Amaurobius lesbius sp. nov. (Figs. 6-10)

Type material: Holotype male, 1 paratype male two paratype females from Greece, Lesbos, Nomos Kalloni, Skalochori (N 39°15’59” E26° 05’ 30”), 300 m, litter in Querem forest, 2.X.2007, R. Bosmans & J. Van Keer leg. Deposited in KBIN .

Etymology: The species is named after the island of Lesbos.

Diagnosis: Amaurobius lesbius n. sp. is closely related to the larger A erberi (Keyserling), also occurring on Lesbos. Males differ by the reduction of an intermediate apophysis in the palpal tibia, and the presence of a strongly protruding, rectangular tegular process. Females differ by the closely set spermathecae, separated by less than 1/4 their diameter in the new species and by their diameter in A. erberi .

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Description

Colour: Prosoma yellowish brown, sometimes with greyish striae, thoracic part paler; chelicerae dark orange brown. Legs yellowish brown. Abdomen in males darkgreyto black with anteromedian pale stripe and some subterminal, pale grey chevrons, venter pale to dark grey, in females dorsally pale grey with dark grey pattern.

Measurements (males: n=6; females: n= 8): Male: Total length 3.6-4.6; prosoma 1.81-2.24 long, 1.21- 1.56 wide. Female: Total length 4.8-6.8; prosoma 1.99-2.26 long, 1.18-1.54 wide. Leg measurements as in Table 3, leg spination as in Table 4.

Male palp (Figs. 6-8):Tibiawith small, curved dorsal and larger blunt retrolateral apophyses, the former with a tooth at its base, intermediate apophysis reduced to a short crest.Tegular process strongly protruding, nearly rectangular. Tegular apophysis elongated, terminally hooked and embolus short and bent.

Epigyne and vulva (Figs. 9-10): With reversed trapezoid plate. Spermathecae closely set, separated by less than V a their diameter, basal part covered by epigynal plate.

Further material examined

Agiasos: Agiasos S. (N 39°05’53” E 26°21’57”), 550 m, 5 males, pitfalls in Castanea forest, X.2007 - IV.2008 (CJVK); - Mandamados: road Klio-Sykaminia (N 39°22’33” E 26°10’59”), 350 m, stones in small Pinus forest, 1 subadult male 1 female, 6.X.2007, 6 females, 27.III.2008 (CHDK, CJVK, CRB) .

Ecology: All specimens were captured in Castanea, Pinus and Quereus forests. Males were only collected in winter, females in winter and spring.

Distribution: At the moment, the species is only known from Lesbos, but as Amaurobius species generally have large distribution areas, it may occur on other East Aegean Islands as well.