Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt, 2009

Szinetár, Csaba, Eichardt, János & Szuts, Tamas, 2009, The first lowland species of the Holarctic alpine ground spider genus Parasyrisca (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from Hungary, ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 197-208 : 199-204

Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:69680F28-ED7D-4B22-876D-7D67454F0F9A

Figs 1-17

Material examined. Type material. Holotype. Male ( NHMH) from Hungary, Győrszentiván, Gazdák erdeje, N 47°42'56", E 17°47'33", 125 m, Barber traps, 01.10- 02.12.2004, leg. Cs. Szinetár.

Paratypes. 1 female ( NHMH) from the same locality, Barber traps, 15.01- 02.04.2005, leg. Cs. Szinetár ; 1 male from Bugac N 46°39'36", E 19°35'14", 110 m, Barber traps, 02.09.2003, leg. Cs. Szinetár ; 3 males (2-UWM, 1- ZMUC) from the same locality, Barber traps, 04.10- 18.10.2003, leg. R. Gallé ; 2 males from Orgovány N 46°42'25", E 19°30'57", 100 m, Barber traps, 02.10.2007, leg. Cs. Szinetár.

Etymology. The species’ name refers to the type-locality. Arrabonicum is the Latin name of the Kisalföld.

Remarks. P. arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt , sp. n. belongs to the potanini speciesgroup. It is quite similar to P. turkenica Ovtsharenko, Platnick & Marusik, 1995 and P.

songi Marusik & Fritzén, 2009 , in having a long RTA ( Figs 2, 3 , 7-9 ), and a blunt terminal apophysis ( Figs 2 , 7 , 10 ); these three species might even deserve a separate species-group. However, without detailed comparative study of the two taxa mentioned above or a cladistic analysis to judge the shared characters we are reluctant to propose a formal new group, but feel the similarity is worth mentioning.

Diagnosis. Males resemble those of P. turkenica , but can be easily recognized by the shorter and thicker retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 2, 3 , 7-9 ) and the thinner and straight, erect conductor ( Figs 2 , 7, 8 , 10 ). The shape of the tibial apophysis is similar to that of P. songi in lateral view but significantly smaller ( Figs 3 , 8, 9 ) and the conductor and terminal apophysis are somewhat different ( Figs 2 , 7 , 10 ). The epigyne of P. arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt , sp. n. ( Fig. 4 ) is similar to that of P. turkenica but the shape of the anterior hood differs, being twice as wide as high, with the epigynal plate depressed at the posterior end as a posterior ridge of a flat U shape, with two pointing tips on the sides ( Fig. 4 ).

Description. Male. Habitus as seen in Figs 13-14 . Total length 7.1. Carapace 2.6 long, 2.1 wide. Femur II 2.2 long. Eye sizes and interdistance: AME 0.16, ALE 0.14, PME 0.14, PLE 0.12; AME - AME 0.08, AME - ALE 0.04, PME - PME 0.1, PME - PLE 0.14, ALE - PLE 0.16; MOQ lenght 0.46, front width 0.36, back width 0.4.

Leg spination: femora; I,II d 1-1-0, p 0-0-1; III d 1-1-0, p 0-1-1, r 0-0-1; IV d 1-1-0, (without prolateral spine), r 0-0-1; tibiae I v 2-2-0; II v 1-1-0; III v 1-1-2, p 1-1-0, r 1-1-0; IV v 1-2-2, p 0-1-1, r 1-0-1; metatarsi I-II v 2-0-0; III v 2-0-2, p 2-0-2, r 2-0-2; IV v 1-0-2, p 2-0-2, r 2-0-2.

Palps ( Figs 1-3 , 7-11 ) with strong, well developed, long RTA ( Figs 2-3 ), reach ¼ of cymbium length ( Figs 2-3 , 7-9 ). RTA tip seems abrupt in lateral view. Conductor ( Fig. 10 ) twisted, directed upward ( Fig. 2 ), gradually tapered at end, twisted in shape ( Figs 2 , 10 ), with thin tip ( Fig. 8 ) clearly visible in frontal and lateral views. Embolus unusually long, largely covered by conductor, visible only after conductor is removed ( Fig. 11 ). Terminal apophysis thick, curved toward sides ( Figs 2-3 , 10 ).

Colouration. ( Fig. 12 ) Legs yellowish-brown, tibia, metatarsus and tarsus slightly darker than proximal segments. Carapace also yellowish-brown, but head somewhat darker. Chelicerae, cymbia, gnathocoxae and labium also darker brown. Abdomen grayish–brown with a few narrow, light brown stripes at the posterior end, just before the spinnerets.

Female. Total length 9.2. Carapace 3.3 long, 2.3 wide. Femur II 2.2 long. Eye sizes and interdistance: AME 0.16, ALE 0.14, PME 0.16, PLE 0.12; AME - AME 0.1,

AME - ALE 0.04, PME - PME 0.12, PME - PLE 0.16, ALE - PLE 0.18; MOQ length 0.52, front width 0.36, back width 0.4. Leg spination: femora; I,II d 1-1-0, p 0-0-1; III d 1-1-0, p 0-0-1, r 0-0-1; IV d 1-1-0, (without prolateral spine), r 0-0-1; tibiae I v 2-2-0; II v 1-1-0; III v 1-1-2, p 1-1-0, r 1-1-0; IV v 1-2-2, p 0-1-1, r 0-1-1; metatarsi I-II v 2-0-0; III v 2-0-2, p 2-0-2, r 1-0-1; IV v 1-1-2, p 2-0-2, r 2-0-2.

Female genitalia ( Figs 4-6 ) Epigyne elongate, with length/width ratio 1.7. Anterior hood twice as long as wide ( Fig. 4 ), atrium elongated as in P. songi . Epigynal plate depressed at the posterior end, posterior ridge (PRE) invaginated from the posterior end having a two-pointed tip at the sides ( Fig. 4 ). As seen in rear view ( Fig. 6 ), PRE U-shaped (as the epigynal plate depressed), which is in an inverted position compared to other Parasyrisca species. Spermathecal ducts directed upwards and curved inwards ( Fig. 5 ). Ducts significantly stronger than that of P. turkenica .

Colouration. Similar to that of male, but carapace with more distinct pattern: three radially directed dark stripes present on both sides of fovea.

Biology. The well-developed chelicerae equipped with strong spines ( Fig. 12 ) suggest that this is a sand-dwelling species. All the adults (as immatures were not considered in the NBmR) were captured between late September and early April. Thus it seems likely that this species overwinters as adults.

Habitat preference. ( Figs 15-17 ) We collected the specimens in the calciferous open sand steppes (coenologic name Festucetum vaginatae danubiale) in the area between the rivers Danube and Tisza and on the Kisalföld.

Distribution. ( Figs 18-19 ) Known from Hungary only. From the type locality (Győrszentiván) and from two collecting sites of the Kiskunság area: Bugac and Orgovány.

Figures

Figures 1-6. Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt, sp. n.: Male holotype: 1 pedipalp, prolateral view 2 same, ventral view 3 same, retrolateral view. Female: 4 epigyne, ventral view 5 vulva, dorsal view 6 posterior ridge (PRE) of the female epigyne, rear view. Scale bars: 1-3 0.3 4-6 0.2.

Figures 7-9. Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt, sp. n. 7 male pedipalp, ventral view 8 same, semi-retrolateral view, showing the pointed tip of the conductor (c – arrowed) 9 same, retrolateral view. Scale bar = 0.3.

Figures 10-11. Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt, sp. n. male bulb, close-ups: 10 male pedipalp, ventral view, close-up 11 bulbus, prolateral view, conductor removed (c – conductor, e – embolus, ta – terminal apophysis), showing the long embolus and base of the terminal apophysis.

Figures 12-14. Parasyrisca arrabonica Szinetár & Eichardt, sp. n., male habitus: 12 paratype from Orgovány, prosoma, dorsolateral view, showing the strong setae on the paturon 13 same specimen, dorsal view 14 same specimen, ventral view. Scale bar = 2.0.

Figures 15-17. Seasonal vegetation changes on the habitat of Parasyrisca arrabonica: 15 summer vegetation dominated by the late-coming pink (Dianthus serotinus) 16 winter vegetation of the habitat 17 spring vegetation characterized by different feather grasses (Stipa capillata, S. borysthenica).

Figures 18-19. Distribution maps of the genus Parasyrisca: 18 Eurasian distribution of the species groups of Parasyrisca (red, pink – potanini group, pink – P. arrabonica, P. turkenica, P.songi, yellow – vinosus group, light blue – guzeripli group, dark blue – breviceps group) 19 European distribution of Parasyrisca (red – potanini group, yellow – vinosus group). Yellow question marks represent doubtful records.