Zodariellum turanicum, Zamani & Marusik, 2022

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2022, New taxonomic considerations in Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae), with notes on the presence of cymbial diverticulum in different zodariid genera, Zootaxa 5178 (2), pp. 161-177 : 175

Zodariellum turanicum sp. n.

Figs 1C , 2D , 3D , 4D , 5D , 6D , 9D , 12A

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( ZMMU), TURKMENISTAN: Lebap Region: Kugitang-Tau Mnt. range, environs of Khodzhapil , [37°56'N 66°37'E], ca 1100 m, on the ground, 20.05.1985 (A.V. Tanasevitch).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to Turan, a historical region in Central Asia.

Diagnosis. The new species has abdominal pattern similar to those of Z. zebra and Z. testaceofasciatum , two species described not far from each other (eastern Uzbekistan and western Tajikistan) and currently known only from females. It differs from the males of its congeners by having two transverse light stripes on the abdomen (vs. lacking in other species), and a V-shaped dark marking on a light carapace (vs. carapace uniformly coloured or with small longitudinal spots along the fovea). The male palp of Z. turanicum sp. n. is most similar to that of Z. bactrianum by having two processes in the distal half of RTA, but can be differentiated by the angled anterodorsal part of RTA (Ap) (vs. rounded), and branches located at the same level (vs. mesal one [=closer to cymbium] located more posteriorly).

Description. Male. Habitus as in Fig. 1C . Total length 3.55. Carapace 1.60 long, 1.50 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.18, ALE: 0.10, PME: 0.10, PLE: 0.08. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium and maxillae yellowish. Carapace light coloured with irregular V-shaped marking. Legs slightly lighter than carapace.Abdomen dorsally dark maroon, with 2 pale transverse stripes in anterior half and 3 obtuse triangular spots in anterior half; venter light beige. Measurements of legs: I: 6.78 (1.82, 0.62, 1.59, 1.77, 0.98), II: 6.23 (1.67, 0.55, 1.37, 1.78, 0.86), III: 6.57 (1.77, 0.61, 1.38, 1.91, 0.90), IV: 8.22 (2.34, 0.63, 1.88, 2.44, 0.93).

Palp as in Figs 2D , 3D , 4D , 5D , 6D , 9D . Tibial apophysis longer than tibia, 2.3 times longer than wide in proximal part, tip inclined, with anterodorsal part (Ap) angled; dorsal part with 2 processes originated at anterior 1/3, processes of subequal length and shape and located at the same level (one behind the other), ectal margin smoothly rounded in ventral view; cymbium length/width ratio 1.8; embolus originating at ca. 4:30 o’clock position.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Lebap Region, northeastern Turkmenistan ( Fig. 12A )

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. turanicum sp. n. (C), Z. nenilini (D–E) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (F), dorsal view. A–D, F males; E female. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B, F), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E). A–E ventral view; F dorsal view of cymbium, showing cymbial diverticulum. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Eb—base of embolus, Di—diverticulum, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branch(es) of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spur of tegular apophysis, Tg—tegular apophysis, To—triangular outgrowth, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 3. SEM images of the male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), ventral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Eb—base of embolus, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spur of tegular apophysis, Tg—tegular apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 4. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ap—anterodorsal part of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Cn—conductor, Di—diverticulum, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 5. SEM images of the male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Di—diverticulum, Eb—base of embolus, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 6. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. SEM images of the male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B–C) and Z. turanicum sp. n. (D). A anteroretrolateral view; B ventroretrolateral view; C anteroventral view; D anterior view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Eb—base of embolus, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Tr— retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 12. Distribution records of Zodariellum spp. A: 1) Z. asiaticum, 2) Z. bactrianum, 3) Z. bekuzini, 4) Z. continentale, 5) Z. proszynskii, 6) Z. spasskyi and Z. zebra, 7) Z. surprisum, 8) Z. sytchevskajae, 9) Z. turanicum sp. n., 10) Z. turkmenicum sp. n., 11) Z. tadzhikum, 12) Z. testaceofasciatum, 13) Z. volgouralense, 14) Z. nenilini (in part, excluding records from Mongolia). B: 1) Z. nenilini (in part, records from Mongolia), 2) Z. schmidti, 3) Z. mongolicum, 4) Z. chaoyangense, 5) Z. furcum, 6) Z. hunanense, 7) Z. planum. A single point may refer to several closely located records.