Improphantes turok, 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 : 69-70

Improphantes turok sp. n. Figs 65-69

HOLOTYPE: Ƌ, Turkey, Antalya, Chaine Ak Daglari , E of Fethiye, 900 m a.s.l., sifting litter, 11.IV.1993, leg. S. Vit [4].

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name “turok”, a noun, is latinization of the Russian word for “ Turk ”.

DIAGNOSIS: The species is characterised by small size, as well as by the peculiar shape of the lamella characteristica and the paracymbium.

DESCRIPTION: Male. Total length approximately 1.30. Carapace unmodified,

0.60 long, 0.50 wide, yellow, with a narrow dark margin. Chelicerae 0.22 long. Legs

FIGS 65-69

Improphantes turok sp. n., Ƌ holotype. (65) Right palp, retrolateral view. (66) Paracymbium, lateral view. (67) Embolic division. (68) Lamella characteristica. (69) Apex of lamella characteristica (not to scale).

mostly broken off. Leg IV 2.66 long (0.70+0.17+0.67+0.67+0.45). Chaetotaxy unknown. Palp (Figs 65-69): Cymbium without posterodorsal outgrowth. Paracymbium U-shaped, posterior and anterior pockets each with a weakly sclerotized tooth. Radix with a spear-shaped outgrowth at base of lamella characteristica. Lamella characteristica like a slightly curved band slantwise cut at end. Embolus with a narrow carina and poorly expressed membraneous thumb. Fickert’s gland relatively large, spherical. Abdomen crumpled, dark grey.

Female unknown.

TAXONOMIC REMARKS: This species is similar to I. cypriot sp. n., but well distinguishable by the peculiar shape of the lamella characteristica and the paracymbium. I. cypriot sp. n. and I. turok sp. n. differ from all (?) other known congeners by the presence of a spear-shaped outgrowth on the radix. The same kind of the radical apophysis is present in the representatives of the Central Asian genus Tchatkalophantes Tanasevitch, 2001 .

DISTRIBUTION: The species is known from the type locality only.