Agelena orientalis C. L. Koch, 1837

Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Song, Da-Xiang, 2005, On Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757) and some allied species, with descriptions of two new species of the genus Agelena from China (Araneae: Agelenidae), Zootaxa 1021 (1), pp. 45-63 : 58

Agelena orientalis C. L. Koch, 1837

Agelena orientalis C. L. Koch 1837: 14 (male holotype from Greece: Nauplia, not examined); Brignoli 1976: 563, fig. 43; 1978: 502; Levy 1996: 86, figs. 48.

Agelena syriaca C. L. Koch 1843: 110 , fig. 827.

Agelena taurica Thorell 1875a: 75 .

Agelena gracilens taurica Thorell 1875b: 81 .

Diagnosis: The species is similar to A. labyrinthica ( Figs. 1–6 ), but can be distinguished from the latter by having the tip of embolus spiraled straightly, the acute tip of conductor median apophysis of male palp and the visible copulatory openings of the epigynum.

Redescription: Male palp with a slightly narrow patellar apophysis and two tibial apophyses. Tip of embolus acute. Apex of conductor with three conspicuous apophyses, and the dorsal apophysis extending retrolaterally. Median apophysis membranous.

Epigynum with a large atrium and distinct copulatory openings. Copulatory ducts saccate. Spermathecal heads arising from the inner part of the ball­like bases of spermathecae. Spermathecal stalks indistinct. Spermathecal apophyses present. Fertilization ducts situated behind the bases of spermathecal heads.

For further detail see Levy (1996: 86, figs 4–8).

Distribution: Italy to Central Asia, Iran

Remarks: The genital structures of this species are here redescribed using new terms proposed in this paper, based on the precise figures of Levy (1996).

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757). 1. Male, dorsal view. 2. Female, epigynum, ventral view. 3. Same, vulva, dorsal view. 4. Left palp of the male, prolateral view. 5. Same, ventral view. 6. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bar: 1, 1.0mm; 2–6, 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: A = atrium; C = conductor; CD = copulatory duct; CDA = conductor dorsal apophysis; CDiA = conductor distal apophysis; CMA = conductor median apophysis; CVA = conductor ventral apophysis; E = embolus; FD = fertilization duct; LTA = lateral tibial apophysis; MA = median apophysis; PA = patellar apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; S = spermathecae; SA = spermathecal apophysis; SB = spermathecal base; SH = spermathecal head; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum.