Raveniola diluta, Zonstein, 2024

Zonstein, Sergei L., 2024, A revision of the spider genus Raveniola (Araneae, Nemesiidae). II. Species from Central Asia, European Journal of Taxonomy 967, pp. 1-185 : 50-52

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C08B8027-50CC-417E-BCD4-5183B9FF6738
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4BE24613-AC5B-46ED-83C0-0CC41F64D8A5
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:4BE24613-AC5B-46ED-83C0-0CC41F64D8A5
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Raveniola diluta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Raveniola diluta sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4BE24613-AC5B-46ED-83C0-0CC41F64D8A5 Figs 15 View Figs 10–18 , 50 View Figs 45–53 , 97 View Figs 91–99 , 124 View Figs 118–126 , 151–152 View Figs 148–159 , 182 View Figs 172–183 , 216 View Figs 211–219 , 243 View Figs 238–246 , 273 View Figs 265–273 , 303 View Figs 290–309 , 365 View Figs 364–378 , 429-431 View Figs 429–438 , 471–474 View Figs 466–474 , 526–527 View Figs 522–536 , 589–590 View Figs 584–592 , 699–706, 754

Diagnosis

Within the species group, males of Raveniola diluta sp. nov. differ from other male members in having a longer proximal section of the embolus, combined with a lengthened keel (vs either the presence of a short triangular keel in R. fedotovi or the absence of a raised keel in R. pallens sp. nov. and R. zyuzini sp. nov.; Figs 429–431 View Figs 429–438 , cf. Figs 432–438 View Figs 429–438 ). Females of Raveniola diluta are distinguishable owing to a peculiar structure of the spermathecae, provided with short conical trunks and longer and strictly curved outer branches which are subequal in length to the spermathecal trunks (vs differently built female copulatory organs in other species of the group ( Figs 526–527 View Figs 522–536 , cf. Figs 528–533 View Figs 522–536 ).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a Latin adjective ‘ dilutus/-a/-um ’ meaning ‘light’ or ‘pallid’ and referring to the pale ground color of the specimens belonging to this species; the gender is feminine ( diluta ).

Material examined

Holotype

TAJIKISTAN • ♂; Hissar Mts , Sardai-Miyona Canyon, Hanaka Gorge; 38°50.4′ N, 69°17.6′ E; 1600 m a.s.l.; 4 Oct. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH. GoogleMaps

Paratypes (5 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀)

TAJIKISTAN • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNH • 2 ♂♂; Hissar Mts , Sorvo Canyon, Surhob Gorge, 3 km NW of Soni Village; 38°50.6′ N, 69°24.1′ E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 6–7 Oct. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 1900–2100 m a.s.l.; 17–19 Apr. 1988; SMNH GoogleMaps • 2 ♀♀; Hissar Mts , Varzob Canyon, Kondara Gorge; 38°48.5′ N, 68°48.8′ E; 1300–1600 m a.s.l.; 9 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps .

Additional material (1 ♀ subad., 1 juv.)

TAJIKISTAN • 1 juv.; Hissar Mts , Sardai-Miyona Canyon, Hanaka Gorge; 38°51′ N, 69°17′ E; 1500 m a.s.l.; 4 Oct. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH GoogleMaps • 1 ♀ subad.; Sorvo Canyon , Surhob Gorge, 1.5 km W of Soni Village; 38°49.6′ N, 69°25.5′ E; 1750 m a.s.l.; 5 Jul. 2019; S. Zonstein; SMNH GoogleMaps .

Description

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 15. View Figs 10–18

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 11.20, CL 4.75, CW 4.02, LL 0.34, LW 0.75, SL 2.31, SW 2.03.

COLOUR. Cephalothorax and appendages pale reddish orange; carapace, femora I–III dorsally and entire leg I slightly darker; chelicerae more intensely reddish orange; eye tubercle brown with eyes embedded by wide partially fused blackish rings; abdomen and spinnerets almost uniformly milky white.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 97 View Figs 91–99 . Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 151 View Figs 148–159 . Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13(0.17), ALE 0.19, PLE 0.11, PME 0.12; AME–AME 0.09(0.05), ALE–AME 0.08(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.04, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.29. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 1

mesobasal denticle. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 216 View Figs 211–219 . Maxillae with 7–8 cuspules each.

LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 303 View Figs 290–309 , 373 View Figs 364–378 . Scopula: long (0.8–1.0 segment width), relatively sparse and fine; entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; narrowly divided on tarsus I; widely divided by setae on tarsus II; rudimentary, mixed and widely divided with setae on tarsus III; absent on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 11–15 on metatarsi, 12–14 on tarsi, 9–10 on cymbium. PTC I–III with 8–10 teeth on each margin; PTC IV with 8–9 and 11–12 teeth on inner and outer margins, respectively.

SPINATION. Palp: femur d4, pd2, rd2; patella pd2; tibia d2, p2(3), r2, v6; cymbium d4. Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2(1); tibia p2, pv2, rv2+2M, metatarsus v2. Leg II: femur d4, pd3; patella p1; tibia p3, v11(7); metatarsus p1, v9(6). Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p3(2); tibia d3, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus p4, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd3(2); patella p2(1); tibia d4, p3, r3, v9; metatarsus d3, p4(3), r3, v7. Tarsi I–IV aspinose.

PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 365 View Figs 364–378 . Embolus bipartite: proximal part moderately long, swollen, cone-shaped with dense shallow ridges and lengthened triangular keel; apical part short and corkscrew-shaped ( Figs 429–431 View Figs 429–438 ).

SPINNERETS. See Fig. 589 View Figs 584–592 . PLS: maximal diameter 0.33; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.71, 0.43, 0.38; total length 1.52; apical segment triangular.

Female (paratype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 50. View Figs 45–53

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.50, CL 5.66, CW 4.75, LL 0.46, LW 0.99, SL 2.92, SW 2.54.

COLOUR. As in male, with uniformly pale legs and slightly darker chelicerae.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 124 View Figs 118–126 . Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 182 View Figs 172–183 . Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.19), ALE 0.31, PLE 0.16, PME 0.13; AME–AME 0.12(0.07), ALE–AME 0.12(0.09), ALE–PLE 0.09, PLE–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.45. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 4–5 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 243 View Figs 238–246 . Maxillae with 10–11 cuspules each.

LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsus I; widely divided by setae on tarsus II; absent on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 13–14 on metatarsi, 12–15 on tarsi, 9–10 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 3 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 4–5 and 5–6 teeth on each margin, respectively.

SPINATION. Palp: femur d3, pd1; patella p2; tibia v8(7); tarsus v2. Leg I: femur d4, pd1; tibia p3, v7; metatarsus v6. Leg II: femur d4, pd1; tibia p3, v7; metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p2,

r1; tibia d1, p2, r2, v7; metatarsus d3, p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd1, rd1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p3, r2, v7; metatarsus d2, p4, r4, v7. Patellae I–II and tarsi I–IV aspinose.

SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae formed by a low cone-shaped trunk carrying a relatively long and bent outer branch; spermathecal trunks widely spaced from each other ( Figs 526–527 View Figs 522–536 ).

SPINNERETS. See Fig. 590 View Figs 584–592 . PLS: maximal diameter 0.56; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.07, 0.64, 0.65; total length 2.36; apical segment triangular.

Variation

Carapace length in males (n =4) varies from 4.15 to 4.75, in females (n=5) from 3.95 to 5.66. The overall pale colouration looks to be even lighter in spiders from the eastern Hissar (Romit) and conversely slightly darker in specimens from the central part of this ridge (Kondara). Variations in the eye arrangement and in the structure of the copulatory bulb as shown in Figs 152 View Figs 148–159 and 471–474 View Figs 466–474 , respectively.

Ecology

All spiders were found hiding in soil cavities under stones in fragmentary midland montane woodlands, dominated by walnut, Juglans regia . See Figs 699–706 View Figs 699–706 .

Distribution

Known from the central and southeastern parts of Hissar Mts, Tajikistan. See Fig. 754 View Figs 751–760 .