Micrommata biggi, Jäger, 2023

Jäger, Peter, 2023, Revision of the huntsman spider genus Micrommata Latreille, 1804 (Sparassidae Sparassinae), Zootaxa 5352 (1), pp. 1-45 : 11-15

Micrommata biggi spec. nov.

Figs 2 , 19–40

Micrommata cf. ligurina Zarikian et al. 2022: 115 , figs 9A–E (illustration of male, female; 2 males from ARMENIA: Vayots Dzor Province: environments of Shatin, 39°51’44”N, 45°20’19”E [1498 m], meadow with lava stones, 9 May 2021; 2 males, 1 female, 1 juvenile, Gnishik River canyon, road to Noravank Monastery, 39°41’14”N 45°13’21”E, 1400 m, 10.v.2021. Yerevan: 1 male, environments of Geghadir, 2 canyons nearby, 40°09’N 44°38’E [1505 m], 15 May 2021).

Notes. These specimens are known to the author only from the literature and are tentatively identified as M. biggi spec. nov. The epigyne fits very well with the variation known from the material examined, although the female pictured had only a short foveal patch and not the long median band as described below. The male depicted has the characteristic colour pattern with the narrow median band on the DS, but shows a slight incision near the tegular prong at the distal margin of the tegulum. The embolus and its shape are not readily recognisable from Zarikian et al. (2022: fig. 9D). From the distribution range and the elevation, where specimens were recorded from, these specimens most likely belong to M. biggi spec. nov.

Type material. Holotype male: TÜRKIYE: Diyarbakır: Ergani [38°16’28.30”N, 39°46’41.51”E, 957 m], 12 April 2008, WD 129, ex Coll. Kurt ( SMF) . Paratypes: TÜRKIYE: Adıyaman: 1 male, Aydinlar village , 5 km North Gerger district, 38° 3’41”N, 39° 6’44”E [906 m], E.A. Yağmur leg. 20 April 2008, No. 13 ( ZMUU) . Kars: 1 female, road between Kağızman and Erzurum, NW Esenkır village , 40° 6’30”N, 42°59’11”E, 1288 m, B. Gökalp, H. Koru leg. 25 May 2016, No. 7 ( ZMUU) . 1 female, between Erzurum and Iğdır, NW Esenkır village , 40° 6’35”N, 42°59’11”E, 1316 m, H. Koru leg. 25 May 2016, No. 6 ( SMF) . Mardin: 1 male, Yeşilli , 37°19’57”N, 40°48’35”E, 751 m, E.A. Yağmur leg. 14 February 2013, No. 9 ( SMF) .

Additional material examined. IRAN: Tehran: 1 male, Alborz Mountains, 35°49’N, 51°27’E [1700 m], A. Zamani leg. 4 May 2015 ( SMF) . Lorestan: 1 female, Podokhtar [= Poldokhtar or Pol-e Dochtar; 33°8’38.94”N, 47°43’14.15”E, 700 m], S. Zaroomi leg. 22 April 2012, D.V. Logunov det. sub M. ligurina ( MMUE G7539.8 ) . TURKMENISTAN: Balkan Province: 1 male, 3 females, W of Kopet Dag , 5 km W of Garrygala [38°26’13.60”N, 56°13’36.39”E, 300 m], D.V. Logunov leg. 28–29 March 1997, MLTKMF5–7 ( MMUE; 1 female SMF) . Ahal Province: 4 females, 37–38 km SE of Pulikhatum, foothills of Zyul’fagarskiy Khrebet Mt. Range [35°42’43.39”N, 61°22’34.22”E], ca. 1000 m, D.V. Logunov leg. 13–14 April 1993, MLTKMF1–4 ( MMUE; 1 female SMF) .

Etymology. The species is named for my lovely wife Biggi on the occasion of our wedding; name in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of M. biggi spec. nov. ( Figs 19–24 ) resemble those of M. diesenhoff spec. nov. in having a tegulum with short distad tip of the tegular prong (i.e. prong being shorter than the width of the base where it arises) without incision at its distal margin, but can be distinguished by 1. Longer RTA, and 2. Embolus tip stouter and shorter (best seen in retrolateral view) (RTA shorter, embolus tip longer and more slender in M. diesenhoff spec. nov.). Females ( Figs 25–32 , 39 ) are similar to those of M. ligurina in having a similar epigyne with similarly widely separated epigynal pockets, but can be distinguished by 1. Anterior incision of median septum indistinctly delimited, 2. IDS without distinct median constriction between anterior and posterior parts and both parts of similar width, 3. Anterior ends of anterior part of IDS close together (anterior incision elongated V-shaped and with straight and clearly defined margins, IDS with distinct median constriction, anterior part wider than posterior part, anterior ends of IDS diverging in M. ligurina ). Furthermore, both sexes of M. biggi spec. nov. can be distinguished by the absence of a dark longitudinal patch on the fovea (distinctly present in M. ligurina ; Fig. 102 ). Both sexes of M. biggi spec. nov. have instead a narrow dark median band on DS with a slight “waist” anterior to fovea ( Figs 35, 38 ; this band broader without waist in M. formosa [ Figs 73, 75, 78, 80–83 ] or without distinct band in M. virescens [ Figs 134–136 ]).

Description. MALE (holotype): Measurements: Small Sparassinae . TL 6.3, PL 2.9, PW 2.5, AW 1.4, OL 3.4, OW 1.7. Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.25, PME 0.20, PLE 0.21, AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.16, AME-PME 0.34, ALE-PLE 0.19, CH AME 0.26, CH ALE 0.26. Spination: Pp 130, 121, 2111; Fe I–II 323, III 323(2), IV 321; Pa I–III 000, IV 001; Ti I–II 2024, III–IV 2124; Mt I–II 1014, III 3014, IV 3037. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 3.15 (0.9, 0.45, 0.6, -, 1.2); I 12.3 (3.4, 1.4, 3.3, 3.1, 1.1); II 13.3 (3.6, 1.5, 3.6, 3.4, 1.2); III 10.9 (3.1, 1.1, 2.9, 2.8, 1.0); IV 13.8 (3.7, 1.3, 3.5, 4.0, 1.3). Leg formula: IV-II-I-III. Cheliceral furrow with 2 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth, with 6(7) ES.

Palp ( Figs 19–24 ): As in diagnosis. RTA with moderately broad base and slender distal half in ventral view, tapering continuously in retrolateral view with slightly curved tip, moderately long, not reaching the base of cymbial spine in retrolateral view. Fundus wide, i.e. more than half the width of the basal tegulum winding, retrolaterad. Tegular denticle field situated medially opposite embolic division plate. Embolic tip very stout, best seen in retrolateral view.

Colouration ( Figs 33–35 ): Generally pale yellowish brown with DS slightly darker. DS with dark median longitudinal stripe, fovea more distinctly marked, and with indistinct lateral bands consisting of dark setae. OS with white guanine crystals except for heart patch. Appendages with some dark setae.

FEMALE (paratype from between Kağızman and Erzurum): Measurements: TL 11.5 , PL 3.7 , PW 2.9 , AW 1.9, OL 8.0, OW 5.7 . Eyes: AME 0.16, ALE 0.24, PME 0.20, PLE 0.21, AME-AME 0.15, AME-ALE 0.04, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.20, AME-PME 0.39, ALE-PLE 0.20, CH AME 0.33, CH ALE 0.30. Spination: Pp 131, 121, 2121, 1013; Fe I –III 323, IV 321; Pa I –IV 000; Ti I 1014, II 2014, III–IV 2124; Mt I –II 1014, III 3014, IV 3037. Measurements of palps and legs: Pp 4.1 (1.1, 0.7, 1.0., -, 1.3); I 12.7 (3.7, 1.5, 3.3, 3.1, 1.1); II 14.3 (4.1, 1.7, 3.8, 3.5, 1.2); III 11.6 (3.4, 1.4, 3.0, 2.7, 1.1); IV 15.0 (4.3, 1.5, 3.7, 4.2, 1.3). Leg formula: IV-II-I-III. Cheliceral furrow with 2 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth, with 7 ES.

Copulatory organ ( Figs 25–32 ): As in diagnosis. EF and MS slightly wider than long. Epigynal pockets visible in ventral view. MS with 5–9 radial grooves, its antero-median incision reaching approximately to the centre of MS. Dorso-anterior part of IDS covering ventral part in dorsal view, i.e. reaching anteriormost position. Glandular appendages situated lateral to postero-median coils, the latter dorsad to posteriad. Fertilisation ducts roughly rightangled postero-laterally and at their tips.

Colouration ( Figs 36–38 ): As in male, but with more distinct pattern on DS and with more strongly coverage of dark setae on appendages.

Variation. Male (n=4): TL 6.1–8.2, PL 2.8–3.8, OL 3.4–4.6. Cheliceral furrow with 2 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth and 6–7 ES. PS width/length (unscaled measurements): 48/43=1.116, 53/47= 1.12, 60/48=1.25. Female (n=9): TL 7.7–13.1, PL 3.4–4.1, OL 4.5–9.0, CH 2/3, ES 6–8. In specimens from Turkmenistan the dark median band on DS was partly faded except for the dark foveal patch.

Distribution. Eastern Ţrkiye, Armenia, northern Iran, southern Turkmenistan ( Fig. 2 : black triangles).

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Distribution ranges of Micrommata species. 1 M. virescens (red circles), M. diesenhoff spec. nov. (black triangle). 2 M.ligurina (red circles), M. biggi spec. nov. (black triangles).3 M. formosa (red circles), M.aljibica (black triangles). Majority of records is from specimens examined, some are from published literature or websites like iNaturalist (western record of M. aljibica, several records of M. virescens in its central range).

FIGURES 19–24. Micrommata biggi spec. nov., left palp (19, 22 prolateral; 20, 23 ventral; 21, 24 retrolateral) (19–21 holotype male from Ţrkiye; 22–24 male from Turkmenistan). E—embolus, TDF—tegular denticle field, TP—tegular prong.

FIGURES 25–28. Micrommata biggi spec. nov., female from Iran, copulatory organ (25 epigyne, ventral; 26 ditto, posterior; 27 vulva dorsal; 28 schematic course of IDS, dorsal). AP—anterior part of internal duct system, EF—epigynal field, EP—epigynal pocket, GA—glandular appendages, MI—antero-median incision of median septum, PMW—postero-median windings, PP— posterior part of internal duct system, RG—radial grooves of median septum.

FIGURES 29–32. Micrommata biggi spec. nov., females from Turkmenistan, copulatory organ (29–31 epigyne, ventral; 32 vulva dorsal).

FIGURES 33–38. Micrommata biggi spec. nov., habitus of preserved specimens from Ţrkiye (33, 35–36, 38 dorsal; 34, 37 ventral) (33–35 holotype male; 36–38 female paratype). Arrows indicating slight waist of median band in front of fovea.

FIGURES 39–40. Micrommata biggi spec. nov., female paratype from Ţrkiye. 39 Epigyne, ventral. Habitus, frontal.

FIGURES 102–103. Micrommata ligurina, male from Greece (Corfu), live spider, dorsal. Arrow indicating dark foveal patch.

FIGURES 73–83. Micrommata formosa, habitus of preserved (73–79) and live (80–83) spiders (73, 75, 78, 80, 82–83 dorsal; 74, 76, 79 ventral; 77 lateral; 81 frontal) (73–74 male from Spain; 75–77 holotype female of M. aragonensis from Spain; 78–81 female from Spain; 82 female from Malta; 83 female with opened egg sac from Portugal). Photo credits: 78–81 Arnaud Henrard; 82 Victor Falzon; 83 Sergio Henriques.

FIGURES 133–138. Micrommata virescens, adults from Germany, habitus and behaviour. 133 Male, looking for a female. 134 Female and male in the natural habitat. 135 Male and female in mating position. 136 Ditto, male bites leg of female. 137 Female with egg sac in rolled leaf of Rubus sp. 138 Egg sac with green eggs. Arrows indicating scars on the opisthosoma of female spiders. Photo credit: 136 Herbert Schirmer.