Haplodrassus securifer Bosmans & Abrous, 2018

Bosmans, Robert, Kherbouche-Abrous, Ourida, Benhalima, Souâd & Hervé, Christophe, 2018, The genus Haplodrassus Chamberlin, 1922 in the Mediterranean and the Maghreb in particular (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 4451 (1), pp. 1-67 : 39-41

Haplodrassus securifer Bosmans & Abrous , sp. n.

Figs 145‒153 , 162‒166 , map 7

Drassodes invalidus: Simon 1914: 138 , 210, fig. 243 (only ♂, non ♀ = D. mediterraneus ; misidentification).

Haplodrassus macellinus hebes: Denis 1948: 146 ; Denis, 1967: 35 (misidentifications).

MAP 7. Distribution of Haplodrassus securifer sp. n.

Types. Holotype ♂, 3♂ paratypes from Algeria, Atlas of Blida, slopes to the gorge of Oued Chiffa (N36°23’38” E2°48’24”), 1000m, pitfalls in irrigated orchard, 27.VI.1989; ♂ holotype, 1 paratype: RBINS; 2 paratypes: MNHN ( MNHN AR15709 ); 3♂ 2♀ paratypes from Algeria , Tamanrasset, Gara de l’Assekrem (N23°17’1” E5°36’32”), de Peyerimhoff leg., 3‒7.IV.1939 ( Denis 1948, as Haplodrassus macellinus hebes ) ( MNHN AR9226 ).

Diagnosis. Haplodrassus securifer sp. n. is closely related to H. macellinus Thorell, 1871 . In males of H. macellinus the tibial apophysis is more elongate and more rounded terminally (fig. 237 versus Figs 147 , 163 ). The length and shape of the embolic apophysis is more elongate in H. macelllinus than in H. securifer , and as long as the embolus in H. securifer sp. n. ( Figs 149 , 162 ), much shorter than the embolus in H. macellinus (fig. 236). Females are distinguished by the hood as wide as the areola in H. securifer sp. n. ( Figs 151 , 165 ), half as wide in H. macellinus ( Figs 238, 239 ).

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin noun securis (axe) and the verb ferre, to wear, and refers to the shape of the tibial apophysis resembling an axe. It also reminds the species names H. dentifer sp. n. and H. signifer .

Description. Measurements: Male (n= 20): Total length 5.2‒6.5; carapace 2.1‒2.6 long, 1.7‒2.0 wide. Female (n= 10): Total length 6.0‒10.0; carapace 2.8‒2.9 long, 2.0‒2.2 wide. Colour: Carapace chestnut brown with darker eye region; chelicerae dark brown; legs yellowish brown; abdomen grey to pale grey, often dorsally pale grey with a darker grey pattern of stripes and chevrons: anteriorly with 3‒4 pairs of oblique stripes, posteriorly with 5‒6 chevrons; venter pale. Spination: Basal spination but ventral spines on Mt I and prolateral spines on Fe IV mostly missing.

Male palp ( Figs 147‒151 , 162‒164 ): Tibial apophysis slightly curved, as long as the tibia’s diameter, very asymmetrical, dorsal margin strongly truncate in distal half ( Figs 147 , 163 ); median apophysis with relatively long hook; embolic apophysis curved a bit at base only, then almost straight, directed anteriorly, terminally pointed ( Figs 149 , 164 ); embolus hidden by large embolic apophysis.

Epigyne: Epigyne slightly longer than wide, pro-fovea as long as fovea, anterior margin straight, poorly marked ( Figs 151 , 165 ); fovea somewhat longer than wide, pointed posteriorly; areola semi-circular, with anteromedian angularity; large and rounded lateral pockets, double the size of the receptacles ( Figs 152‒153 , 166 ).

Further material examined. AFRICA: ALGERIA, Alger, Birtouta (N36°38'2” E2°56'56”), 1♂ 1♀, pitfalls in orange garden, V.2012, S. Bouseksou leg. ( COA), Blida, Atlas Blidéen, Pic Abdelkader (N36°24’14” E2°50’6”), 1650m, 1♂, pitfalls in Cedrus atlantica forest, 27.VI.1989, idem, 1000m, 6♂, pitfalls in grassland in orchard, 27.VI.1989, O. Abrous leg. ( CRB), M’sila, Aïn Oghrab (N35°0’52” E4°6’24”), 1♂, E. Simon leg., Coll. Simon 12794 ( MNHN AR15710), Tizi Ouzou, Chabet El Ameur (N36°37'4” E3°44'9”), 250m, 1♂, stones in fields, 20.IV.1990, R. Bosmans leg ( CRB). MOROCCO, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Beni Mellal, Khemis des Oulad Ayad (N32°11'04” E6°55'45”), 400m, 2♂, stones in irrigated fields, 16.IV.2012, J. Van Keer leg. ( CJVK), Fès-Meknès, Missour (N33°2’24” W3°59’52”), 1♂, pitfalls in steppe, 24.IV.2002, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB), Souss-Massa, Agadir (N30°25’50” W9°37’24”), 220m, 1♂ 1♀, stones around old Kasbah, 28.IV.2012, J. Van Keer leg. ( CJVK), Igherm E. (N30°8’11” W8°23’38”), 1790m, 1♀, stony steppe, 24.IV.2012, J. Van Keer leg. ( CJVK), TUNISIA, Beja, Nefza, road to Zouaraa beach (N36°59'30” E8°58' 2), 1♂, in maquis, 1.V.2006, P. Pantini & A. Sassu leg. ( MCSNB), Gafsa, Djébel Biada, S. Sened (N34°24'44” E9°13'56”), 1100m, 1♂ 2♀, stones in steppe, 9.V.2006, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB). EUROPE: PORTUGAL, Algarve, Castelo de Aljezur (N37°19'0” W8°48'47”), 1♂ 1♀, stones in grassland near castle, 22.V.2007, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB). GIBRALTAR (N36°7'34” W5°20'43”), 2♂, E. Simon leg., Coll. Simon 14200 ( MNHN AR15704). SPAIN, Málaga, Alozaina (N36°44'53” W4°50'33”), 200m, 1♂, stones in small Quercus suber forest, 9.IV.1999, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB). ITALY, Puglia, Valenzano (N41°2’46” E16°53’1”), 1♂, pitfalls in olive grove, 5.VI.2003, R. Addante leg. ( MCSNB), Sardinia, Sant’Antioco (N39°4’12” E8°27’8”), 1♂, 1970 ( MCSNB), Sicilia, Palermo, Terrasini, Riserva Naturale Orientata Capo Rama (N38°8'22” E13°3’38”), 2♂ 1♀, 15‒25.V.2012, pitfalls in palm grove, C. Cusimano leg. ( MCSNB). BELGIUM, Limburg, Waterschei (N51°0'36” E5°33'6”), 1♂, pitfalls on old mine slag-heap, 23.VIII.1992, M. Janssen leg. (CMJ). FRANCE, Haute-Corse, Scandola Reserve, Île de Gargalu, 42°21’25” E8°34’0”), 1♂, under stones, 2‒16.V.2014, P. Ponel leg. (CPO), Hérault: Clermont l’Hérault (N43°38’59” E3°23’26”), 175m, 1♂, stones in open grassland, 13.V.2015, P. Oger leg. (CPO), Pyrénées-Orientales, Banyuls-sur-Mer (42°28’54” E3°7’42”), 3♂ 1♀, as D. macellinus, Coll. Berland ( MNHN AR9225), Corneilla de Conflent, Mas Forges, (N42°33’59” E2°22’50”), 750m, 1♂, pitfalls in deciduous forest, 8.VI‒8.VII.1982, R. Bosmans leg. ( CRB).

Distribution. Haplodrassus securifer sp. n. appears to have a large distribution area: Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, France, Belgium and Italy (map 7). In Algeria, it was recorded in the Central North but also in the Hoggar in the South, in Morocco in the North and in the South, in Spain in Andalucía, in France in the South and in Italy in Puglia, Sardinia and Sicilia. The only record in Belgium is remarkable and is probably an introduction. The species was found on an old slag-heap of charcoal enjoying an exceptional warm microclimate. Some other rare Belgian species were found there, such as Agroecina lineata ( Simon, 1878) and Gnaphosa opaca Herman, 1879 ( Janssen 1994) . Although pitfalls traps were used during two consecutive years, only one male was found.

Figures

FIGURES 145–153. Haplodrassus securifer sp. n. (Tunisia, Gafsa). 145. Male, dorsal aspect; 146. Female, dorsal aspect; 147. Male palpal tibia, dorsolateral view; 148. Male left palp, retrolateral view; 149. Idem, ventral view; 150. Idem, prolateral view; 151. Epigyne, ventral view; 152. Vulva, ventral view. 153. Vulva, dorsal view.

FIGURES 162–171. Figs 162‒166. Haplodrassus securifer sp. n. (Tunisia, Gafsa). 162. Male left palp, ventral view; 163. Male palpal tibia, dorsolateral view; 164. Embolic apophysis, ventral view; 165. Epigyne, ventral view; 166. Vulva, ventral view. Figs 167‒171. Haplodrassus signifer (male from Crete, Nida Plateau, female from France, Corse). 167. Male left palp, ventral view; 168. Male palpal tibia, dorsolateral view; 169. Embolic apophysis, ventral view; 170. Epigyne, ventral view; 171. Vulva, ventral view.

FIGURES 232–240. Haplodrassus macellinus (France, male from Crozes-Hermitage, female from La Ciotat) 232. Male, dorsal aspect; 233. Female, dorsal aspect; 234. Idem, ventral aspect; 235. Male palp, retrolateral view; 236. Idem, ventral view; 237. Male palpal tibia, dorsolateral view; 238. Epigyne, ventral view; 239. Vulva, ventral view; 240. Idem, dorsal view. LS = Lateral sclerite.