Palliduphantes curvus, Tanasevitch, 2019

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2019, Notes on some Palliduphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 2001, with the description of a new species from the Iberian Peninsula (Araneae: Linyphiidae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 126 (2), pp. 203-208 : 204-207

Palliduphantes curvus sp. nov.

Figs 1-7

Holotype: Male [7135]; SPAIN, Valencia, La Albufera ; 16.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.

Paratype: 3 males, 1 female; collected together with the holotype . – 1 male [7141]; Valencia, Montroy (= Montroi), 22. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male [7142]; Requena-Chera, 23. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 1 female [7137]; Alicante, Elda; 19. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male [6978]; PORTUGAL, Vila Real, Cortico, Montalegre; 30. VIII.1969; leg. A. Senglet.

Diagnosis: The new species clearly differs from all known congeners by the distinctive shape of the lamella characteristica which has a specifically bent lower branch ( Figs 1, 3-4 ). The epigyne resembles that of many congeners, particularly P. cadiziensis ( Wunderlich, 1980) , P. kalaensis ( Bosmans, 1985) and P. yakourensis Bosmans, 2006 , but it can be distinguished by the very short distal part of the scape and by the oval posterior median plate ( Figs 5, 7 ). The epigyne is also similar to that of P. corfuensis comb. nov. (see below), but is clearly distinguished by the absence of a bald swelling on the lateral walls, as well as by the reduced median and distal parts of the scape ( Figs 5-7 cf. Figs 13-16 ).

Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the bent lower branch of the lamella characteristica.

Description: Male holotype. Total length 2.00. Carapace unmodified, 0.93 long, 0.75 wide, yellow. Chelicerae 0.38 long. Legs yellow. Leg I 4.56 long (1.20+0.28+1.23+1.10+0.75), IV 4.29 long (1.13+0.28+1.15+1.10+0.63). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, II-IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI: 2-1-1-0, TiII: 2-0-1-0, TiIII-IV: 2-0- 0-0; MtI-III: 1-0-0-0, MtIV spineless. Length of tibial spines 3-4 diameters of corresponding leg segment. TmI 0.18. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp ( Figs 1-4 ): Patella small, rounded, with a long, strong spine dorsally. Tibia slightly widened dorso-ventrally. Paracymbium relatively large, its posterior and anterior pockets (sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996: 167) tooth-shaped, dark. Lamella characteristica large, gently curved, distally tapering, its apex obliquely truncate, its short and pointed branch mesally bent by 90°. Embolus small, with elongated main body; embolus proper bifid, thumb present. Terminal apophysis composed of two long, slender, almost transparent branches. Abdomen 1.13 long, 0.65 wide, pale grey.

Female paratype from La Albufera. Total length 2.38.

Carapace 1.00 long, 0.80 wide. Chelicerae 0.40 long. Leg I 4.78 long (1.28+0.30+1.25+1.25+0.70), IV 4.63 long (1.25+0.28+1.20+1.20+0.70). TmI 0.18. Abdomen 1.50 long, 1.03 wide. Epigyne ( Figs 5-7 ) distinctly protruded, proscape long and thin. Distal part of scape very small, stretcher and lateral lobes reduced. Posterior median plate oval. Receptacles small, beanlike. Body coloration and chaetotaxy as in male.

Variability: The total length in male specimens examined ranges from 1.95 to 2.03, in female specimens from 2.25 to 2.28. Dark-colored specimens have an indistinct dorsal abdominal pattern composed of narrow, pale transverse stripes on a grey background. No noteworthy variation in the genitalia of both sexes was found.

Distribution: Known only from four localities in Spain and from one locality in Portugal.

Figures

Figs 1-7. Palliduphantes curvus sp. nov., details of palp and epigyne structure; male (1-4) and female (5-7) paratypes from Elda. (1) Right palp, retrolateral view. (2) Paracymbium, retrolateral view. (3) Embolic division, ventral view. (4) Lamella characteristica, dorsal view. (5-7) Epigyne, lateral, ventral and dorsal view, respectively.

Figs 8-16. Palliduphantes corfuensis (Wunderlich, 1995) comb. nov., details of palp and epigyne structure; male (8-12) and female (13-16). (8) Right palp, retrolateral view.(9) Paracymbium, retrolateral view.(10) Paracymbium and lamella characteristica, ventral view. (11) Lamella characteristica, ventral view. (12) Embolus, ventro-retrolateral view. (13-15) Epigyne, ventral, dorsal and lateral view, respectively. (16) Distal part of scape and posterior median plate, ventral view.