Harpactea kencei, Kunt, Kadir Bogac, Elverici, Mert, Oezkuetuek, Recep Sulhi & Yagmur, Ersen Aydin, 2011

Kunt, Kadir Bogac, Elverici, Mert, Oezkuetuek, Recep Sulhi & Yagmur, Ersen Aydin, 2011, Two new species of Harpactea (Araneae, Dysderidae) from Turkey, ZooKeys 145, pp. 129-141 : 131-133

Harpactea kencei sp. n. Figs 915

Material examined.

Holotype ♂ (AUZM), Turkey, Muğla Province, Milas District, Kıyıkışlacık Village [37°16'38.80"N; 27°33'47.97"E], 13.XI.2010, under stones, leg. M.Elverici. Paratypes 1 ♀ (AUZM), 1 ♀ 5 ♂♂ (cKBK & SMF), same data as holotype.

Derivatio nominis.

The new species is named in honor of the well-known Turkish biologist Prof. Dr. Aykut Kence (Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey) for his important contributions to Turkish biology.

Diagnosis.

Harpactea kencei sp. n. can be easily distinguished from all other Turkish Harpactea by the unique structure of the male palp and broad, grooved sides, crescent like anterior basal arc-shaped structure of the female vulva. In general appearance the embolus is well sclerotized, thorn-like and with a hook-shaped tip. Towards the tip, the embolus flattens like a spoon and ends with a thorn-like tip inflecting upon itself. On the embolar base there is a small ear-shaped conductor relatively well sclerotized at its peripheries. This is attached to the embolus at an angle of 90 degrees. Unique embolus (not a simple thornlike structure) and the presence of the conductor differentiate Harpactea kencei sp. n. from Harpactea diraoi , Harpactea isaurica , Harpactea sanctaeinsulae and any other similar Turkish species, which all have simple spiniform embolus structures (see Brignoli 1978b).

Description.

Measurements: [Holotype ♂ / Paratype ♀]:AL 2.13 / 2.25; CL 1.63 / 1.96; CWmax 1.35 / 1.53; CWmin 0.63 / 0.75; AMEd 0.07 / 0.08; PLEd 0.05 / 0.07; PMEd 0.05 / 0.06; ChF 0.34 / 0.37; ChG 0.21 / 0.27; ChL 0.64 / 0.71 mm. Leg measurements are given in Table 3.

MALE: Small to medium sized spider. Carapace reddish dark brown, with smooth surface and distinct fovea. AME, PLE and PME closely grouped; AME separated. Difference between width of eyes region and thoracic region of ca rapace remarkable. Sternum, labium, gnathocoxae and chelicerae reddish-brown. Sternum with long, thin hair near the margin, while centrally smooth and shiny. Cheliceral groove with four teeth: retromargin bears a tiny tooth at the base of the groove and a strong tooth at the top; promargin with two strong teeth of almost equal sizes (Fig. 9). Labium with short, strong hair, sparsely distributed along the surface; hair cover denser at the top. Gnathocoxae also with moderately strong hair, denser and slightly longer at the margins. Abdomen yellowish-light brown, with short, thin blackish hair over the entire surface. Legs yellowish-light brown with sparse blackish setae. Anterior legs slightly darker than posterior legs. Leg IV> Leg I> Leg II> Leg III. Tarsi with three claws. Tarsi III and IV with fine scopulae. Legs III and IV with fine metatarsal scopulae covering slightly less than the distal half of the segment (ventral surface only). Prolateral part of coxae III and IV with 0-5 spines. Detailed leg spination of Harpactea kencei sp. n. is given in Table 4.

Tegulum yellowish brown, longer than wide, cylindrical. Embolar base broad, embolus and conductor reciprocally located at peripherals. Accessory apophysis absent. Embolus blackish brown, flattens like a spoon through the tip and ends with a thorn- like tip inflecting upon itself. Conductor small, flattened and ear-shaped, separated from embolus at the base.

FEMALE: No differences found between male and female, in terms of body colour and morphology. Distal crest of vulva short, with conical tip. Distal expansion of spermatheca spherical, with triangular shape. Basal transverse part of the anterior spermatheca short, linear and peripherally sclerotized. Rod-shaped part of the anterior spermatheca elongated. Anterior basal arc crescent-like and grooved. Tips membranous, in the shape of half of a heart. Transverse bar smooth, well sclerotized at the center. Posterior diverticulum membranous (Figs 14-15).

Ecology.

Specimens were collected in the course of field studies aiming to determine the spider fauna of olive groves found in Kıyıkışlacık Village. The area was surveyed periodically over one year using pitfall traps, sweep nets, active searching at ground level and under stones both during the day and at night, sifting tree litter and by shaking tree branches. The altitude of the study area varied from sea level up to 100 m at its maximum.

Individuals of the new species were found under stones and collected from pitfall traps in olive groves and shrub forest associations dominated by Quercus trees. The first adult specimen was collected in November and additional specimens were found during March and April. It is likely that this species is most active during the early spring.

Distribution.

Harpactea kencei sp. n. is known from thetype locality only.

Comments.

According to the classification established by Deeleman-Reinhold (1993), Harpactea arnedoi sp. n. and Harpactea kencei sp. n. can be placed within the species group rubicunda (D) because they possess the following characteristics:

1. Posterior diverticulum of the female vulva membranous in both species.

2. Embolus of Harpactea arnedoi sp. n. is spiniform, while it is massive-spiniform and flattened in Harpactea kencei sp. n.

3. Conductor massive in both species.

4. Patellae and coxae with spines in both species.