Stalagtia martinae, Coşar & Danişman & Yağmur & Kunt, 2023

Coşar, İlhan, Danişman, Tarik, Yağmur, Ersen Aydin & Kunt, Kadir Boğaç, 2023, Notes on the genus Stalagtia from Turkey with description of a new species (Araneae, Dysderidae), Zootaxa 5352 (2), pp. 289-295 : 289-291

Stalagtia martinae sp. n.

Figs 1–7

Material examined. TURKEY: KAHRAMANMARAŞ PROV. 1 ³ (Holotype, KUAM), Göksun Dist., Taşoluk Vill., Wolves Valley (37°58’22”N, 36°26’33”E), 1483 m, 02 Nov. 2020, leg. İC & TD. Paratypes. 1 ³, 1 ♀, same data as holotype .

Etymology: The new species honors our Croatian arachnologist fellow, Dr. Martina Pavlek , biospeleologist and specialist on Dysderidae .

Diagnosis: S. martinae sp. n. is distinguished from S. christoi Van Keer & Bosmans, 2009 , S. hercegovinensis (Nosek, 1905) , S. monospina (Absolon & Kratochvíl, 1933) and S. thaleriana Chatzaki & Arnedo, 2006 by a blunt-tipped tubercle-like conductor ( Figs 4–5 ), while in the other species, the conductor is spiniform (e.g., Fig. 8 ). S. martinae sp. n. differs from S. argus Brignoli, 1976 and S. kratochvili Brignoli, 1976 by the shape and size of the embolus. In S. martinae sp. n., embolus length is almost twice that of the bulb and distally projected, while in S. argus is subequal, and in S. kratochvili , only slightly longer, and in both species, bent at a 90-degree angle. Females of S. martinae sp. n. resemble those of S. christoi and S. thaleriana by the shape of the spermatheca but differ from the former species by a short and rounded tip in S. martinae sp. n., which is longer, pointed upwards in S. christoi and S. thaleriana ( Figs 6–7, e.g. 9 ).

Description (Holotype male): Measurements Total length 6.00. Prosoma length 2.60, width 2.00. Abdomen length 3.40, width 1.60. Chelicerae length 1.05, width 0.40. Sternum length 1.70, width 1.40. Eye diameters and inter-distances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.17, PME 0.12, AME–AME 0.05, AME–PME 0.10, ALE–ALE 0.27, ALE–PME 0.02.

Medium-sized harpactein spiders. Carapace reddish brown with smooth surface and blackish short fine setae. Thoracic region of the carapace almost twice as wide as that of the head region. Head region convex anteriorly.

Margins of thoracic region are dark brown. Fovea distinct, blackish and long. Eyes silvery gray, close to each other, arranged annulary ( Fig. 1 ). Chelicerae, gnathocoxae and labium light brown. Chelicerae with dorsal granulations and blackish long setae. Cheliceral groove with two teeth at promargin and two at retromargin; sizes of teeth almost equal. Sternum yellowish, margins dark and with blackish hairs ( Fig. 2 ).

Legs yellowish. Anterior legs slightly darker than posterior legs in males. Tarsi III, IV and distal half of metatarsi III, IV with fine scopulae. Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Anterior femora and posterior coxae with spines. Detailed leg measurements and spination are given in Table 1 and 2, respectively. Abdomen greyish, spinnerets darker ( Figs 1–2 ).

Male palp ( Figs 4–5 ): Palpal tarsus is about one and a half times longer than the tibia, slightly recurved. Palpal femur darker than patella, tibia and tarsus. Bulb yellowish, spheroid. Conductor is a sclerotized protuberance on the posteriorventral margin of the bulb. Embolar base is located close to this margin. Embolus black, long, filamentous and curved. Length of the embolus almost twice the diameter of the bulb. There is a spherical transition zone between the filamentous part of the embolus and its base. After the transition zone, embolus is directed ventrally at an angle of more than 90 degrees. Tip of the embolus tends to the prolateral side and becomes progressively thinner.

Description (Paratype female): Measurements Total length 5.30. Prosoma length 2.50, width 1.90. Abdomen length 2.80, width 1.30. Chelicerae length 1.15, width 0.45. Sternum length 1.50, width 1.40. Eye diameters and inter-distances: AME 0.15, ALE 0.15, PME 0.12, AME–AME 0.05, AME–PME 0.10, ALE–ALE 0.27, ALE–PME 0.02.

There are no significant morphological differences between male and female. Female carapace lighter than male. In female, there is a scutum-like partial thickening in the gastral region. Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Detailed leg measurements and spination are given in Table 1 and 2, respectively.

Vulva ( Figs 6–7 ): Spermatheca reverse Y-shaped with relatively short middle projection with blunt end. The junction of the arms and trunk of the Y is markedly sclerotized. Anterior arc convex. Transversal bar crescent shape and strongly sclerotized. Posterior diverticulum distinct, wider than long, membranous.

Variability: No obvious differences in traits and measurements.

Habitat preferences: Samples were collected from sparse oak ( Quercus coccifera ) woodland leaf litter.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Stalagtia martinae sp. n. 1. Male, dorsal view 2. Ditto, ventral view 3. Ditto, cheliceral groove. Dots indicate positions of the promarginal cheliceral teeth (red dots) and retromarginal (white dots).

FIGURES 4–9. Stalagtia martinae sp. n. 4. Right male palp, retrolateral view 5. Ditto, posterior view 6–7 Vulva, dorsal view Stalagtia christoi 8. Right male palp, retrolateral view 9. Vulva, ventral view. Abbreviations: AC Anterior arc C Conductor E Embolus PD Posterior diverticulum S Spermatecha TB Transversal bar TZ Transition zone.