Oxyopes elifaz, Levy, Gershom, 2007

Levy, Gershom, 2007, Calommata (Atypidae) and new spider species (Araneae) from Israel, Zootaxa 1551, pp. 1-30 : 12-13

Oxyopes elifaz n. sp.

Figs. 29–32

Holotype. adult male and female paratype from East of Elifaz , Arava Valley (697181/298096), Israel, leg. Uri Shanas, April 25, 2004, pitfall trap ( HUJ 15481).

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

Description. Carapace yellowish-brown, opisthosoma beige with median lanceolate marking on back.

Male. Measurements (holotype + 10 ɗɗ; holotype listed first): total length 6.9, 5.4–7.3; carapace length 2.6, 2.2–2.8, width 2.1, 1.7–2.1, index 1.24, 1.24–1.35; clypeus index 5.0, 3.70–5.55; median ocular quadrangle/clypeus height 1.50, 1.20–2.11; distance between PME eyes/diameter of one PME 1.68, 1.63–2.15; leg lengths: I 10.3, 8.7–11.0, II 9.6, 8.2–10.5, III 6.2, 5.1–6.3, IV 10.9, 9.0–11.2; patella-tibia index 1.31, 1.04– 1.39.

Palpus. Tip of embolus enveloped apically by black sclerotic conductor ( Fig. 29 ); large tegular outgrowth expands into scooped blackish conchiform structure resting below embolar tip ( Figs. 29, 30 ). Tibia armed with barely visible ventral apophysis and with yellowish-brown retrolateral apophysis with ectal, dark, ridgelike, sclerotic extension ( Figs. 29, 30 ).

Female. Measurements (paratype): total length 9.1; carapace length 3.1, width 2.4, index 1.29; clypeus index 4.0; median ocular quadrangle/clypeus height 1.67; distance between PME eyes/diameter of one PME 1.6; leg lengths: I 10.6, II 10.2, III 6.4, IV 11.5; patella-tibia index 1.13.

Epigynum . Relatively large. Central depression traversed posteriorly by partly transparent, sclerotic rim extending on sides to discerning globular spermathecae ( Fig. 31 ). Round blackish spermathecae extend into short brown tubes ( Fig. 32 ).

Diagnosis. The configuration of the male palpus of Oxyopes elifaz n. sp. resembles slightly that of O. badhyzicus Mikhailov & Fet , but the new species can be easily separated, also from all other Oxyopes species, by the shape of the projecting conductor and the conchiform outgrowth of the tegulum. The shape of the peculiar epigynal plate of O. elifaz n. sp. differs distinctly from the epigynum of O. badhyzicus and from all other Oxyopes species.

Distribution. Israel and Jordan: on sands along the southern Arava Valley. Records: East of Yahel, Lotan , Qetura and Elifaz .

Comments. Oxyopes elifaz n. sp. is the common oxyopid of the Arava sands, as is O. badhyzicus of the central Negev and the sand dunes of Haluza ( Levy 1999a). The sands of each landscape apparently harbour a different oxyopid population.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 32. 29, 30. Oxyopes elifaz n. sp. ♂, holotype, left palpus. 29. Ventral view. 30. Retrolateral view. 31, 32. Oxyopes elifaz n. sp. Ψ. 31. Epigynum, ventral view. 32. Spermathecae, dorsal (inner) view.