sinuous median folds and large globular spermathecae visible through transparent integument ( Fig. 61 ). Brown narrow spermathecal ducts extend into light almost transparent dilated coils ( Fig. 62 ).

Diagnosis. The male palpus of Trachyzelotes miniglossus n. sp. closely resembles the larger T. glossus ( Strand, 1915) . The two can be separated by the curvature of the embolar loop and the shape of the median apophysis. The female of T. glossus is not yet known. The female of the new species, but not the male, resembles to an extent T. chybyndensis ( Tuneva & Esyunin, 2001) by the epigynal folds. The two differ from each other and from all other Trachyzelotes species, by the trajectory of the spermathecal ducts.

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

Figures

FIGURES 59, 60. Trachyzelotes miniglossus n. sp. ♂, holotype, left palpus. 59. Ventral view. 60. Retrolateral view.

FIGURES 61, 62. Trachyzelotes miniglossus n. sp. Ψ. 61. Epigynum, ventral view. 62. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.