Proszynskiana mongolica, Logunov, 2024

Logunov, Dmitri V., 2024, A new species of Proszynskiana Logunov, 1996 from Mongolia (Arachnida: Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 5501 (3), pp. 497-500 : 497-500

Proszynskiana mongolica sp. nov.

Figs 1–10 , Map

Types. HOLOTYPE: MONGOLIA: Khovd Province, BuLgan, nr Ovkhood-UuL (=Uvkhod-uLa) MT. (45°48ʹN, 91°07ʹE), 1200 m a.s.L., graveL deserT, Leg. A.A. Fomichev, 27.05.2015, ♂ ( ZISP, ARA_ARA_0000814 ) .— PARATYPE: same data as for hoLoTYpe: ♂ ( ZISP, ARA_ARA_0000815 ) .

Etymology. The species is named after the country of origin— Mongolia.

Diagnosis. In the shape of the functional embolus with a wide, round tip, the male of the new species is most similar to that of P. aeluriforma Logunov & Rakov, 1998 from southern Uzbekistan, from which it can be easily distinguished by the notably thinner functional embolus, with the narrower membrane connecting the true embolus and the terminal apophysis (cf. Figs 4–5 with figs 51–54 in Logunov & Rakov 1998); the functional embolus of P. mongolica sp. nov. is also bent apically, as seen in dorso-median view ( Fig. 4 ), which is not the case of P. aeluriforma .

Description. Male (holotype, Figs 1–10 ). Measurements. Carapace: 1.98 long, 1.28 wide, 0.85 high. Abdomen: 1.65 long, 1.25 wide. Ocular area: 0.88 long, 1.00 wide anteriorly, 0.90 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.38. Clypeal height 0.09. Diameter of AME 0.33. Length of leg segments: I 0.98 + 0.55 + 0.68 + 0.48 + 0.40 (3.94); II 1.00 + 0.55 + 0.63 + 0.50 + 0.38 (3.06); III 1.23 + 0.65 + 0.73 + 0.78 + 0.55 (3.94); IV 1.18 + 0.58 + 0.83 + 1.65 + 0.58 (4.82). Leg formula 4312. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-2, rt 1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-1-2; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-1-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-1ap; Mt pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 1-1-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-1; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1-2ap, v 2ap. Colouration (in alcohol; Figs 6–8, 10 ). Carapace dark brown, with black eye field, covered with long recumbent white scales. Sternum brown, covered with white protruded hairs. Endites and labium yellowish brown, with white tips. Chelicerae yellowish brown. Abdomen entire dark grey-brown, with no colour pattern, covered with long recumbent white scales and its front third with a dark brown, shiny scutum. Legs I: yellow, but ventral sides of Pt and Tb dark brown, and Mt and Tr brown. Legs II–IV: yellow, tinged with brown. Palps yellow, with brown cymbia and bulbs. Palpal structure as in Figs 1–5 : retrolateral tibial apophysis triangle, with wide base and pointed tip, directed apicad; dorsal tibial apophysis absent; cymbium elongated, 1.6 times longer than wide, without retrolateral ridge or process; functional embolus narrow, with a round tip which is bent mediad (seen in dorso-median view).

Female unknown.

Distribution. Only the type locality (Map).

MAP. Collecting localities of eight Proszynskiana species (top) and the geographic range of the genus Proszynskiana Logunov, 1996 (bottom).

Remarks. Given the data in the present paper, the genus Proszynskiana currently consists of eight valid species ( Logunov 1996; Logunov & Rakov 1998; Azarkina & Zamani 2019; present data): viz., two species each are known from Turkmenistan and Iran, and one species each from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. All species are known from both sexes, except for P. aeluriforma and P. mongolica sp. nov.; i.e. two out of eight (25%). Interestingly, all the Proszynskiana species remain known only from type series and type localities (Map). This can be partly explained by the unusual habitats where Proszynskiana species occur, for example, as described for P. iranica Logunov, 1996 and P. zonshteini Logunov, 1996 ( Logunov 1996), the lower parts of clayey cliffs and slopes of southern exposure, practically without vegetation, among stones and on cliff walls. Such badland-like desert habitats look virtually uninhabited (D. Logunov, pers. observation) and rarely draw the attention of specialists.

The finding of the new Proszynskiana species in Mongolia significantly extends the known genus range eastwards. The genus is known from desert regions of central Iran (Lut Desert), Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts of the Turan lowland, eastward to Inner Asia (north-western Mongolia) (Map); the occurrence of this genus in northern Afghanistan and western China (e.g., Xinjiang) is very likely. The outlined distribution of Proszynskiana is essentially restricted to the eastern half of the Region of Ancient Mediterranean (sensu Kryzhanovsky 2002: inset 1), and the genus itself can be classified as Irano-Turanian (sensu Pravdin & Mishchenko 1980). The range of Proszynskiana is very similar (even its configuration) to that of the desert lycosid genus Karakumosa Logunov & Ponomarev, 2020 , which is known from the eastern Caucasus and south Iran, throughout the Turan lowland, eastward to Xinjiang province of China ( Logunov & Ponomarev 2020; Shafaie et al. 2022; Wang et al. 2023). New species and/or records of Proszynskiana are to be expected from across its entire known range, but also from Afghanistan, western China (Xinjiang) and apparently northern Pakistan and north-western India (e.g., Thar Desert, Rajasthan) as well. At least, the jumping spider faunas of Afghanistan and Pakistan remain practically unexplored to date, e.g., see Logunov (2021) for a discussion.

Figures

FIGURES 1–10. Proszynskiana mongolica sp. nov., male holotype: 1 palp, ventral view; 2 same, retrolateral view; 3 embolic division, dorsal view; 4 same, dorso-median view; 5 same, ventral view; 6 body, dorsal view; 7 same, lateral view; 8 carapace, front view; 9 left chelicerae, front view; 10 body, ventral view. Scales: 6–8, 10, 0.5 mm, 1–5, 9, 0.1 mm.