Karakumosa, Logunov & Ponomarev, 2020

Logunov, Dmitri V. & Ponomarev, Alexander V., 2020, Karakumosa gen. nov., a new Central Asian genus of fossorial wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae: Lycosinae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 275-313 : 276-280

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.35929/RSZ.0021

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6983812

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/ED7D8797-FF96-3F40-FC74-23936C9B8330

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Karakumosa
status

gen. nov.

Genus Karakumosa View in CoL gen. nov.

Type species: Karakumosa repetek View in CoL sp. nov. from the Repetek Reserve , Karakumy Desert , Turkmenistan, Central Asia (male holotype deposited in the ISEA) .

Diagnosis: The genus Karakumosa gen. nov. belongs to the subfamily Lycosinae (sensu Zyuzin, 1993; see Dondale, 1986; Murphy et al., 2006; Piacentini & Ramírez, 2019) and is most similar to Zyuzicosa Logunov, 2010 (see Logunov, 2010, 2012). Both genera have a bipartite/biramous synembolus, the same SER/AER ratio (more than 1.3), tarsi of all legs with scopulae and spinules, and a prolatero-apical origin of the embolus. The new genus differs from all other Central Asian Lycosinae genera (see Logunov, 2010: table 2), including Zyuzicosa , by the following combination of characters: black ventral colour pattern of abdomen absent ( Figs 25 View Figs 22-29 , 52 View Figs 49-54 , 91 View Figs 89-92 , etc.); median apophysis consisting of two flat plates ( Figs 55 View Figs 55-58 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : OP, IP); synembolus with two acutely pointed lamellae ( Figs 57 View Figs 55-58 , 98-99 View Figs 93-102 , 116, 118 View Figs 115-125 , 129 View Figs 126-135 , 149 View Figs 142-154 , 163 View Figs 161-168 , 175 View Figs 173-186 ); epigynal atrium at least twice longer than wide; and septal pedicel absent ( Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 44 View Figs 39-48 , 61 View Figs 59-69 , 72 View Figs 70-75 , 85 View Figs 83-88 , 96 View Figs 93-102 ).

Etymology: The new generic name is composed of two parts: ‘Karakum’, referring to the regional name for the Karakumy Desert where the type species and some other species were discovered, combined with the ending of the generic name Lycosa (meaning ‘tear like a wolf’; see Cameron, 2005: 303), to which the majority of large burrowing Holarctic wolf spiders are currently assigned. The generic name is feminine in gender.

Description: Large to very large fossorial wolf spiders, with body lengths 20.23±3.23 (n=8) in males, and 22.9±4.05 (n=7) in females.

Carapace: In both sexes relatively low, with a clearly marked gradual descent from cephalic region towards abdomen ( Figs 26 View Figs 22-29 , 35 View Figs 30-38 , 54 View Figs 49-54 , 78 View Figs 77-82 , 138 View Figs 136-141 , 158 View Figs 156-160 ), densely clothed with white or yellowish white setae, and with prominent dense white or yellowish marginal pubescence; all three characters are typical of lycosid burrowers (see Zyuzin, 1990).

Chelicerae: Large, vertical, their proximal halves/twothirds of frontal side densely clothed with white or yellowish setae ( Figs 32 View Figs 30-38 , 53 View Figs 49-54 , 79 View Figs 77-82 , 136 View Figs 136-141 ); cheliceral groove with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth ( Figs 144 View Figs 142-154 , 177 View Figs 173-186 ).

Eyes: AER procurved and distinctly (1.3-1.4 times) shorter than SER ( Figs 32 View Figs 30-38 , 53 View Figs 49-54 , 136 View Figs 136-141 ); PME/AME ratio 1.7-2.5.

Clypeus: Narrow, its height equal or 1.3-1.7 times shorter than AME diameter.

Labium: Visibly wider than long (length/width ratio 0.6- 0.8).

Sternum: Ovoid, densely covered with white setae in both sexes (e.g. Figs 23 View Figs 22-29 , 49, 52 View Figs 49-54 , 137 View Figs 136-141 ).

Abdomen: Venter in both sexes without black pattern (e.g. Figs 25 View Figs 22-29 , 52 View Figs 49-54 , 91 View Figs 89-92 ), thus distinct from the majority of Palaearctic burrowing lycosine genera described to date (see Simon, 1876; Logunov, 2010, 2012).

Legs: leg formula IV,I,II,III in both sexes, rarely IV,II,I,III in some males; all segments densely covered with white setae; in both sexes, metatarsi and tarsi I-II ventrally with well-developed scopulae and longitudinal rows of spinules (sometimes poorly visible; Figs 36 View Figs 30-38 , 63 View Figs 59-69 , 140 View Figs 136-141 ), tarsi III-IV only with ventral longitudinal rows of spinules (in some specimens a scopula could be developed on lateral sides of segments only; Fig. 141 View Figs 136-141 ).

Female pedipalp: With a single tarsal claw (e.g. Figs 26 View Figs 22-29 , 35 View Figs 30-38 , 138 View Figs 136-141 ).

Female copulatory organs: Epigyne with a well pronounced longitudinal atrium being at least two times longer than wide; edges at proximal end of atrium forming two round convergent lips, these usually markedly sclerotized and darker (brown or russet) than nearby cuticle (e.g. Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 61 View Figs 59-69 , 85 View Figs 83-88 ); septal pedicel absent; median septum essentially reduced to posterior transverse, slightly convex plate of variable shape (e.g. Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 96 View Figs 93-102 ); spermathecae tube-shaped, only slightly wider than or of same width as narrow and short insemination ducts (e.g. Figs 28 View Figs 22-29 , 43 View Figs 39-48 , 62 View Figs 59-69 , 121 View Figs 115-125 ).

Male pedipalp: Femur length equal to that of patella+tibia ( Figs 15-16 View Figs 12-21 ); cymbium symmetrical, twice as long as wide, with almost round alveolus ( Fig. 65 View Figs 59-69 ), its length about equal to that of palpal tibia; distal part of cymbium 1.1-1.3 times shorter than alveolus length ( Fig. 65 View Figs 59-69 ); cymbium with a cluster of blunt, rigid and straight bristles on its tips ( Figs 45 View Figs 39-48 , 69 View Figs 59-69 ) as typical of lycosid burrowers ( Zyuzin, 1990, 1993).

Male copulatory organs: Subtegulum round and comparatively small, situated in proximal-mesal position ( Figs 9 View Figs 2-11 , 46 View Figs 39-48 , 56 View Figs 55-58 , 98 View Figs 93-102 : St); tegulum round and broad, in unexpanded palp clearly visible only on prolateralproximal side of bulbus ( Figs 55 View Figs 55-58 , 98 View Figs 93-102 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : T); median apophysis wide (usually wider than long) and broad ( Figs 9 View Figs 2-11 , 55 View Figs 55-58 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : OP, IP), folded along its proximal edge and consisting of two (outer and inner) flat plates, the outer plate bearing a proximal extension and a median tooth ( Figs 56 View Figs 55-58 , 98 View Figs 93-102 : MT, PE); median tooth rarely singular and finger-shaped ( Figs 30 View Figs 30-38 , 42 View Figs 39-48 ), usually consisting of a lateral claw and a median edge bearing micro-teeth (indicated by arrow in Figs 123 View Figs 115-125 , 128 View Figs 126-135 ) and in some species with a low serrate flange at its foot (indicated by arrow in Figs 125 View Figs 115-125 , 134 View Figs 126-135 , 152 View Figs 142-154 ); synembolus biramous, with two acutely pointed lamellae ( Figs 57 View Figs 55-58 , 98 View Figs 93-102 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : Se); a triangular hyaline conductor present, well-developed and pointed ventrad ( Figs 12 View Figs 12-21 , 56 View Figs 55-58 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : C); embolus thin, with a rather wide and prominent pars pendula ( Figs 4 View Figs 2-11 , 116 View Figs 115-125 , 129 View Figs 126-135 ), its origin in a prolatero-apical position, with only the embolic tip visible in between or beneath branches of the synembolus in unexpanded palp ( Fig. 57 View Figs 55-58 ).

Comments: Within the Lycosoidea the transverse median apophysis is considered a typical feature of the Lycosidae ( Griswold, 1993) and a synapomorphy of the Lycosinae ( Dondale, 1986) , although its shape varies. In Karakumosa gen. nov. the median apophysis is large and composite, consisting of two distinct plates that appear fused along their proximal edges: the outer and the inner plates (e.g. Figs 9 View Figs 2-11 , 56 View Figs 55-58 , 118 View Figs 115-125 : OP, IP). Such a complex structure of the median apophysis is currently regarded as unique within the Lycosinae and within the entire family Lycosidae . Of the lycosid genera known to us, only two have a comparably complex structure of the median apophysis: Oculicosa Zyuzin, 1993 ( Logunov & Gromov, 2011: figs 1-2) and Zyuzicosa ( Logunov, 2010: figs 34-39). The outer plate of the median apophysis of Karakumosa gen. nov., with its proximal extension and median tooth of MA, looks like an apomorphic modification of the prominent transverse chitinous ridge of the median apophysis in Oculicosa . Obviously, both structures are homologous.

Another unique feature of Karakumosa gen. nov. is its biramous synembolus, consisting of two thin and very acutely pointed lamellae (e.g. Figs 4 View Figs 2-11 , 57 View Figs 55-58 , 67 View Figs 59-69 , 116 View Figs 115-125 ). The only other lycosid genus with a comparable conformation of the synembolus is Zyuzicosa ( Logunov, 2010: figs 64, 66), but in the latter genus it consists of one acutely pointed lamella and a wide, strongly sclerotized base.

In the absence of a phylogenetic analysis of the Palaearctic genera of Lycosidae (but see Murphy et al., 2006; Piacentini & Ramírez, 2019), it is difficult to establish whether both unique features of Karakumosa gen. nov. are primitive or derived (they are likely to be derived). Yet, as a provisional hypothesis to be further tested, we consider both of them as the putative synapomorphies of Karakumosa gen. nov.

We speculate that if the genus Karakumosa gen. nov. was included in one of the two latest phylogenetic analyses of the Lycosidae based on DNA data ( Murphy et al., 2006; Piacentini & Ramírez, 2019), it would likely be placed either within the clade E (sensu Murphy et al., 2006: figs 2-3), somewhere close to Lycosa tarantula ( Linnaeus, 1758) and the clade E1, or within the Lycosinae (sensu Piacentini & Ramírez, 2019: fig. 4), in the branch containing the Palaearctic Lycosa species.

Composition: To date nine species are assigned to Karakumosa gen. nov.: K. alticeps (Kroneberg, 1875) , comb. nov. (♂ ♀, Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan), K. badkhyzica sp. nov. (♂ ♀, Turkmenistan), K. gromovi sp. nov. (♂ ♀, southern Uzbekistan), K. medica ( Pocock, 1889) , comb. nov. (♂ ♀, north-western Afghanistan), K. repetek sp. nov. (♂ ♀, Turkmenistan), K. shmatkoi sp. nov. (♂ ♀, northern Ciscaspian region and Azerbaijan), K. tashkumyr sp. nov. (♂, Kyrgyzstan), K. turanica sp. nov. (♂ ♀, Turkmenistan), K. zyuzini sp. nov. (♂ ♀, Uzbekistan).

Distribution: Central Asia ( Fig. 1 View Fig ): (semi)desert regions of the northern Ciscaspian Region, eastern Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and north-western Afghanistan; the occurrence of this genus in northern and north-eastern Iran and Tajikistan is very likely.

The genus is essentially restricted to the so-called Turan zoogeographic province (sensu Kryzhanovsky, 2002) ( Fig. 1 View Fig ). It is the third genus of fossorial wolf spiders within the currently known Lycosinae that is confined to Central Asia ( Table 1 View Table 1 ). The other two are Oculicosa (see Zyuzin, 1993; Logunov & Gromov, 2011: fig. 6) and Zyuzicosa (see Logunov 2010, 2012: map), but their ranges are markedly smaller and of a different configuration. Karakumosa gen. nov. seems to be a typical Turan genus (sensu Pravdin & Mishchenko, 1980) and an endemic to Central Asia; its geographical range lies within the Turan lowlands of the desert zone. We are unaware of any other Central Asian spider genus that has a distributional pattern similar to that of Karakumosa gen. nov.

Key to the species of Karakumosa View in CoL gen. nov.

The female of K. tashkumyr View in CoL sp. nov. remains unknown and thus is not included here.

1A Males ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2

1B Females ..................................................................................................................................................................10

2A Proximal extension of median apophysis clearly hook-shaped ( Figs 60 View Figs 59-69 , 118 View Figs 115-125 , 150 View Figs 142-154 ) ................................................ 3

2B Proximal extension of median apophysis of a different shape ( Figs 2 View Figs 2-11 , 46 View Figs 39-48 , 83 View Figs 83-88 , 98 View Figs 93-102 ) ................................................. 5

3A Median tooth of median apophysis with a low serrate flange at its foot (indicated by arrow in Figs 125 View Figs 115-125 , 134 View Figs 126-135 , 152 View Figs 142-154 ) .................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

3B Median tooth of median apophysis without such flange ( Figs 66 View Figs 59-69 , 74-75 View Figs 70-75 ) ...................................... gromovi View in CoL sp. nov.

4A Inner plate of median apophysis as wide as outer plate, clearly visible in ventral view (indicated by arrow in Fig. 148 View Figs 142-154 ); tips of both synembolic lamellae markedly bent downward ( Fig. 149 View Figs 142-154 ) ............................. tashkumyr View in CoL sp. nov.

4B Inner plate of median apophysis comparatively narrower and almost hidden beneath outer plate (indicated by arrow in Fig. 118 View Figs 115-125 ); synembolic lamellae straight or with tips only slightly bent downward ( Fig. 116 View Figs 115-125 ) ................... ........................................................................................................................................................ shmatkoi View in CoL sp. nov.

5A Proximal extension of median apophysis prominent ( Figs 46 View Figs 39-48 , 83 View Figs 83-88 , 98 View Figs 93-102 ) ................................................................... 6

5B Proximal extension of median apophysis not prominent ( Fig. 174 View Figs 173-186 ) .................................................. zyuzini View in CoL sp. nov.

6A Proximal extension of median apophysis spade/spatula-like, as wide as long ( Figs 46 View Figs 39-48 , 98 View Figs 93-102 ) .................................. 7

6B Proximal extension of median apophysis wider than long ( Figs 2 View Figs 2-11 , 83 View Figs 83-88 , 161 View Figs 161-168 ) .......................................................... 8

7A Median tooth of median apophysis finger-shaped ( Figs 31 View Figs 30-38 , 42 View Figs 39-48 ) ................................................. badkhyzica View in CoL sp. nov.

7B Median tooth of median apophysis bifurcated at its tip ( Fig. 100 View Figs 93-102 ) ................................................... repetek View in CoL sp. nov.

8A Median tooth of median apophysis flat, without a ventral bulge ( Figs 5 View Figs 2-11 , 164 View Figs 161-168 ) ....................................................... 9

8B Median tooth of median apophysis with a ventral bulge ( Fig. 87 View Figs 83-88 ) ................................................................ medica

9A Proximal extension of median apophysis twice as wide as long, with a markedly pointed prolaterad-directed shoulder ( Fig. 161 View Figs 161-168 ); median tooth quadrangular ( Fig. 164 View Figs 161-168 ) ........................................................... turanica View in CoL sp. nov.

9B Proximal extension of median apophysis triangular, with an obtuse prolaterad-directed shoulder ( Fig. 12 View Figs 12-21 ); median tooth triangular, with a serrate prolateral edge ( Figs 5-8 View Figs 2-11 ) ............................................................................ alticeps View in CoL

10A Edges of epigynal atrium subparallel or slightly bent outward ( Figs 44 View Figs 39-48 , 61 View Figs 59-69 , 72 View Figs 70-75 , 85 View Figs 83-88 ) ........................................... 11

10B Edges of epigynal atrium slanted to each other; atrium anteriorly clearly narrower than posteriorly ( Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 96 View Figs 93-102 ).. ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13

11A Edges of epigynal atrium subparallel ( Figs 61 View Figs 59-69 , 85 View Figs 83-88 ), spermathecae as in Figs 62 View Figs 59-69 , 86 View Figs 83-88 ............................................ 12

11B Edges of epigynal atrium slightly bent outward (biconvex), atrium barrel-shaped ( Fig. 44 View Figs 39-48 ), spermathecae as in Fig. 43 View Figs 39-48 ................................................................................................................................................. badkhyzica View in CoL sp. nov.

12A Posterior transverse plate of epigyne in the shape of an inverted triangle ( Figs 61 View Figs 59-69 , 72 View Figs 70-75 ), spermathecae markedly widened anteriorly ( Figs 62 View Figs 59-69 , 73 View Figs 70-75 ) ..................................................................................................... gromovi View in CoL sp. nov.

12B Posterior transverse plate of epigyne anchor-shaped ( Fig. 85 View Figs 83-88 ), spermathecae not widened anteriorly, worm-shaped ( Fig. 86 View Figs 83-88 ) ......................................................................................................................................................... medica

13A Posterior transverse plate more or less anchor-shaped ( Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 167-168 View Figs 161-168 ), spermathecae curved anticlockwise or subparallel ( Figs 28 View Figs 22-29 , 121 View Figs 115-125 , 166 View Figs 161-168 ) ..............................................................................................................................14

13B Posterior transverse plate dumbbell-shaped ( Fig. 96 View Figs 93-102 ), spermathecae curved clockwise ( Fig. 95 View Figs 93-102 ) ... repetek View in CoL sp. nov.

14A Epigynal atrium markedly narrowed at its anterior end, pawn-shaped ( Figs 27 View Figs 22-29 , 122 View Figs 115-125 ) .......................................... 15

14B Epigynal atrium much less narrower at its anterior end, with almost subparallel lateral edges ( Figs 167 View Figs 161-168 , 179 View Figs 173-186 ) .. 16

15A Posterior transverse plate of epigyne in the shape of a low inverted triangle, epigynal edges strongly sigmoid ( Fig. 122 View Figs 115-125 ); spermathecae markedly swollen in anterior portion ( Fig. 121 View Figs 115-125 ) ........................................... shmatkoi View in CoL sp. nov.

15B Posterior transverse plate of epigyne slightly procurved,epigynal edges indistinctly sigmoid ( Fig. 27 View Figs 22-29 ); spermathecae not swollen anteriorly ( Figs 28-29 View Figs 22-29 ) .............................................................................................................. alticeps View in CoL

16A Posterior transverse plate of epigyne with straight posterior margin ( Fig. 179 View Figs 173-186 ); spermathecae distinctly inclined towards each other ( Fig. 182 View Figs 173-186 ) ............................................................................................................ zyuzini View in CoL sp. nov.

16B Posterior transverse plate of epigyne anchor-shaped, with convex posterior margin ( Fig. 167 View Figs 161-168 ); spermathecae more or less parallel to each other ( Fig. 166 View Figs 161-168 ) .......................................................................................... turanica View in CoL sp. nov.

ISEA

Poland, Krakow, Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Systematic Zoology

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Lycosidae

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