Araeoncus cypriacus, V. & Tanasevitch, 2011

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2011, On linyphiid spiders (Araneae) from the Eastern and Central Mediterranean kept at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Geneva, Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (1), pp. 49-91 : 51-52

Araeoncus cypriacus sp. n. Figs 1-5

HOLOTYPE: Ƌ, Cyprus, Baths of Aphrodite , sifting leaf litter in ravine, 22.VIII.1977, leg. C. Besuchet [38].

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name, an adjective, is derived from the name of the island of origin.

DIAGNOSIS: The species is characterised by the shape of two anterior radical processes of the embolic division.

DESCRIPTION: Male. Total length 1.57. Carapace slightly modified as in Figs 1 & 2, 0.85 long, 0.55 wide, reddish brown. Chelicerae 0.25 long. Legs pale brown. Leg I 1.88 long (0.52+0.17+0.45+0.42+0.32), IV 1.97 long (0.55+0.17+0.50+0.45+0.30). Chaetotaxy: 2.2.1.1, spines very thin, their length about diameter of tibia. TmI 0.43. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp (Figs 3-5): Cymbium with a long, pointed, slightly curved prolateral outgrowth. Paracymbium relatively small, hook-shaped. Distal suprategular apophysis like a long, narrow, slightly curved stripe. Embolic division complex in shape, with two anterior radical processes: one long, curved and pointed distally, other one short and blunt. A spear-shaped tooth present near base of FIGS 1-5

Araeoncus cypriacus sp. n., Ƌ holotype. (1, 2) Carapace, lateral and dorsal view, respectively. (3, 4) Left palp, retrolateral and prolateral view, respectively. (5) Palpal tibia, dorsal view.

anterior radical processes. Embolus circle-shaped. Abdomen 0.75 long, 0.55 wide, grey.

Female unknown.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS: The new species seems to be most similar to A. rhodes sp. n., see below.

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the type locality only.