Zodarion apertum, Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2019

Zhang, Bao-Shi & Zhang, Feng, 2019, Three new species of the genus Zodarion (Araneae, Zodariidae) from China, ZooKeys 813, pp. 67-87 : 69

Zodarion apertum sp. n. Figures 1, 2, 3

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (Z-Xinjiang-200905-11), Luntai County (41°22'N, 84°11'E), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, 27 May 2009, Dong Sun leg. Paratype: 1 ♀ (Z-Xinjiang-200905-12), same data as holotype.

Diagnosis.

The male of Z. apertum sp. n. is very similar to that of Z. mongolicum (Marusik & Koponen, 2001) in having a fold on the apical tegular apophysis, a relatively wider bulb, and the wide and flat apical part of the retrolateral tibial apophysis enlarged. However, it can be distinguished from Z. mongolicum by the posteriorly downward direction of the embolic base (down-retrolaterally in Z. mongolicum ), the retrolateral tibial apophysis with aclinal apical margin in ventral view (flat in Z. mongolicum ), and the posterior tip of the conductor being at the 6- o’clock-position (5- o’clock-position in Z. mongolicum ) (Figs 2 A–C, 3 A–C). The female of this new species resembles that of Z. zebra Charitonov, 1946, Z. spasskyi Charitonov, 1946, and Z. proszynskii Nenilin & Fet, 1985 in having a straight margin of the pocket and closer apices of the two spermathecae, though the spiracles of the spermathecae are smaller than in the latter three species (Figs 2D, E, 3D, E).

Etymology.

The specific name is from the Latin apertum, in reference to the uncovered terminal of the retrolateral tibial apophysis; adjective.

Description.

Male (holotype): total length 3.65; carapace 1.79 long, 1.37 wide; opisthosoma 2.02 long, 1.33 wide. Carapace (Fig. 1A) declining, yellow-brown, furnished with black net-like stripes, flat thorax, and smooth tegument. Longitudinal fovea black. Clypeus 0.16 high, yellow brown. Anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior eye row strongly procurved in dorsal view. Ocular area black. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.18, ALE 0.12, PME 0.08, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.55, AME–PME 0.07, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.52, ALE–PLE 0.03. MOQ 0.32 long, anterior width 0.41, posterior width 0.40. Mouthparts (Fig. 1B): chelicerae yellow-brown, with two anterior and one posterior teeth on margins of fang furrows, terminal part with row of black hairs; endites yellowish, apices paler and provided with dense black scopula; labium triangular, 0.23 long, 0.29 wide, yellow-brown, apices paler. Sternum (Fig. 1B) 0.90 long, 1.04 wide, yellowish, lateral margin dark, provided with sparse black setae, its lateral margin with inter- and intra-coxal triangles. Legs (Fig. 1A, B) yellow-brown. Leg measurements: leg I 5.39 (1.05 + 0.51 + 1.47 + 1.66 + 0.70), II 4.47 (0.90 + 0.46 + 1.54 + 1.00 + 0.57), III 5.85 (1.68 + 0.48 + 1.53 + 1.52 + 0.64), IV 6.24 (1.57+ 0.58 + 1.31 + 1.70 + 1.08). Opisthosoma covered with pale short hairs. Dorsum of opisthosoma gray, covered with large irregular black patches; venter gray, with small black patches. Spinnerets gray (Fig. 1A, B).

Palp (Figs 2 A–C, 3 A–C). Coxae of palps white, other sections yellow; length to width ratio of femur 3.0, length to width ratio of patella 1.2; retrolateral tibial apophysis enlarged, about 3 times the tibial length, apical part wide and flat, apical margin aclinal, with thin hook-shaped dorsolateral terminal; cymbium with terminal spine, tutaculum obvious; tegular apophysis wide and strong, apical part with a fold, retrolaterally with long and beak shaped extension, tegular apophysis hook S-shaped in prolateral view, extends to basal embolus; membranous conductor long, lamellate and running almost along whole course of the embolus; base of embolus almost triangular.

Female. Total length 4.65: carapace 1.73 long, 1.12 wide; opisthosoma 2.96 long, 1.92 wide. Carapace yellow-brown. Clypeal height 0.21. Eye diameters: AME 0.19, ALE 0.11, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.08, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.48, ALE–PLE 0.04. MOQ 0.32 long, front width 0.36, back width 0.33. Mouthparts (Fig. 1D): labium 0.23 long, 0.31 wide. Sternum 0.83 long, 0.97 wide. Leg measurements: I 4.78 (1.28 + 0.55+ 1.06 + 1.30 + 0.59), II 4.58 (1.30 + 0.42 + 0.93 + 1.23 + 0.70), III 4.73 (1.24 + 0.45 + 1.02 + 1.28 + 0.74), IV 6.14 (1.62 + 0.53 + 1.39 + 1.62 + 0.98). Dorsum of opisthosoma black; venter white. Other colors as in male (Fig. 1C, D).

Epigyne (Figs 2D, E, 3D, E). Posterior part with central hood, which is bathingcap-shaped, 0.6 long, 0.13 wide, posteromedian margin straight, copulatory openings situated in posterior part of epigyne; long and spiraled spermathecae visible through integument, apices of two spermathecae converging and touching each other, base of two spermathecae distant (about 4 times the spermathecal diameter), brown spermathecae with 5 coils.

Distribution.

China (Xinjiang).