Drassodex lesserti (Schenkel, 1936) Schenkel, 1936

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 : 24-26

Drassodex lesserti (Schenkel, 1936) stat. nov.

Figs 49–57

Drassus hispanus Simon, 1878: 121 , pl. 15, fig. 7.

Drassodes hispanus Simon, 1893: 360 , figs 317, 320; Lessert, 1905: 189, figs 4–6; Lessert, 1910: 49, figs 38–40; Simon, 1914: 134, 208, figs 223–226 (in part); Bonnet, 1956: 1567 (in part);? Hubert, 1979: 112, figs 115–116.

Drassodes heeri Lessert, 1904: 283 , pl. 5, fig. 5.

Drassodes hispanus lesserti Schenkel, 1936: 315 , fig. 1 (male holotype, examined); Roewer, 1954: 387; Canard, 2005: 190.

Drassodex hispanus lesserti Platnick, 2008 .

Remarks. Schenkel (1936) described the subspecies Drassodes hispanus lesserti from Switzerland and indicated that this form had an intermediate body size and the shape of the terminal embolar apophysis between that of Drassodes hispanus and Drassodes validior ( sensu Simon 1914 ). He essentially characterized it by a minute detail in terminal embolar apophysis, a small and weak denticulation which emerged before its enlarged tip. He also specified that this denticulation had been drawn by Lessert (1905, 1910), but not by Simon (1914). After examination of the material viewed by Simon, we could see that all the male specimens had this very weak denticulation, but often it is not clearly visible. The subspecies is here considered valid, but as not related to D. hispanus , it is elevated to the species rank.

Type material: Holotype: male from Switzerland, Solothurn Canton, Gempen, Gempenstollen, sub “ Drassodes hispanus var. lesserti ” ( NMB 1342b).

Other material examined. SWITZERLAND. No specific locality: 1 Ƥ, possibly examined by Schenkel (1936) ( NMB 1342a); 1 Ƥ, R. Lessert, 1907, Simon collection n° 23821 ( MNHN AR 9252). FRANCE. No specific locality: 8 Ƥ and 4 3, “ D. hispanus forme typique”, Simon collection n° 23828 ( MNHN AR 9246); 1 Ƥ, Dalmas collection n° M68 ( MNHN AR 9441); 1 Ƥ, Dresco collection n° 1167 ( MNHN). Mixed tubes: “ Alpes, Auvergne, Cévennes ”: 19 Ƥ, Simon collection n° 13959 ( MNHN AR 9248); “ Ardèche: Mézilhac, 18 novembre 1913 ” and “ Rhône: Saint-Germain-au-Mont-d’Or, novembre 1913 ”: 4 Ƥ and 1 3, Dalmas collection n° M196 ( MNHN AR 9255). Seine-et-Marne: 1 Ƥ, Forêt de Fontainebleau (“Forêt de Bleau”), June 12, 1959, E. Dresco, Dresco collection ( MNHN); Tarn: 12 Ƥ and 7 3, Castelnau-Montmiral, Forêt domaniale de Grésigne, 250–350 m, May-June 2007, N. Gouix, H. Brustel & L. Valladres, Déjean collection. Jura: 5 Ƥ and 2 3, Arbois, Oct. 1916, Simon collection n° 24795 ( MNHN AR 9245). Hérault: 1 Ƥ, Gorges de Colombières, April 5, 1980, Bosmans collection. Pyrénées-Orientales: 1 Ƥ, Banyuls-sur-Mer, L. Berland, Berland collection ( MNHN AR 9543). Haute-Savoie: 1 Ƥ, Grotte de Sévrier, Mar. 1967, L. Deharveng, Dresco collection ( MNHN). Vo sg e s: 1 Ƥ, April 1982, M. Janssen, Bosmans collection.

Diagnosis. D. lesserti is very similar to D. validior , but can be distinguished by its much smaller terminal embolar apophysis ( Fig. 51 ), more curved forward, greatly enlarged distally, but with a membranous denticulation, sometimes minute, emerging from its centre ( Fig. 57 ), by its wider atrium ( Table 1 ), transverse oval ( Figs 49, 53 ) or subtriangular ( Fig. 55 ), and the shape of the membranous coils, attenuated distally ( Figs 50, 54, 56 ).

Description. Male dimensions (holotype): total length 10.48. Carapace 4.58 long, 3.57 wide. Leg I: femur 3.91, patella 2.15, tibia 3.55, metatarsus 3.10, tarsus 1.94, total 14.65. Leg II: femur 3.32, patella 1.85, tibia 2.70, metatarsus 2.51, tarsus 1.70, total 12.08. Leg III: femur 3.09, patella 1.66, tibia 2.21, metatarsus 2.30, tarsus 1.43, total 10.69. Leg IV: femur 4.02, patella 1.89, tibia 3.27, metatarsus 3.47, tarsus 1.72, total 14.37. Leg spination: tibiae: III v1 p-1p(2)-2; metatarsi: IV v2 (1r)-1p-2, r1(0)-2-2. RTA bifid, superior prong short and strongly curved, inferior prong large, subrectangular and as long as superior branch ( Fig. 52 ); median apophysis pointing inwards; embolar coil twice looped, spiralling upwards along two axes, with a short, weak and curved enveloping scoop-shaped terminal apophysis, greatly enlarged distally, a membranous denticulation, sometimes minute, emerging from its centre ( Fig. 57 ).

Female dimensions (NMB 1342a): total length 10.76. Carapace 5.11 long, 3.86 wide. Leg I: femur 3.70, patella 2.10, tibia 3.13, metatarsus 2.77, tarsus 1.81, total 13.51. Leg II: femur 3.58, patella 1.93, tibia 2.75, metatarsus 2.60, tarsus 1.67, total 12.53. Leg III: femur 3.26, patella 1.80, tibia 2.32, metatarsus 2.42, tarsus 1.46, total 11.26. Leg IV: femur 4.27, patella 2.03, tibia 3.50, metatarsus 3.68, tarsus 1.77, total 15.25. Leg spination: tibiae: II v0-1p(2)-0; III v1 p-1p(2)-2; IV v2 (1p)-2-2; metatarsi: IV v2 (1r)-1p-2. Atrium broadly transverse oval, very much wider than high (0.52–0.68 wide, 0.31–0.41 high, ratio 1.45–1.77), anteriorly with a small rounded ( Figs 49, 53, 55 ) or rectangular tongue; copulatory openings large, scarcely separated; membranous coils attenuated distally, with external contour followed by coiled ducts looped around twice ( Figs 50, 54, 56 ).

Distribution. France, Switzerland.

Figures

FIGURES 49 – 57. Drassodex lesserti (Schenkel, 1936) (MNHN AR 9246). 49 – 50, 53 – 56 epigyne (49, 53, 55 ventral view; 50, 54, 56 dorsal view); 51 – 52, 57 left male palp (51 ventral view, 52 retrolateral view, 57 details of the embolar coil tip, showing variation of terminal apophysis).