Zelotes baram, Levy, Gershom, 2009

Levy, Gershom, 2009, New ground-spider genera and species with annexed checklist of the Gnaphosidae (Araneae) of Israel, Zootaxa 2066, pp. 1-49 : 31-32

Zelotes baram n. sp.

Figs 67–70

Type material. Adult male holotype from Bar’am forest, northern Galilee, Israel, leg. Rakefet Sharon, September 1996, pitfall trap ( HUJ 15386); female paratype from the same locality, August 1996 ( HUJ 15387).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Description. Body and legs brown. Male with large dorsal scutum. Small eyes, ALE largest. Chelicerae with 3 pro-. and 1–2 retromarginal teeth.

Male. Measurements (holotype + 10 ɗɗ; holotype listed first): total length 5.2, 4.8–5.9; carapace length 2.5, 2.3–2.6, width 1.9, 1.8–2.0, index 1.32, 1.26–1.33; labial index 1.14, 1.12–1.29; clypeal index 1.50, 1.50–1.67; MOQ index 9.6, 10.0–10.4; legs length: I 5.3, 5.1–5.8, II 4.9, 4.4–5.1, III 4.6, 4.1–4.7, IV 6.7, 6.1–6.9; patella-tibia index 0.84, 0.84–0.91.

Palpus. Large, with massive, deep brown terminal apophysis (TA), and black stylet-like embolic projection (EP; Figs 67, 68 ); embolus (E) hidden on ventral view by light median apophysis (M; Fig. 67 ) and best seen on lateral view ( Fig. 68 ). Large tibial apophysis extends over half length of bulb ( Fig. 68 ).

Female. Measurements (6 ΨΨ): total length 5.8–6.8; carapace length 2.4–2.9, width 1.8–2.2, index 1.30–1.35; labial index 1.05–1.24; clypeal index 1.25–1.67; MOQ index 9.3–10.8; legs length: I 5.3–6.3, II 4.8–5.8, III 4.4–5.2, IV 6.7–7.7; patella-tibia index 0.81–0.88.

Epigynum . Large epigynal plate with dark anterior corner-caps set far apart ( Fig. 69 ); sides of elongated median depression marked by raised, sclerotized rims dilated anteriorly ( Fig. 69 ). Round blackish spermathecae extend into short, thick flexed tubes ( Fig. 70 ).

Diagnosis. The general configuration of the male palpus and the shape of the female epigynal plate of Zelotes baram closely resemble Zelotes species of the galuni subgroup ( Levy 1998). However, Z. baram is readily distinguished, also from all other Zelotes species, by the shape of the terminal apophysis with the sharp, rigid embolic process of the male palpus, and the outlines of the epigynal, median depression and the shape of the inner spermathecae.

Distribution. Israel: northern Galilee and Golan Heights. Records: Mas’ada, Odem forest, Bar’am forest, Mt. Meron.

Comments. Zelotes baram occurs at altitudes above 750m. Specimens were found the year round.

Figures

FIGURES 67, 68. Zelotes baram n. sp. ♂, holotype, left palpus. 67. Ventral view. 68. Retrolateral view (E = embolus, EP = embolic projection, M = median apophysis, TA = terminal apophysis).

FIGURES 69, 70. Zelotes baram n. sp. Ψ. 69. Epigynum, ventral view. 70. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.