Lepthyphantes fadriquei Barrientos, 2020

Barrientos, José Antonio, Brañas, Neus & Mederos, Jorge, 2020, The high complexity of Micronetinae Hull, 1920 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) evidenced through ten new cave-dweller species from the Morocco, Zoosystema 42 (1), pp. 1-29 : 9-11

Lepthyphantes fadriquei Barrientos n. sp.

( Figs 5 ; 13 E-G)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:64F9CBAA-7AE3-415D-89BE-5F842D0B23BD

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Morocco. 1♂; Kef Aziza, Boudenib, Meknès; 28.VIII.1970; O. Escolá leg.; MZB 73-2905 .

Paratypes. Morocco. 3♀; same locality and date as the holotype; MZB 72-5577 • 1♀; same locality; 2.VI .2001; F. Fadrique & O. Escolá leg.; MZB 2001-0414 .

OTHER MATERIAL. — Morocco. 3 juv.; same locality and date as the holotype; MZB 72-5578 .

DIAGNOSIS. — In its posterior middle part, the paracymbium presents a very developed elongation, acute and curved towards the external side; its apical branch is narrow, straight and lanceolate. In the radix a sharp, spiny tip develops at its posterior end. The lamella characteristica consists of a long and narrow projection, which gradually sharpens towards the tip, maintaining a progressive curvature. The terminal apophysis, equally long and narrow, describes a curved path, parallel to the lamella characteristica, and somewhat longer. The epigyne is wide at its base and perpendicular to the surface; it narrows progressively distally where a proscape with an elliptical contour, flanked by the lateral walls, stands out. The set of the scape describes a structure in “S” (easily seen in side view). The morphology of the epigyne resembles that of L. ensiferus Barrientos n. sp.; however, the structure of the male genitalia separates the two species, which places L. fadriquei Barrientos n. sp. in an uncertain position in the group of Micronetinae .

ETYMOLOGY. — We dedicate this species to Floren Fadrique, the main promoter of the latest biospeleological surveys in Morocco; without his generosity, initiative and dedication on the ground (before, during and after each expedition) we would not have many of the interesting samples of this small study.

DISTRIBUTION. — L. fadriquei Barrientos n. sp. is known only from the type locality, a cavity of the province of Meknès, in the high Moroccan Atlas.

DESCRIPTION

Male (holotype)

Body. Carapace: 0.81 long, by 0.68 wide; coloration pale yellow uniform and without additional pigmentary pattern. Some hairs scattered in the cephalic area. Without eyes. Chelicerae: 0.39 (length of stem), with three teeth, short and separated on the promargin; unarmed retromargin. Legs of the same color as the carapace; relatively long and thin; measurements: leg I (1.32 + 0.25 + 1.42 + 1.32 + 0.78), leg II (1.22 + 0.22 + 1.25 + 1.13 + 0.64), leg III (1.13 + 0.20 + 0.81 + 0.91 + 0.59), and leg IV (1.27 + 0.25 + 1.08 + 1.18 + 0.64). Opisthosoma missing.

Palp and copulatory bulb ( Figs 5 A-C; 13G). In the paracymbium, posterior middle part particularly well developed; prolonged by a long sharp projection and curved outwards ( Fig. 5A, B ); proximal part wide and trapezoidal, with some hairs in its basal area; middle part marked by two protrusions or dilatations: one just mentioned in the posterior part and one in the anterior part, thick and blunt, delimiting the anterior pocket; from the anterior pocket, the apical branch narrow, straight, somewhat spatulate, and relatively short. Ventrally bulb showing on its prolateral side the basal structure of the

embolic division ( Fig. 5C ), the radix. Radix with a sharp and spiny process in its posterior part, and immediately afterwards, on its internal side, the lamella characteristica. Lamella consisting of a long and narrow projection, progressively sharpened toward the tip, maintaining a progressive curvature. Terminal apophysis parallel to the lamella characteristica, equally long and narrow, and describing a curved path of somewhat greater length; these two similar structures running parallel. Embolus complex, arising from the anterior part of the radix; with a laminar expansion, thin and transparent, as protective element of the embolus proper. Suprategular apophysis as a sharp process in front and below the terminal apophysis and lamelle characteristica; sharp, sclerotized, thicker and curved ( Fig. 5A ).

Female (paratype [MZB 2001-0414])

Body. Total body length: 2.15. Carapace: 0.88 long by 0.64 wide, yellow, very light, without pigmentary pattern; some scattered hairs in the cephalic part. Completely blind; without eyes or areolated remains. Chelicerae: 0.37 of length and a coloration more intense than carapace; with three tiny, equidistant teeth on the promargin; no teeth on the retromargin. Legs yellowish, very pale, long and thin; measurements: leg I (1.42 + 0.29 + 1.37 + 1.27 + 0.86), leg II (1.27 + 0.27 + 1.32 + 1.27 + 0.83), leg III (1.22 + 0.25 + 0.93 + 1.03 + 0.64), and leg IV (1.320 + 0.27 + 1.24 + 1.22 + 0.78). Opisthosoma 1.22 long by 0.78 wide, yellowish white, uniform and without pigmentary pattern, covered with fine, long, scattered and colorless hairs.

Female genitalia. Epigyne ( Figs 5D, E ; 13E, F ). Epigyne very developed and outstanding, in relation to the size of the opisthosoma; almost perpendicular to epigastrum surface. Its basal part narrowing progressively and formed by the anterior wall and the lateral walls, covered with long and scattered hairs. Distally, scape voluminous; proscape drawing a smooth surface with an elliptical contour; proscape framed between the extensions of the lateral walls. In the margins of the proscape, the fertilization ducts well visible. Scape: middle part located practically below the proscape; distal part oriented outward again, forming a narrow point (stretcher) protruding below. Entire set describing in a small space a double directional change in the shape of an “S”, which can be seen in a lateral view ( Fig. 5E ). By transparency through the anterior wall of the epigyne, the receptacula observed in the pedunculated area, near the scape base.

Figures

FIG. 5. — Lepthyphantes fadriquei Barrientos n. sp., genital organs; A, B, male copulatory bulb, retrolateral view (A), ventral view (B); C, schema of the embolic division; D, E, epigyne, ventral view (D); idem, lateral view (E). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIG. 13. — A, B, Epigyne of Lepthyphantes almoravidus Barrientos n. sp. in ventral (A) and lateral (B) views; C, D, epigyne of Lepthyphantes biospeleologorum Barrientos n. sp. in dorsal (C) and lateral (D) views; E, F, epigyne of Lepthyphantes fadriquei Barrientos n. sp. in lateral (E) and ventral (F) views; G, male copulatory bulb of L. fadriquei Barrientos n. sp. retrolateral views; H, I, epigyne of Lepthyphantes ensiferus Barrientos n. sp. in lateral (H) and dorsal (I) views; J, male copulatory bulb of Lepthyphantes ensiferus Barrientos n. sp. in retrolateral view.