Tegenaria parmenidis, BRIGNOLI, 1971

Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 168 (4), pp. 723-848 : 808-810

TEGENARIA PARMENIDIS BRIGNOLI, 1971

( FIGS 18N–Q , 22C–K )

Tegenaria parmenidis Brignoli, 1971a: 115–117 , figs 74, 75, female; Brignoli, 1977a: 52, fig. 34.

First description of male.

Types

Holotype. Italy: Campania: Salerno, Novi Velia , ♀ ( MCSN, 543 ), 2.x.1967, Brignoli .

Other material examined

Italy (17 ♂, 39 ♀) .

Diagnosis

Tegenaria parmenidis belongs to a species group together with Teg. circeoensis sp. nov., Teg. capolongoi , and Teg. sbordonii . The most useful characters for separating these species are the shape of the RTA, the bifid terminal end of the conductor, the presence/ absence of pockets at the median plate of the epigyne, and the location of the copulatory openings.

Description

Measurements: Male (N = 1): CL 3.75, CW 3.05, STL 1.84, STW 1.81, OL 4.39, OW 2.91. Leg I (5.54, 1.40, 5.04, 5.98, 2.67), II (5.05, 1.33, 4.21, 5.33, 2.34), III (4.56, 1.31, 3.76, 5.10, 2.38), IV (5.44, 1.25, 4.98, 6.60, 2.46), Pedipalp (2.29, 0.74, 1.15, 1.60), bulbL 1.34. Female (N = 1): CL 3.16, CW 2.53, STL 1.59, STW 1.54, OL 5.13, OW 3.60. Leg I (4.10, 1.26, 3.83, 3.94, 2.27), II (3.80, 1.17, 3.24, 3.62, 1.93), III (3.47, 1.12, 2.72, 3.53, 1.64), IV (4.31, 1.28, 3.85, 4.73, 1.87). Pedipalp (1.59, 0.62, 0.95, 1.37). EPL 0.56, EPW 1.11, ATL 0.26, ATW 0.44. Eyes: PME 0.17–0.19, PLE 0.18– 0.20, AME 0.13–0.20, ALE 0.18–0.21. Eye distances: PME–PME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–AME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–PLE 0.5–1 x PME, PME–ALE 0.5–1 x PME, AME–AME <0.5 x AME, AME–ALE <0.5 x AME. CLY1 1.5–2 x AME, CLY2 1 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with three branches, ventral branch indistinct but with distinct ventral ridge, distally moderately pointed, lateral and dorsal branch basally fused, distally lobe- or bulge-like. Filiform embolus length equal to CB, originating at 8 o’clock position, terminal part strongly bent, distal tip at 2 o’clock position. Conductor very distinct and complex with distal portion elongated and moderately curved, lateral margin completely folded, with bulge-like structure at origin of conductor. Terminal end strongly bifid, ventral part (functional) distally simple and sharply pointed, dorsal part ventrally with massive claw-like appendage, dorsally broadly flattened. Connection of conductor to tegulum membranous. MA originating at 6 o’clock position, strongly protruding, distally with hook-like sclerite. MA membranously connected to tegulum. Basal part of tegulum clearly visible, with undulated margin.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne with distinct, trapezoidal atrial region, clearly separated from the epigynal plate by a sclerotized ridge. Medially of this atrium there is a distinct pocket, opening anteriad. Posterior sclerite absent. CO expressed as distinct holes, directly anterior of the pocket, opening anteriad. Epigynal ‘pseudo teeth’ absent. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD short and straight, leading into globular, smoothly sclerotized RC, RC separated by about their diameter. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three, retromargin with four teeth. Colulus developed as trapezoidal plate with the distal margin medially notched. Same pattern of distal spigots on PMS (in females) as described for the type species. PLS with distal segment as long as basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus absent. Tarsal trichobothria seven to eight. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I 11–12. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0 or 3–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–2–0–0 or 2–2–0–0), female palp (2–0–0–0 or 3–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (2–3–2–0, 2–3–3–0 or 3–2–1–0, 2–2–2–0, 1–1–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae [0 or 0–0–0–1p or 2–0–0–0 or 2–0–0–1p (dorsal spines indistinct), 0, 2–1–1–1, 2–1–1–1], metatarsi (0–0–0– 3p+1, 0–1–0–3p+1, 0–2–2–3p+1, 0–2–2–1p+1+2p+1 or 0–2–3–1p+1+2p+1 or 0–3–2–1p+1+2p+1), tarsi (I & II 0, III & IV 0–0–1–0).

Coloration: Margin of carapace with three broad, crescent-shaped, darkened spots, dorsally with two symmetrical longitudinal dark bands, serrated and continuous. Chelicerae medially with darkened spot. Sternum anteriorly with distinct pale median band, reaching only the middle, four symmetrical pairs of pale dots laterally and posteriorly, moderately fused. Opisthosoma brownish-yellowish mottled, dorsally with a distinct, yellowish median band (most anteriorly darkened) with two pairs of white spots laterally, four indistinct chevrons more posteriad. Legs annulated. Colulus partly darkened, ALS ventrally and dorsally darkened, PLS with basal segment black, distal segment pale.

Distribution

Reported from Italy. Previously known only from the type locality in Campania, here also reported from Calabria and Sicily.

Discussion

Tegenaria parmenidis together with Teg. capolongoi , Teg. circeoensis sp. nov., and Teg. sbordonii form a morphologically well-defined species group, restricted to southern Italy.

Figures

Figure 18. A–C, Tegenaria domestica; D-F, Tegenaria carensis; G, H, Tegenaria argaeica (female paratype); I-M, Tegenaria circeoensis sp. nov.; N-Q, Tegenaria parmenidis; R, S, Tegenaria sbordonii. Left male palp in ventral (A, D, I, N, R), retrolateral (E, J, O, S), and dorsal views (K); epigyne in ventral (B, G, L, P) and vulva in dorsal view (C, F, H, M, Q).

› Figure 22. A, B, Tegenaria capolongoi; C-K, Tegenaria parmenidis; L-S, Tegenaria circeoensis sp. nov. Left male palp in ventral (E, N), retrolateral (F, O), and dorsal views (G, P); epigyne in ventral (A, C, Q, S) and vulva in dorsal view (B, D, R); intraspecific epigynal morphological variation (S); face of male in frontal view (J); spinnerets in ventral view (K); habitus (H) of male in dorsal and sternum in ventral view (I); carapace and abdomen of male in dorsal view (L, M). Scale bars = 0.5 mm (except 1 mm for H).