Artema, Walckenaer, 1837

Aharon, Shlomi, Huber, Bernhard A. & Gavish-Regev, Efrat, 2017, Daddy-long-leg giants: revision of the spider genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 376 (376), pp. 1-57 : 44

Artema sp. a from Oman

Fig. 170

Material examined

OMAN: 1 ♀, Jebal Akhdar, E of Al Hamra , Wadi Fallah , Al Ghubrat [23.1° N, 57.4° E], “ Quellhöhle ”, Nov. 2001, Sattmann leg. ( NHMW ).

Notes

Female distinguished from all other Artema females by simple rectangular epigynum ( Fig. 170 ). Stridulatory files laterally on chelicerae present. Epigynum almost twice as wide as long, posterior margin almost straight, epigynal plate consisting of two gently sclerotized lateral areas that appear swollen posteriorly, pale median area wider anteriorly, dark median sclerite absent. Pair of projections anterior to epigynum (AEP) present but not prominent.

Female genitalia in the genus Artema often show high intra-specific variation, e.g., as in A. nephilit sp. nov. ( Figs 45–54 ) and in A. doriae ( Figs 103–114 ), both of which occur close to Oman ( Yemen and the United Arab Emirates). Therefore, we prefer not to describe this putative species formally until more individuals (females and males) are avilable.

Figures

Figs 170–179. 170. Artema sp. a from Oman Jebal Akhdar, E of Al Hamra, Al Ghubrat (NHMW), epigynum, ventral view. 171–179. Artema sp. b from Algeria, El Goléa (NHMW). 171–173. Male left pedipalp: prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. 174–176. Male left bulb and procursus: prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. 177–179. Male chelicerae: lateral and frontal views. Scale lines: 170, 174–179 = 0.5 mm; 171–173 = 1 mm.

Figs 45–54. Artema nephilit sp. nov. 45–50. Epigyna, ventral views, females from Berniki caves (45, 49: HUJ Ara 15996-7),’En Tamar (46: HUJ Ara 16019), Samar (47: HUJ Ara 16020), Petra (48: ZFMK Ar 15227) and HaTanur Waterfall (50: CSZ). 51–54. Female abdomens, dorsal and lateral views, from Petra (51–52: ZFMK Ar 15227), and ’En Tamar (53–54: HUJ Ara 16019). Figs 45-47, 49-50, 53-54 Israel; 48, 51-52 Jordan. Scale lines: 45–50, 54 = 1 mm; 51–53 = 2 mm.

Figs 103–114. Artema doriae Thorell, 1881, intraspecific variation of epigynum. 103. Iran, Tochal (ZFMK Ar 15233). 104. Iran, Esfahan (FMNH). 105. Iran, Lorestan, Ma‘amulan (MHNG). 106. Iran, Tehran (MNHN AR 10180). 107. Iran, 10 km NE of Bafq (SMF). 108–109. Turkey, Urfa-Gaziantep (XUM). 110. Turkey, Diyarbakır Prov., Çermik (ZFMK Ar 15931). 111. Israel, Upper Galilee, Ramot Naftali (CSZ). 112. Israel, Jericho (HUJ Ara 16035). 113. Israel, Memorial Ha-Biq’a, NE Peza’el (HUJ Ara 16033). 114. Israel, Modiin (SMNH). Scale lines: 103, 105–113 = 0.5 mm.