Gnaphosa prashkevichi, Fomichev, 2019

Fomichev, Alexander A., 2019, A survey of East Palaearctic Gnaphosidae (Araneae). 10. Three new Gnaphosa species from the Dzhungarian Alatau Mountains (Eastern Kazakhstan), Zootaxa 4706 (4), pp. 569-579 : 571-572

Gnaphosa prashkevichi sp. n.

Figs 3, 6 , 9, 12 , 15, 18, 21 , 22–25 .

Types. Holotype ♂ ( ISEA) KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty Region, Burkhansartau Mountain Range , 44°33’N, 79°56’E, pebble bank of dry river, 2400 m, 27.06.2016 (A.A. Fomichev) . Paratype: 1♀ ( ISEA) together with the holotype .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym taken in honour of my friend, the well-known Russian science fiction writer Gennadiy M. Prashkevich (Novosibirsk, Russia).

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to G. aksuensis sp. n., G. khovdensis , G. mataica sp. n., and G. rasnitsyni ( Table 1 ). The male of G. prashkevichi sp. n. can be separated from all aforementioned species in having the embolic spine directed ventrally (vs anteriorly, prolaterally, or retrolaterally). Male of G. prashkevichi sp. n. can be distinguished from G. aksuensis sp. n. and G. mataica sp. n. in that the base of embolus starts with posterior 1/5 of bulbus (vs with posterior 1/3 of bulbus). In addition, the male of new species differs from G. khovdensis and G. rasnitsyni in having the embolus with a strongly curved apex (straight apex in similar species). The female of G. prashkevichi sp. n. is similar to those of G. aksuensis sp. n., G. mataica sp. n. G. rasnitsyni , and G. serzonsteini but can be distinguished by having the epigynal fovea 1.5 times longer than wide (fovea as long as wide in similar species). In addition, the new species differs from G. aksuensis sp. n. and G. mataica sp. n. in the absence of bulges, which are well developed in the former two species. As opposed to G. rasnitsyni and G. serzonsteini , the new species has the scape with an abrupt posterior margin (vs concave posterior margin).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 11.5. Carapace: 5.4 long, 4.25 wide. Carapace and sternum brown. Chelicerae, labium and maxillae dark brown. Palps and legs yellow. Abdomen yellow-gray with brown dorsal scutum. Spinnerets yellow.

Leg measurements:

Leg spination:

Palp as in Figs 3, 6 , 9, 12 , 15 ; tibial apophysis relatively short (shorter than tibia), with sharply pointed tip bent posteriorly; tegular apophysis almost straight; embolus straight with strongly curved apex; prolateral edge of embolus serrated and bears narrow lamina; base of embolus elongated, starts with posterior 1/5 of bulbus; upper part of embolic base bearing thin spine directed ventrally.

Female. Total length 11.0. Carapace: 5.5 long, 4.05 wide. Carapace and sternum light-brown. Chelicerae, labium and maxillae dark brown. Palps yellow with dark-brown Ta. Legs yellow. Legs I–II with brown Ta. Abdomen yellow-gray. Spinnerets yellow.

Leg measurements:

Epigyne as in Figs 18, 21 ; fovea 1.5 times longer than wide, without well-developed bulges; scape longer than wide, with abrupt posterior margin; lateral margins of the fovea with long and wide pockets, at an angle of about 60° to epigastral fold; heads of receptacles directed anteriorly. Distribution. Known from the type locality only.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Male palps of Gnaphosa aksuensis sp. n. (1, 4), G. mataica sp. n. (2, 5) and G. prashkevichi sp. n. (3, 6). 1–3 ventral, 4–6 retrolateral. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 7–12. Bulbus of Gnaphosa aksuensis sp. n. (7, 10), G. mataica sp. n. (8, 11) and G. prashkevichi sp. n. (9, 12). 7–9 ventral, 10–12 prolateral. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Eb base of embolus, El embolic lamina, Es embolic spine, Ma median apophysis.

FIGURES 13–21. Bulbus and epigyne of Gnaphosa aksuensis sp. n. (13, 16, 19), G. mataica sp. n. (14, 17, 20) and G. prashkevichi sp. n. (15, 18, 21). 13–15 bulbus, apical; 16–18 epigyne, ventral; 19–21 macerated epigyne, dorsal. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Es embolic spine, Fb foveal bulges, Lp pockets of lateral margins of the fovea, Rs stems of the receptacle head, Sc scape.

FIGURES 22–25. Habitus of Gnaphosa prashkevichi sp. n. (22) and collecting localities of species of Gnaphosa rasnitsyni- group (23–25). G. aksuensis sp. n., square, G. esyunini, pentagon, G. khovdensis, star, G. mataica sp. n., triangle, G. prashkevichi sp. n., circle, G. rasnitsyni, inverted triangle, G. serzonsteini, diamond. Frame on Fig. 23 refers to Fig. 24.