Kryptonesticus, Pavlek & Ribera, 2017

Pavlek, Martina & Ribera, Carles, 2017, Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov. (Araneae, Nesticidae), with notes on the Mediterranean cave species, European Journal of Taxonomy 262, pp. 1-27 : 5-6

Kryptonesticus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:19EABFE7-08F7-4AB8-860B-0AB2E59EBC03

Figs 1–5

Type species

Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Kryptonesticus gen. nov. differs from other nesticid genera by the morphology of both male and female copulatory organs. In males, the most conspicuous diagnostic character is the shape and size of the median apophysis (MA), which is large and conspicuous, highly developed and thickly sclerotized, emerging from the middle part of the tegulum and reaching its apical part. This characteristic is shared among a group of species including K. eremita , K. dimensis , K. henderickxi , K. fagei and K. arenstorffi (males of K. beshkovi and K. biroi are unknown). In other nesticid genera, the MA is absent, inconspicuous or poorly developed ( Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 ; Wraios Ballarin & Li, 2015 ; Nescina Ballarin & Li, 2015 ; Hamus Ballarin & Li, 2015 ; Gaucelmus Keyserling, 1884 ; Cyclocarcina Komatsu, 1942 ; Typhlonesticus Kulczyński, 1914 ; Canarionesticus Wunderlich, 1992 ); in the form of a small, curved and pointed hook ( Carpathonesticus Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 ); compact, transverse and not very developed ( Eidmannella Roewer, 1935 ); more conspicuous and transverse ( Aituaria Esyunin & Efimik, 1998 ) or it is well developed ( Nesticus cellulanus (Clerck, 1757) and Pseudonesticus Liu & Li, 2013 ), but in this case the MA is long, thin and extended laterally. In Kryptonesticus gen. nov., the MA extends laterally at its base and then stretches towards the apex of the tegulum, parallel to the embolus. The theridioid tegular apophysis (TTA) is more compact than in N. cellulanus or Pseudonesticus . This is a very important character, since the TTA and MA are actively involved in sperm transfer ( Huber 1993). Kryptonesticus gen. nov. also differs from other nesticid genera in the shape, ramification and modifications associated with the paracymbium. Kryptonesticus gen. nov. shows a well-developed dorsal process and a poorly differentiated ventral one. Distal and paradistal apophyses are absent and the dorsomedian apophysis is short and pointed, inconspicuous or absent. Females of this new genus show characteristic slender spermathecae, oval-shaped, with a shallow constriction in the middle, located above or just behind the apical part of the internal chitinous structures of the vulva. Insemination ducts depart from the basal part of the spermathecae, make a sharp turn-out and continue ventro-laterally, reaching the copulatory orifices.

Etymology

The prefix “ Krypto ”, from Ancient Greek κρυπτóς (kruptós “hidden”), alludes to the long time it took to diagnose this evolutionary line.

Distribution

From Bulgaria and Turkey to Croatia, including Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Crete. All these species are known only from the type locality, or have small distribution ranges. K. eremita is an exception; this species is linked to human activities and can be found in hangars, cellars and cottages. It has been cited from France and Italy to Bulgaria and Turkey. It is a potentially invasive species, found in an abandoned air-raid tunnel in Auckland, New Zealand ( Vink & Dupérré 2011).

Taxonomic remarks

The morphology of both male and female copulatory organs of this group of species shows important differences with respect to N. cellulanus (the type species of the genus Nesticus ) and the western Mediterranean Nesticus species, as well as the representatives of Carpathonesticus and Typhlonesticus . The asymmetrical development of the paracymbial ramification, the shape, size and arrangement of the median apophysis and some differences in the size and arrangement of the TTA p1 and p2 processes constitute the major differences in males. The number and position of spermathecae and the features of the insemination ducts are the most obvious characteristics in females. K. beroni and K. beshkovi are only known from females. Regardless, the shape and position of the spemathecae and the insemination ducts undoubtedly allow us to transfer these two species to the Kryptonesticus evolutionary lineage.

Concerning species of Nesticus from other parts of the world (e.g., East Asia, North and South America) we can state that they do not show the diagnostic characters of the new genus described here. Surely this is a polyphyletic group that could be considered as a wastebasket group, and its inclusion within the genus Nesticus must be revised since the morphology of their genitalia is remarkably different from the type species of the genus ( N. cellulanus ). Of course, this affirmation must be tested in a phylogenetic framework including all species of Nesticus described so far. Preliminary results on the phylogeny of European nesticids, including some American and Asian representatives (results not shown), indicate the polyphyly of Nesticus species described from other parts of the world.

Composition

Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov., K. eremita (Simon, 1879) comb. nov. (Southern and Central Europe, introduced in New Zealand, potentially invasive species), K. arenstorffi ( Kulczyński, 1914) comb. nov. ( Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro), K. fagei ( Kratochvíl, 1933) comb. nov. ( Bosnia and Herzegovina), K. beroni ( Deltshev, 1977) comb. nov. ( Bulgaria), K. beshkovi ( Deltshev, 1979) comb. nov. (Crete), K. henderickxi ( Bosselaers, 1998) comb. nov. (Crete) and K. dimensis (López- Pancorbo, Kunt & Ribera, 2013) comb. nov. ( Turkey).

Figures

Fig 1. Habitus of Kryptonesticus deelemanae sp. nov. A. Male, body length 3.6 mm. B. Female, body length 4.3 mm. (Photos by M. Pavlek.)

Fig 2. Male bulbus. A. Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov. B. K. fagei (Kratochvíl, 1933). C. K. arenstorffi (Kulczyński, 1914).

Fig 3. Male bulbus. A–C. Krytponesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov. D–F. K. fagei (Kratochvíl, 1933). G–I. K. arenstorffi (Kulczyński, 1914). A, D, G. Ventral view. B, E, H. Dorsal view. C, F, I. Apical view. The scale (shown on I) is the same for all photos.

Fig 4. Epigyne and vulva. A. Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov., epigyne. B. K. fagei (Kratochvíl, 1933), epigyne. C. K. arenstorffi (Kulczyński, 1914), epigyne. D. K. deelemanae gen. et sp. nov. vulva. Broken lines mark the positions of the spermathecae.

Fig 5. Epigyne and vulva. A–D. Kryptonesticus deelemanae gen. et sp. nov. E–H. K. fagei (Kratochvíl, 1933). I–L. K. arenstorffi (Kulczyński, 1914). A, E, I. Epigyne in ventral view. B, F, J. Epigyne in ventral view after detachment from the opisthosoma. C, G, K. Vulva after treatment with 30% KOH. D, H, L. Epigyne in lateral view.