Berlandina artaxerxes, Zamani & Chatzaki & Esyunin & Marusik, 2021

Zamani, Alireza, Chatzaki, Maria, Esyunin, Sergei L. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2021, One new genus and nineteen new species of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Iran, with other taxonomic considerations, European Journal of Taxonomy 751 (1), pp. 68-114 : 74-76

Berlandina artaxerxes sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AA010096-605E-4BFD-A7D7-8797A2B89B34

Fig. 3A–D

Diagnosis

The new species is most similar to B. venatrix (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874) and B. koponeni Marusik, Fomichev & Omelko, 2014 by having a broad embolar base (Eb) with a similar sclerotized apical outgrowth (Ao) parallel to a bent, long embolus and a basal process (Po). In the new species, the two

elements of the embolar base are pointed (vs shallowly divided with the process small and curved in B. koponeni ; see Marusik et al. 2014: figs 32, 34, and the basal process bearing a very pointed sclerotized tooth in B. venatrix ; see Levy 1995: fig. 57, not present in B. artaxerxes sp. nov.). Also, the median apophysis in B. artaxerxes sp. nov. is bent prolaterally and located under the apical outgrowth’s curve (vs straight and longer, reaching the height of the embolus in B. koponeni ; see Marusik et al. 2014: figs 34–35).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to Ardashir I (equivalent to Greek Artaxérxēs), the founder of the Sasanian Empire.

Type material

Holotype IRAN • ♂; Yazd Province, Abarqu ; 31°13′ N, 53°25′ E; 1481 m a.s.l.; 15 Apr. 2004; V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti leg.; SMF.

Description

Male

Habitus as in Fig. 3A . Total length 5.55. Carapace 2.95 long, 2.15 wide. Eye sizes and interdistance of PMEs:AME = 0.13, ALE = 0.13, PME = 0.13, PLE = 0.15, PME–PME = 0.07. Carapace, sternum, labium, chelicerae and maxillae yellowish brown; carapace with small dark submarginal patches. Chelicera with a small tooth on promargin and a serrated, bifurcate keel on retromargin. Legs the same color as carapace, without annulations. Abdomen gray, without any clear pattern, although some brown markings are visible. Spinnerets light brown and uniform in color. Measurements of legs: I: 7.00 (1.95, 1.12, 1.54, 1.31, 1.08), II: 6.29 (1.68, 1.08, 1.24, 1.26, 1.03), III: 5.04 + missing Ta (1.62, 0.99, 0.94, 1.49, Ta missing), IV: 8.58 (2.25, 1.20, 1.49, 2.39, 1.25).

Palp as in Fig. 3B–D . Tibia with massive apophysis, as long as tibia, pointed tip directed dorso-anteriorly with angle about 45° to the axis of the palp; cymbium ovoid, 1.6 times as long as wide; median apophysis long, oblique, about as long as tibial apophysis; embolar base (Eb) complex, with 2 outgrowths: a basal pointed process (Po) weakly sclerotized, and a sclerotized apical outgrowth (Ao) [tip appears broken] parallel to a bent, long embolus; embolus proper gently curved and making a course of about 90°.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Yazd Province, central Iran.

Figures

Fig. 3. A–D. Berlandina artaxerxes sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (SMF). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B–D. Palp, ventral, proventral and retrolateral views. –E–G. Berlandina mesopotamica Al-Khazali,2020, ♀ (MHNG). E. Habitus, dorsal view. F–G. Epigyne, ventral and dorsal views. Abbreviations: Ao = apical outgrowth; Eb = embolar base; Po = pointed process. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.