Leptopilos levantinus, 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 : 10-11

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.186952
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6221987
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0E2987C9-7939-0C27-3DF6-F96EFE15FCAB
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Leptopilos levantinus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Leptopilos levantinus View in CoL n. sp.

Figs 19–22 View FIGURES 19, 20 View FIGURES 21, 22

Leptodrassus pupa (not Dalmas, 1919) Chatzaki, 2002a: 592, figs 74, 75; 2002b: 618, figs 44, 45. Misidentification.

Type material. Adult male holotype and female paratype from the edges of a salt marsh, east of Yotvata, Arava Valley, Israel, leg. Uri Shanas, April 14, 2004, pitfall trap ( HUJ 15568).

Etymology. The specific name refers to the distribution of the species.

Description. Colouration and appearance as of genus.

Male. Measurements (holotype): total length 2.7; carapace length 1.3, width 0.9, index 1.44; labial index 0.7; clypeal index 0.7; MOQ index 5.0; legs length: I 4.2, II 3.9, III 3.1, IV 5.2; patella-tibia index 1.15.

Palpus. Large, thick, hooked tegular apophysis bends above two small pointed dark processes and a fine transparent lamina ( Figs 19, 20 View FIGURES 19, 20 ); tibial apophysis tapers to slightly truncated tip ( Figs 19, 20 View FIGURES 19, 20 ).

Female. Measurements (3ΨΨ): total length 2.7–3.7; carapace length 1.2–1.3, width 0.9, index 1.33–1.44; labial index 0.71–0.84; clypeal index 1.0; MOQ index 5.0–5.65; legs length: I 3.6, II 3.4–3.9, III 2.8–2.9, IV 3.9–4.4; patella-tibia index 1.0.

Epigynum . Anterior cap-like hood (reminds of a little girl’s summer hat) rises above nearly round median cavity ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21, 22 ). Cavity coated inside by brown rigid transparent membrane. Sides of cavity partly flanked by transparent folds ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 21, 22 ). Spermathecae as in Fig. 22 View FIGURES 21, 22 .

Diagnosis. The shape of both, the tegular sclerites and the tibial apophysis of the male palpus, and the shape of the epigynal plate and the anterior hood are all diagnostic characters separating L. levantinus from all other Leptopilos and former Leptodrassus species.

Distribution. Crete, Israel. Records. Israel: East of Yotvata (Arava Valley).

Comment. It should be noted that Chatzaki (2002b) was rather reluctant regarding her identification of Dalmas’ Egyptian L. pupa in Greece. The latter, as of Levy (1999b, figs 38–40) is as yet known only by the types from Suez, Egypt.