Palpimanus logunovi sp. n.

Figs 5–6, 9–10, 15–22, 29–34, 51–52, 55, 58–61, 63–65, 68

Palpimanus sogdianus Andreeva & Tystshenko, 1969: 382, fig. 6 (♁) misidentified, most likely refers to P. logunovi sp. n.; Andreeva, 1976: 30, fig. 31–32 (♁), Tajikistan, misidentified, most likely refers to P. logunovi sp. n. or to undescribed species.

Type material. Holotype ♁ (ISEA), TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Region, Aruktau Mts., 6 km ENE from Garavuti Vil., 37°35.389ʹN, 68°31.654ʹE, stony desert, 400–630 m a.s.l., 7–8 April 2019, leg. A.A. Fomichev . Paratypes: 1♀ (ISEA), collected together with the holotype; 2♁, 1♀ (ZMMU), the same collection data as the preceding but 7 km SW from Sambuli Vil., 37°45.602ʹN, 68°32.741ʹE, dry stony shrubland with rocks, 660–980 m a.s.l., 9 April 2019, leg. A.A. Fomichev; 5♁ 12♀ (SMNH), Sanglok Mts, eastern slopes near Kolkot Vil., 3–4 km W Sebiston (=Khodzharki) Town, 38°15.1ʹN, 69°14.9ʹE, montane shrubland dominated with Pistacea vera, Cercis griffithii, and Prunus (Amygdalus) spp., 1400–1800 m a.s.l., 2–5 May 1990, leg. S.V. Ovchinnikov & S.L. Zonstein.

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of our friend and colleague Dmitri V. Logunov (Manchester, UK), for his significant contributions to the study of Central Asian spiders.

Diagnosis. Males of Palpimanus logunovi sp. n. differ from the males of all Central Asian congeners by its embolus (Em) fused with the tegulum (Te) (vs. not fused) and by the presence of a tegular hump (Th) (vs. lacking: cf. Figs 32–34, 51–52 and 35–40, 47–50). The females of this new species differ from the Central Asian congeners by their kidney-shaped posterior parts of the receptacles (Re); additionally, the receptacles are divided into a membranous anterior (Mp) and a moderately sclerotized posterior parts (Sp) (vs. undivided and oviform receptacles) (cf. Figs 58 and 56–57).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus (Figs 5–6, 15). Measurements: TL 6.05, CL 3.00, CW 2.40, CyH 0.29 (0.23 margins), palpal tibia L/ W 1.20, femur I L/ W 2.25. Eyes: AME 0.17, ALE 0.11, PLE 0.11, PME 0.07, AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.63, PLE–PME 0.47, PME–PME 0.31. Colour in alcohol: carapace, sternum, labium, endites, petiolar tube and abdominal scuta dark red; chelicerae blackish red; palp yellowish brown; coxa I dark red, other coxae dark orange; femur I dark red, patella I reddish orange, tibia I orange, metatarsus and tarsus of leg I yellow; legs II–IV yellowish orange (lighter distally); unsclerotized parts of abdomen and spinnerets dirty yellow; brownish punctures small and poorly discernible.

Palp (Figs 20–22, 29–34, 51–52). Femur 3.3 times longer than wide and 1.2 times longer than cymbium. Patella globular. Subglobular tibia ca. 1.2 times as long as wide. Cymbium ca. 1.4 times longer than tibia. Tegulum (Te) as wide as long, anterior part with triangular membranous tegular hump (Th). Embolus (Em) 3.5 times longer than wide. Ventral embolic lamina (Vl) forming an angle of 90° in ventral view. Stylus (St) wide, triangular, without constriction at base.

Palp and leg measurements in male and female (in parentheses).

Female (paratype). Habitus (Figs 9–10, 16). Measurements: TL 7.10, CL 3.25, CW 2.50, CyH 0.31 (0.24 margins), femur I L/ W 2.30. Eyes: AME 0.2, ALE 0.11, PLE 0.13, PME 0.09, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.61, PLE–PME 0.46, PME–PME 0.34. Colour in alcohol: as in male but chelicerae and femur I lighter; abdomen and spinnerets yellowish orange.

Endogyne (Figs 58–61). Receptacles (Re) divided into membranous anterior (Mp) and moderately sclerotized, kidney-shaped posterior parts (Sp). Receptacle stems not developed. Stalks of grape-shaped glands (Gg) 4–5 times longer than the glands themselves.

Habitat. The new species dwells in various xeric habitats: from (semi) deserts to montane shrublands, where it can be found under stones (Fig. 68).

Distribution. Known only from the southern spurs of the Hissar Mountains (southwestern Tajikistan) (Figs 64–65). At least some of the records of P. sogdianus from Western Tajikistan (see Andreeva 1976) very likely refer to this new species.