Evippa Simon, 1882

Steinpress, Igor Armiach, Alderweireldt, Mark, Cohen, Mira, Chipman, Ariel & Gavish-Regev, Efrat, 2021, Synopsis of the Evippinae (Araneae, Lycosidae) of Israel, with description of a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 733, pp. 87-124 : 100-102

Evippa Simon, 1882

Figs 3–13

Evippa Simon, 1882: 367 .

Type species

Evippa arenaria (Audouin, 1826)

Diagnosis

Evippa is distinguished easily from all other lycosids by a combination of characters: elongated tarsal claws, 5–6 pairs of ventral spines on tibia I (apart from apical pair), transverse depression in carapace posterior to ocular area ( Fig. 3 ) ( Alderweireldt 1991).

Description

Small- to medium-sized lycosids. Cephalic region elevated, separated from thoracic region by transverse depression. Ocular area almost as wide as cephalic region, adorned with long, forward-pointing setae. Clypeus vertical. Anterior row of eyes procurved, narrower than PME. AME larger than ALE. Labium wider than long. Most species with long, slender legs (see E. onager ; Fig. 3 ). Claws usually long, toothed near base. Tarsi of many species with pseudoarticulation. Tibia I with 5–6 pairs of spines (apart from apical pair). Coloration cryptic, usually mottled yellow or brown ( Fig. 3 ). Carapace usually with pale median band. Body covered with short setae throughout ( Fig. 14A ) (Alderweireldt 1992). Male and female of similar appearance. Embolus large; base in meso-apical position ( Figs 6–9 , 12 ). Epigyne usually with well-developed, pale atria ( Figs 10 , 13 ). Spermathecae large, sperm ducts twisted ( Figs 11 , 13 ) ( Tikader & Malhotra 1980; Alderweireldt 1991).

Natural history

Evippa species inhabit deserts, steppes and savannas, often on sandy, clay or salt-covered plains ( Barrientos et al. 2015; Ponomarev & Tsvetkov 2004) ( Fig. 15 ), although mountain-dwelling species are known ( Tikader & Malhotra 1980). All species are presumed vagrant ( Alderweireldt & Jocqué 2017). Diurnal activity has been observed (I. Armiach Steinpress, pers. obs.) but most activity is crepuscular and nocturnal ( Alderweireldt & Jocqué 2017). Adults in warm climates are observed active during most of the year ( Barrientos et al. 2015).

Distribution

The species of Evippa are distributed in arid and semiarid environments across Eurasia and Africa. Eight species are reported from Africa, four species are reported from Europe, and 34 are reported from Asia (13 from Central Asia, nine from India, nine from the Middle East, seven from China and one from Siberia) ( World Spider Catalog 2020). In Israel four species are found.

Relationships

The genus appears to be closely related to Pseudevippa Simon, 1910 , from which it is distinguished by the number of ventral spines on tibia I ( Alderweireldt 1991).

Key to the genus Evippa in Israel

1. Carapace longer than ¼ length of leg I ............. Evippa onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979

– Carapace shorter than ¼ length of leg I ............................................................................................ 2

2. Females ............................................................................................................................................. 3

– Males ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Females

3. Epigynal septum greatly constricted proximally. Epigynal atria curved proximally towards each other ( Fig. 10B ) ............................................................................ Evippa arenaria (Audouin, 1826)

– Epigynal septum not constricted proximally. Epigynal atria approximately parallel ( Figs 10A, D , 13 ) ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Epigynal septum with smooth edges, widening only towards ends ( Fig. 10D ) ................................. .......................................................................... Evippa praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871)

– Epigynal septum edge with small tooth or terrace ( Figs 10A , 13A, C ) ......... Evippa amitaii sp. nov.

Males

5. Terminal apophysis (process between tegular apophysis and cymbium, as used by Barrientos et al. 2015) at least at 40° angle to tegular apophysis ( Figs 7A , 8A , 12 ) ............... Evippa amitaii sp. nov.

– Terminal apophysis approximately parallel to tegular apophysis ( Figs 7 B–D, 8B–D) .................... 6

6. Subapical process branches off at less than ¼ of MA length from tegular apophysis tip ( Figs 7D , 8D ) ................................................................... Evippa praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871)

– Subapical process branches off at more than ¼ of MA length from tegular apophysis tip ( Fig. 6B ) ........................................................................................ Evippa arenaria (Audouin, 1826)

Figures

Fig. 3. ♀♀, live specimens. A. Evippa arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (Ze’elim, 21 Jul. 2015), dorsal view. B. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (Nahal Ashalim, 13 Apr. 2018), dorsal view. C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 20314, Biq’at ’Uvda (’Uvda valley), 13 Mar. 2018), dorsal view. D. E. onager (HUJ INV-Ar 20314, Biq’at ’Uvda (’Uvda valley), 13 Mar. 2018), frontal view. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 4. ♂♂, habitus. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16051). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16508). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 20316). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16041). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16049). Scale bars = 10 mm. Photos by A. Uzan.

Fig. 5. ♀♀, habitus. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16048). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16507). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 16510). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16044). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16544). Scale bars = 10 mm. Photos by A. Uzan.

Fig. 6. ♂♂, left palp, ventral view. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16051). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16508). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 16510). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16531). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16538). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 7. ♂♂, left palp, retrolateral view. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16051). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16508). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 16510). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16531). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16538). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 8. ♂♂, left palp, prolateral view. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16051). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16508). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 16510). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16531). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16538). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 9. Evippa amitaii sp. nov., ♂ (HUJ INV-Ar 16051), bulb of left palp, proximal view. Photo by I. Armiach Steinpress. Scale bar = 0.3 mm.

Fig. 10. ♀♀, genitalia, ventral view. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16053). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16058). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 20314). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16521). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16543). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 11. ♀♀, genitalia, dorsal view. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16053). B. E. arenaria (Audouin, 1826) (HUJ INV-Ar 16058). C. E. onager Simon, 1895 sensu Šternbergs 1979 (HUJ INV-Ar 20314). D. E. praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871) (HUJ INV-Ar 16521). E. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16543). Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 12. Evippa amitaii sp. nov., ♂ (HUJ INV-Ar 16051), drawings of left palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view. C. Proximal view.D. Prolateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Drawings by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 13. ♀♀, genitalia, drawings. A. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16053), ventral view. B. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16543), ventral view. C. Evippa amitaii sp. nov. (HUJ INV-Ar 16053), dorsal view. D. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992 (HUJ INV-Ar 16543), dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Drawings by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 14. Cephalic region (right side, dorsal view), showing covering setae. A. Evippa praelongipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871), round-profile setae. B. Evippomma simoni Alderweireldt, 1992, leafshaped setae. Scale bars = 0.5 mm. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.

Fig. 15. Typical habitats of Evippinae in Israel. A. Nahal Ashalim, Dead Sea area, stream bed in hyperarid climate. B. Mamshit, central Negev, sandy loess plain in arid climate. C. Biq’at ‘Uvda (‘Uvda valley), southern Negev, stream bed with cracked soil in hyperarid climate. D. Palmahim, Coastal Plain, dunes in Mediterranean climate. Photos by I. Armiach Steinpress.