Lepthyphantes imazigheni Barrientos, 2020

Barrientos, José Antonio, Brañas, Neus & Mederos, Jorge, 2020, The high complexity of Micronetinae Hull, 1920 (Araneae, Linyphiidae) evidenced through ten new cave-dweller species from the Morocco, Zoosystema 42 (1), pp. 1-29 : 11-12

Lepthyphantes imazigheni Barrientos n. sp.

( Figs 6 ; 14A, B )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CFF54D8D-4CDC-4249-AD9C-28EF5A6CC666

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Morocco. 1♀; Av. Bab Bou Idir, Bab Bou Idir, Taza; 17.IX.2016; F. Fadrique leg.; MZB 2016-4078 .

DIAGNOSIS. — The epigyne is well developed on the ventral side of the epigastrum. Its basal part lengthens and narrows distally, while curving backwards (forming a right angle). The side walls form a pair of short “wings” that protect the scape. The proscape is narrow and rounded, somewhat domed; the distal part of the scape forms a projection (stretcher) protruding below the proscape. The structure of the epigyne resembles that of L. taza , a species with which it could have some relationship. However, the curvature of the entire structure makes L. imazigheni Barrientos n. sp. a different species.

ETYMOLOGY. — Imazighen is the name that designates the first settlers of North Africa. Throughout their history these peoples have suffered numerous invasions and dominations. In spite of everything, the imazighen currently maintain their identity. We dedicate to them this small species that lives in the depths of the Maghreb.

DISTRIBUTION. — L. imazigheni Barrientos n. sp. is exclusively known from the type locality.

DESCRIPTION

Female (holotype)

Body. Total body length 2.84. Carapace: 1.22 long by 0.83 wide; yellowish brown, ambarine tint, somewhat more intense in the cephalic part bearing a few hairs. Eyes reduced and depigmented ( Fig. 6A ); ocular lenses present, but reduced and slightly paler. Chelicerae: 0.56 long, with coloration somewhat more intense than the carapace; three teeth on the promargin, the basal smallest and more separated. Legs brown, like the carapace, long and thin; coxa and trochanter somewhat paler; measurements: leg I (2.11 + 0.42 + 2.06 + 1.93 + 1.15), leg II (2.00 + 0.40 + 1.86 + 1.84 + 1.10), leg III (1.52 + 0.34 + 1.32 + 1.47 + 0.83), and leg IV (1.81 + 0.38 + 1.86 + 1.86 + 1.05). Opisthosoma 1.47 long by 1.10 wide, gray-white color, without dorsal pattern, but entirely covered with a fine hairiness.

Female genitalia. Epigyne ( Figs 6B, C ; 14A, B ) very developed and protruding in the ventral side of epigastrum. Its basal part elongate and slightly narrowed distally, while curving backwards (forming a right angle); opening of the bursa copulatrix thus displaced distally. Pilosity of epigyne walls short but clearly distinct; hairs long and well areolated at their base. Posterior wall with a median plate, little visible by the arrangement of the structure itself. Lateral walls elongate forming a pair of short “wings” protecting the scape. Scape originating from the anterior part of the bursa copulatrix, from which it is separated by a furrow. Proscape narrow with a rounded contour, somewhat domed on its external face; flexing forward, hidden by the wings of the lateral walls (middle part of the scape) and backwards (distal part), narrowing and lengthening by a fingering (stretcher) that protrudes below the proscape.

Male

Unknown.

Figures

FIG. 6. — Lepthyphantes imazigheni Barrientos n. sp., carapace and genital organs: A, carapace; B, C, epigyne, ventral view (B), lateral view (C). Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIG. 14. — A, B, Epigyne of Lepthyphantes imazigheni Barrientos n. sp. in lateral (A) and ventral (B) views; C, epigyne of Lepthyphantes leknizii Barrientos n. sp. in dorsal view; D, E, epigyne of Lepthyphantes lamellatus Barrientos n. sp. in lateral (D) and ventral (E) views; F, male copulatory bulb of Lepthyphantes lamellatus Barrientos n. sp. in retrolateral view; G, H, epigyne of Lepthyphantes sasi Barrientos n. sp. in lateral (G) and ventral (H) views; I, male copulatory bulb of Lepthyphantes sasi n. sp. in retrolateral view.