Palpimanus rakhimovi sp. n.

Figs 3–4, 7–8, 13–14, 26–28, 38–40, 49–50, 54, 57, 62, 64–65, 67

Type material. Holotype ♁ (ISEA), Surxondaryo Region, Kugitang (=Köýtendag) Mt. Ridge, near Neftchi Camp, 37°51.694ʹN, 66°37.644ʹE, stony juniper woodland, 1700–2000 m a.s.l., 6–7 May 2022, leg. A.A. Fomichev & Y.V. Dyachkov. Paratypes: 5♁ 12♀ (ISEA), collected together with the holotype; 1♁, 2♀ (ISEA), Uzbekistan, Surxondaryo Region, Tupalangdarya River Valley, 7 km NNE from Gisarak Vil., 38°38.113ʹN, 67°49.661ʹE, rocky shrubland, 1000–1300 m a.s.l., 1–2 May 2022, leg. A.A. Fomichev & Y.V. Dyachkov ; 1♁, 2♀ (ISEA), the same collection data as the preceding but Sangardakdarya River Valley, 35 km NW from Denov (= Denau) Town, 38°31.523ʹN, 67°36.451ʹE, rocky shrubland, 1200 m a.s.l., 4 May 2022, leg. A.A. Fomichev & Y.V. Dyachkov.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of a friend of AF, the Uzbek entomologist Mukhammadtuichi Rakhimov (Samarkand, Uzbekistan), who helped in organizing an expedition to Uzbekistan, during which the types of this new species were collected.

Diagnosis. Palpimanus rakhimovi sp. n. is most similar to P. sogdianus in having the embolus (Em) not fused to the tegulum (Te), an elongated stylus (St) with a constriction near its base and ovoid receptacles (Re) not divided into membranous and sclerotized parts (cf. Figs 49 and 50 and Figs 56 and 57). The males of the new species can be distinguished from those of P. sogdianus by the palpal tibia being twice as large as the bulb (vs. palpal tibia and bulb approximately equal in size), by the apex of the ventral embolic lamina (Vl) forming a 90° angle (vs. 45°) and by the absence of the embolic trench (Et) (cf. Figs 26–28, 38–40, 49–50 and 23–25, 35–37, 47–48). The conspecific females can be distinguished from those of P. sogdianus by the stalks of grape-shaped glands (Gg) which are as long as receptacle stems (Rs) (vs. the very short, almost invisible stalks of grape-shaped glands) (cf. Figs 57 and 56).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus (Figs 3–4, 13). Measurements: TL 5.78, CL 2.73, CW 2.11, CyH 0.28 (0.22 margins), palpal tibia L/ W 2.34, femur I L/ W 2.19. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.08, PLE 0.06, PME 0.05, AME– AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.49, PLE–PME 0.38, PME–PME 0.26. Colour in alcohol: carapace and chelicerae dull purplish red; sternum, labium, endites, leg I from coxa to tibia, petiolar tube and abdominal scuta dark to medium red; palp, metatarsus and tarsus I, and entire legs II–IV yellowish red (lighter distally); unsclerotized parts of abdomen and spinnerets medium purplish brown; brownish punctures small and poorly discernible.

Palp (Figs 26–28, 38–40, 49–50). Femur 3.4 times longer than wide and 1.4 times longer than cymbium. Slightly elongate patella 1.3 times as long as wide. Tibia ca. 1.4 times as long as wide. Cymbium as long as tibia. Tegulum (Te) 1.1 times longer than wide. Embolus (Em) 4 times longer than wide. Stylus (St) with small spine (Ss) proximally.

Palp and leg measurements of male and female (those of female paratype in parentheses):

Female (paratype). Habitus (Figs 7–8, 14). Measurements: TL 6.67, CL 2.93, CW 2.32, CyH 0.28 (0.23 margins), femur I L/ W 2.43. Eyes: AME 0.15, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.05, AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.15, ALE–PLE 0.55, PLE–PME 0.47, PME–PME 0.30. Colour in alcohol: as in male, but carapace, chelicerae and femur I somewhat lighter.

Endogyne (Fig. 57). Receptacles (Re) ovoid, tightly adjacent to each other. Receptacle stems (Rs) short. Grape-shaped glands (Gg) large, rod-shaped.

Habitat. The new species inhabits shrublands and juniper woodlands on a rocky substrate, where it can be found under stones (Fig. 67).

Distribution. The new species is known only from the south-western spurs of the Hissar Mountains, from the Kugitang to Babatag Mt. Ranges (south-eastern Uzbekistan) (Figs 64–65).