Zodarion bigaense sp. nov. (Figures 1A–D)

Type material: Holotype: ♂ (AUZM) Turkey, Çanakkale Province, Biga District, Karabiga town (40°22′38.58″N, 27°18′14.99″E), 03 May 2009 – 03 October 2009, S. V. Varlı leg. Paratypes: 5 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀ (4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ in AUZM, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ in CRB), same data as holotype; 1 ♀ (AUZM), Bursa Province, Nilüfer District, Ayvaköy (40°7′27.96″N, 28°42′6.30″E), 02 July 2009, K.B. Kunt leg. ; 3 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀ (AUZM), Eskişehir Province, Meşelik Area (39°43′31.05″N, 30°29′43.17″E), 26 September 2010 – 02 November 2010, R. S. Özkütük leg. ; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (AUZM), Ankara Province, Yenimahalle District, Türkkonut, Dodurga village (39°49′16.20″N, 32°40′5.90″E), 08 July 2011 – 06 September 2011, K.B. Kunt leg.

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective referring to the type locality of the new species.

Diagnosis: Zodarion bigaense sp. nov. is a member of the germanicum group and is closely related to Z. turcicum Wunderlich, 1980 . Males differ from the latter species by having a more pointed tibial apophysis, a larger tegular apophysis, and 3 large teeth on the median apophysis (Figures 1A and 1B); in Z. turcicum, only 2 large teeth and some smaller teeth are present (Figures 1E and 1F). Females differ from those of Z. turcicum by the more anterior position of the anteromedian depression and the relatively larger and closer-set spermathecae (Figures 1C and 1D, Z . bigaense sp. nov.; Figures 1G and 1H, Z . turcicum).

Description

Measurements: Male: total length 3.5 – 4.4; carapace 1.70 – 2.42 long, 1.20 – 1.71 wide. Female: total length 4.3 – 5.0; carapace 1.92 – 2.11 long, 0.82 – 1.42 wide.

Colour: Male: Prosoma dark brown, thoracic region paler with darkened anastomosing striae; chelicerae, endites, and sternum brown to dark brown; legs: coxae and tarsi yellowish white, Fe dark brown, basal part of Fe III – IV often yellowish brown, tibae and metatarsi yellowish brown; abdomen dorsally dark sepia, small posterodorsal spot, oblique lateral incision and venter whitish. Female: generally as male, but somewhat paler and with lesscontrasting leg segments.

Eyes (male): AM = 1 (0.1); AL = 0.9; PM = 0.45; PL = 0.8; a = 0.8; b = 0.55; c = 2.35; d = 0.7; MOQ: AW = 0.82 PW; L = 0.88 PW.

Palp (Figures 1A and 1B): Tibial apophysis elongated, twice as long as the tibial diameter, with a deep longitudinal groove and a blunt tip; tegulum with large tegular apophysis, situated in the anteromedian part of the bulb, strongly protruding in an anterolateral direction; median apophysis (retinaculum) located just behind the tegular apophysis, ending with 3 large, black teeth; embolus with a rounded knob at its base, gradually narrowing and terminally pointed.

Epigyne: With large anteromedian depression, only anterior and lateral margins chitinised; posterior margin of epigyne slightly incised (Figure 1C). Spermathecae rounded, separated by 2.5 times their diameter (Figure 1D).

The Turkish Zodarion species belong predominantly to the germanicum species group, with 4 species (Bosmans, 2009). Numerically, the germanicum group is followed by the lutipes and thoni groups, each with 2 Turkish species. The description of Z. bigaense sp. nov. raises the number of Turkish Zodarion species from 11 to 12. As most species of the genus have relatively small distribution ranges, the future discovery in Turkey of additional previously described or new species is to be expected.