Zodarion emilijae Deltshev & Naumova, 2022

Deltshev, Christo, Naumova, Maria, Matevski, Dragan & Indzhov, Simeon, 2022, New taxonomic and faunistic data on the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 (Araneae: Zodariidae) in the Balkans, with the descriptions of two new species, Zootaxa 5174 (3), pp. 247-261 : 248-250

Zodarion emilijae Deltshev & Naumova sp. n.

Figs 1, 5 , 9, 13 , 17–19, 29, 33 , 37, 41, 45, 48, 51, 54.

Z. epirense: Matevski et al. 2020: 12 (misidentified)

Z. prope epirense: Matevski et al. 2020: 12 (misidentified).

Types. Holotype: ♂ (NMNHS-Zod-0003.1), NORTH MACEDONIA: Kozhuf Mts , N41.22158 ˚, E22.27413 ˚, 1673 m, 05.2016, D. Matevski leg. Paratypes: 2♂, 2♀ (NMNHS-Zod-0003.2) same data as the holotype ; 7♀ (NMNHS-Zod-0003.3), Mariovo region , Nidzhe Mts, Kaimakchalan peak, N40.9489 ˚, E21.8000 ˚, 2300 m, 23.06.2009, C. Deltshev, M. Komnenov & E. Stojkoska leg.

Comparative material examined. Zodarion blagoevi Bosmans, 2009 (2♂, paratypes ( MHNG), BULGARIA: General Todorov village, 400 m, under stones, 04.03.1996, G. Blagoev leg.; 1♀ paratype ( MHNG), BULGARIA: Belasitsa Mts, Kongur Peak, 1200 m, under stones, 14.06.1988, C. Deltshev leg.; 1♂, ( Lazarov 2005: 150, sub Z. epirense , misidentified) ( NMNHS), BULGARIA: Slavyanka Mts, Kalimantsi village, 07.2002); Zodarion epirense Brignoli, 1984 (♂, holotype ( MHNG), GREECE: Ipeiros, Ioanina, Metsovo pass, 1620 m, 28.04.1973, V. Mahnert leg.; ♀, paratype ( MHNG), Ioanina, Eleousa, 28.07.1969, P. Brignoli leg).

Diagnosis: Zodarion emilijae sp. n. belongs to the spinibarbe group (sensu Bosmans 2009) and is similar to Z. blagoevi , Z. epirense and Z. zorba . Males are distinguishable by the following traits: the proximal prolateral tooth of the retinaculum (PPR) 2 times longer than wide in Z. emilijae sp. n. ( Fig. 18 ) vs. 1.2–1.5 times longer than wide in Z. blagoevi ( Fig. 21 ) and Z. epirense ( Fig. 24 ) and about 1.5 times wider than long in Z. zorba ( Fig. 27 ); incision of retinaculum U-shaped in Z. emilijae sp. n. vs. roughly V-shaped in Z. blagoevi and Z. zorba and almost round in Z. epirense , with opening two times longer than PPR width in Z. emilijae sp. n. vs. almost equal in Z. blagoevi and Z. epirense and two times shorter than PPR width in Z. zorba . Females are distinguishable as follows: posterior margin of epigynal plate trapezoid and deeply incised in Z. emilijae sp. n. vs. triangular with a rounded tip and less incised in Z. blagoevi , Z. epirense and Z. zorba ; spermathecae separated by less than 2 diameters in Z. emilijae sp. n. ( Figs 22, 25, 27 ) vs. more than 2 diameters in Z. blagoevi and Z. zorba ( Figs 24, 26, 28 ) and 4 diameters in Z. epirense ( Fig. 23 ); spermathecae large and almost spherical in Z. emilijae sp. n. vs. small and two-chambered in Z. epirense . Snow-white coxae and abdominal spots present in both sexes in Z. emilijae sp. n. ( Figs 5 , 33 ) vs. whitish or pale beige in Z. blagoevi ( Figs 6 , 34 ), Z. epirense ( Figs 7 , 35 ) and Z. zorba ( Figs 8 , 36 ).

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Emilija Stojkoska (Skopje, North Macedonia), a malacologist who has a great contribution to the faunistic studies in North Macedonia.

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figs 1, 5 . Total length 3.72. Carapace 1.62 long, 1.08 wide; sternum 0.9 long, 0.72 wide; chelicerae 0.42 long, 0.20 wide; clypeus 0.16 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.05, PLE 0.05; AME–AME 0.07, ALE–AME 0.03, PLE–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.22. Abdomen 1.62 long. Legs: I—(1.15, other segments missing); II—(1.08, other segments missing); III—4.28 (1.08, 0.54, 0.9, 1.08, 0.68); IV—6.04 (1.44, 0.60, 1.47, 1.54, 0.9). Color ( Figs 1, 5 ): carapace and sternum dark-brown. Chelicerae brown. Abdomen dark sepia-brown with white spot, extending a half of the venter. Spinnerets whitish, uniform in color. Legs: coxae snow white, other segments brown to brown-yellow, without annulations.

Palp as in Figs 9, 13 , 17, 19. Femur 0.54 long, 0.18 wide, dark brown; patella 0.22 long, 0.18 wide, beige; tibia 0.11 long, 0,18 wide, brown; RTA 0.18 long, triangular, slightly curved ventrally, dark brown. Cymbium 0.54 long, 0.40 wide, dark brown with pale tip; with slightly concave bulge retro-basally; bulb 0.43 long, 0.36 wide. Tegulum oval, with distinct prolateral basal bulge; retinaculum 0.47 long, 0.16 wide, with U-shaped incision and 2 unequal teeth, proximal, longer than distal, claw-shaped. Embolus narrow, curved and pointed, originating at a 9 o’clock position and terminating at a 1 o’clock position.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Figs 29, 33 . Total length 3.78. Carapace 1.62 long, 1.08 wide; sternum 0.9 long, 0.72 wide; chelicerae 0.54 long, 0.34 wide; clypeus 0.28 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.05, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.07. ALE–AME 0.03, PLE–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.22. Abdomen 2.16 long. Legs: I—(1.15, 0.54, 1.44, 1.69, tarsus missing); II—(1.15, other segments missing); III—4.57 (1.04, 0.54, 0.97, 1.18, 0.72); IV—6.26 (1.62, 0.61, 1.44, 1.62, 0.97). Coloration as in male.

Epigyne ( Figs 22, 25, 27 ): epigynal plate 2 times wider than long, with trapezoid sclerotized sutures. Posterior margin trapezoid, about 2 times wider than long, not reaching half the length of the spermathecae and with large median incision; spermathecae oval, slightly wider than long (0.11 long, 0.14 wide), separated by less than 2 diameters.

Ecology. The scarce data suggest that Z. emilijae sp. n. is a species with spring activity, preferring elevations above 1670 m in the coniferous and subalpine zone of the mountains.

Distribution. Known only from the type localities in Kozhuf Mts and Nidzhe Mts, North Macedonia ( Fig. 76 ).

Figures

FIGURE 76. Georeferenced locations of the new records of Zodarion species in the Balkans.

FIGURES 1–8. Habitus of males: Z. emilijae sp. n. (1, 5), Z. blagoevi (2, 6), Z. epirense (3, 7), Z. zorba (4, 8); dorsal (1–4) and ventral (5–8) views. Scales: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 9–16. Male palps: Z. emilijae sp. n. (9, 13), Z. blagoevi (10, 14), Z. epirense (11, 15), Z. zorba (12, 16); ventral (9–12) and retrolateral (13–16) views. Scales: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 29–36. Habitus of females: Z. emilijae sp. n. (29, 33), Z. blagoevi (30, 34), Z. epirense (31, 35), Z. zorba (32, 36); dorsal (29–32) and ventral (33–36) views. Scales: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 17–28. Drawings of the male palps: Z. emilijae sp. n. (17–19), Z. blagoevi (20–22), Z. epirense (23–25), Z.zorba (26– 28); ventral (17, 20, 23, 26), retrolateral (19, 22, 25, 28) views and detail: retinaculum (18, 21, 24, 27). Scales: 0.2 mm. DPT— distal prolateral tooth of the retinaculum, E—embolus, PPT—proximal prolateral tooth of the retinaculum, Rt—retinaculum, RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis, RtI—incision of the retinaculum, TgB—tegular bulge; a—PPT length, b—PPT width at its base, c—width at the RtI opening.