Drassodex validior ( Simon, 1914 )

Hervé, Christophe, Roberts, Michael J. & Murphy, John A., 2009, A taxonomic revision of the genus Drassodex Murphy, 2007 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 2171, pp. 1-28 : 23-24

Drassodex validior ( Simon, 1914)

Figs 45–48

Drassodes validior Simon, 1914: 134 , 208, fig. 227 (male lectotype, designated here); Reimoser, 1919: 164; Bonnet, 1956: 1592.

Drassodes hispanus Roewer, 1954: 386 (in part); Grimm, 1985: 112 (in part); Canard, 2005: 190 (in part); Platnick, 2008 (in part).

Drassodex validior Murphy, 2007: 41 , 55.

Remarks. Only one tube labelled “ Drassodes hispanus validior ” was discovered in the MNHN collection (MNHN AR 9241), containing one male and nine females collected on the Canigou (Pyrénées-Orientales, France) by Simon; they are considered here as the syntype material of D. validior . These females are very similar to the female paralectotypes of D. cervinus (MNHN AR 9217), collected also in Pyrénées-Orientales, in a locality situated only at few kilometers from the Canigou, but at lower altitude (about 1000 m instead of about 2000 m). Whilst the males of both species are clearly distinguished by the structure of the bulb ( Figs 30–31 , 47–48 ), the females showed a very similar epigynal atrium and vulva, and differed only in the leg spination pattern and body size. An assumption was then made that females of both species belonged to one species, D. cervinus , and the body size difference could be produced by an altitude effect, specimens from high altitude being larger and having a greater number of spines in posterior tibiae and metatarsi, as observed in specimens labelled “ Drassodes hispanus validior ”. Parallel to the fact that D. validior is only known by male specimens, we also discovered in MNHN collection a tube labelled “ Drassodes hispanus caprinus ”, a subspecies name not published by Simon, containing only females collected in the Alps. Considering the high similarity between the male and female genitalia observed in the other species of Drassodex , and the presence of males of D. validior and females of “ Drassodes hispanus caprinus ” in several localities in the Alps, an hypothesis was made that specimens of identified as “ Drassodes hispanus caprinus ” by Simon could be the females of D. validior . As the female syntypes of D. validior belong to D. cervinus , the male syntype of D. validior is here designated as lectotype in order to ensure unequivocal application of this name.

Type material: Lectotype (designated here): male from France, Pyrénées-Orientales, Canigou, 1912, E. Simon, Simon collection n° 24836 ( MNHN AR 14592).

Paralectotypes: 9 females, same data as lectotype ( MNHN AR 9241), see remarks above and material of D. cervinus .

Other material examined. FRANCE. No specific locality: 22 Ƥ and 2 3, “ D. hispanus forme typique”, Simon collection n° 23828 ( MNHN AR 9246). Mixed tubes: “ Alpes, Auvergne, Cévennes ”: 1 Ƥ, Simon collection n° 13959 ( MNHN AR 9248); “ Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: Villars-Colmars, juillet 1914 ” and “ Hautes-Alpes: Veynes”: 5 Ƥ and 1 3, Simon collection n° 25755 ( MNHN); “ Ardèche: Mézilhac, 18 novembre 1913 ” and “ Rhône: Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d’Or, novembre 1913 ”: 8 Ƥ and 4 3, Dalmas collection n° M196 ( MNHN AR 9255). Alpes-Maritimes: 4 3, Col de Saint-Martin, Jul. 14, 1914, Simon collection n° 24701 ( MNHN AR 9258); 1 Ƥ, Beuil, Mont Pommier, May 24, 1914, C. Fagniez, Simon collection n° 25716 ( MNHN AR 9254); 1 Ƥ, Tende, Casterino, Baisse de Peïrefique, 2050 m, Jul. 0 7, 1983, larch forest, R. Maurer, Maurer collection n° 172/173 ( NMB); 1 Ƥ, Tende, Vallon de la Minière, 1750 m, June 16, 2005, C. Hervé ( MNHN ARM 072); 1 Ƥ, Moulinet, Col de Turini, about 1500 m, Jul. 10, 1983, fir forest, R. Maurer, Maurer collection n° 175 ( NMB); 3 Ƥ, Moulinet, Massif de l’Authion, 1900 m, June 17, 2005, C. Hervé ( MNHN ARM 075); 1 Ƥ, same locality, 1760 m, June 18, 2005, C. Hervé ( MNHN ARM 080); 2 Ƥ, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Le Boréon, Chalet Vidron, 1750 m, June 20, 2005, C. Hervé and coll. ( MNHN ARM 084); 1 Ƥ, same locality, 1780 m, June 23, 2005, C. Hervé and coll. ( MNHN ARM 094); 1 Ƥ, Saint-Dalmas- Le-Selvage, Vens, 1490 m, June 28, 2005, C. Hervé ( MNHN ARM 107). Alpes-de-Haute-Provence: 1 Ƥ, Uvernet-Fours, Bois de la Tellière, 1965 m, Sep. 0 9, 2005, C. Hervé & F. Breton ( MNHN ARM 141); 1 Ƥ and 1 3, Col de la Cayolle, 2300 m, Aug. 11, 2006, C. Rollard ( MNHN); 1 Ƥ, Allos, Lac d’Allos, 2242 m, Sep. 11, 2005, C. Hervé ( MNHN ARM 144); 25 Ƥ and 2 3, Prads-Haute-Bléone, Montagne de Vachière, Jul.

1914, Simon collection ( MNHN AR 14597). Hautes-Alpes: 2 Ƥ, May 15 to 29, 2003 and 1 Ƥ, Jul. 17 to Aug. 18, 2003, L’Argentière-la-Bessée, Vallée du Fournel, 1458 m, pitfall trap, J.-F. Cornic, Cornic collection.

Diagnosis. D. validior is very close to D. lesserti but differs from it by a much larger terminal embolar apophysis, with a veil membranous part enlarged and denticulate for its entire length ( Fig. 47 ), by its narrower atrium, more triangular ( Table 1 ; Fig. 45 ), and the shape of the membranous coils, enlarged distally ( Fig. 46 ).

Description. Male dimensions (lectotype): total length 8.27. Carapace 3.69 long, 2.81 wide. Leg I: femur 3.02, patella 1.71, tibia 2.95, metatarsus 2.50, tarsus 1.62, total 11.80. Leg II: femur 2.76, patella 1.52, tibia 2.35, metatarsus 2.12, tarsus 1.37, total 10.12. Leg III: femur 2.48, patella 1.28, tibia 1.85, metatarsus 1.88, tarsus 1.19, total 8.68. Leg IV: femur 3.33, patella 1.49, tibia 2.83, metatarsus 2.89, tarsus 1.39, total 11.93. Leg spination: femora: III r0-0-1; tibiae: I v1 p(0)-2-0; III v1 p-1p(2)-2; IV v1 p-2-2; metatarsi: III, IV p1(0)-2- 2; IV r1(0)-2-2. RTA bifid, superior prong short and strongly curved, longer than the greatly rounded inferior prong ( Fig. 48 ); median apophysis pointing inwards; embolar coil twice looped, spiralling upwards along two axes, with a large enveloping scoop-shaped terminal apophysis, veil membranous part enlarged and denticulate for its entire length ( Figs 47–48 ).

Female dimensions (min.–max. MNHN AR 14597): total length 9.55–17.57. Carapace 4.57–6.29 long, 3.48–4.71 wide. Leg I: femur 3.65–4.67, patella 2.00–2.67, tibia 3.13–4.10, metatarsus 2.71–3.71, tarsus 1.71–2.34, total 13.20–17.49. Leg II: femur 3.29–4.43, patella 1.83–2.47, tibia 2.67–3.57, metatarsus 2.45–3.31, tarsus 1.57–2.06, total 11.81–15.84. Leg III: femur 3.10–4.05, patella 1.64–2.14, tibia 2.24–2.90, metatarsus 2.29–2.95, tarsus 1.40–1.83, total 10.67–13.87. Leg IV: femur 4.05–5.25, patella 1.84–2.50, tibia 3.41–4.33, metatarsus 3.62–4.48, tarsus 1.67–2.17, total 14.59–18.73. Leg spination: femora: III r0-0-1; tibiae: I v1 p(0)-2-0; III v1 p-1p(2)-2; IV v1 p(2)-2-2; metatarsi: III, IV p1(0)-2-2; IV r1(0)-2-2. Atrium triangular, as high as wide to moderately wider than high (0.43–0.55 wide, 0.34–0.50 high, ratio 1.05–1.34), anteriorly with a small rounded tongue ( Fig. 45 ); copulatory openings large, scarcely visible in ventral view, slightly separated; membranous coils enlarged distally and often very obscured, with external contour followed by coiled ducts looped around twice ( Fig. 46 ).

Distribution. Mountain systems in South France.

Figures

FIGURES 41 – 48. 41 – 44 Drassodex granja sp. nov. (MNHN AR 9256). 41 – 42 epigyne (paratype) (41 ventral view, 42 dorsal view); 43 – 44 left male palp (holotype) (43 ventral view, 44 retrolateral view). 45 – 48 Drassodex validior (Simon, 1914) (45 – 46 MNHN AR 9248; 47 – 48 MNHN AR 9241, lectotype). 45 – 46 epigyne (45 ventral view, 46 dorsal view); 47 – 48 left male palp (47 ventral view, 48 retrolateral view).

FIGURES 28 – 31. Drassodex cervinus (Simon, 1914) (28 – 29 MNHN AR 9217, paralectotype; 30 – 31 MNHN AR 14600, lectotype). 28 – 29 epigyne (28 ventral view, 29 dorsal view); 30 – 31 left male palp (30 ventral view, 31 retrolateral view).