Lepthyphantes legatus, Tanasevitch, 2025

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2025, Survey of the Ethiopian linyphiid spider fauna. II. Subfamily Micronetinae Hull, 1920 (Arachnida: Araneae: Linyphiidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 976, pp. 255-282 : 270-273

Lepthyphantes legatus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6DD4498C-EE94-44CE-AC8F-E91111A2AEB4

Figs 8–9

Etymology

The species name is the Latin noun meaning ‘ambassador’, referring to the place of origin, the Russian Embassy Area in Addis-Ababa.

Diagnosis

The species belongs to the tropicalis species-group, being especially similar to Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov. (see above).

Type material

Holotype

ETHIOPIA • ♂; Addis-Ababa, Russian Embassy Area ; 9.03617° N, 38.78549° E; 2467 m a.s.l.; 11 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; grove with Juniperus , Eucalyptus , palm trees, bushes, sifting litter and humus; [Eth005]; ZMMU.

Paratypes

ETHIOPIA • 1 ♂, together with holotype; same data as for holotype; [Eth005]; ZMMU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; 3–6 Nov. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; [Eth005]; ZMMU .

Description

Male (paratype, Eth005)

Total length 2.71, habitus as in Fig. 8A . Carapace unmodified, 1.15 long, 0.90 wide, pale yellow to pale brown, with grey median stripe and darkened margins. Eyes not enlarged. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Stridulatory ridges well developed, as in Fig. 8D . Legs pale yellow to pale brown. Leg I 7.21 long (1.83+0.35 +1.80 +2.03 + 1.20), IV 5.74 long (1.55+0.28 + 1.40 +1.63 +0.88). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI–II: 2-1-1-4(3), III–IV: 2-1-1-2(1); Me: I–II:1-1-1-0, III–IV: 2(1)-1-0-0. Length of tibial spines 1.5–3 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.19. Palp ( Fig. 9A–I ): patella with long spine dorsally. Tibia unmodified. Cymbium with short and bent posterodorsal outgrowth ending in three small, pointed teeth. Paracymbium relatively large, its apical pocket large, black, tooth-shaped. Distal suprategular apophysis short, abruptly truncate, with well developed ventral hook. Pit-hook claw-shaped, upright, pale, poorly sclerotized. Lamella characteristica large, well sclerotized, with few sharp branches varying in length. Terminal apophysis as long stripe. Embolus with slender stem, thumb well developed, bent distally, embolus proper bifid. Abdomen 1.58 long, 0.83 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 8A–C .

Female (paratype, Eth005)

Total length 3.15. Carapace unmodified, 1.25 long, 1.00 wide ( Fig. 8E ). Chelicerae 0.65 long. Carapace and leg coloration as in male. Leg I 7.19 long (1.88+0.43 +1.75 + 2.00 +1.13), IV 5.91 long (1.68 +0.35 +1.38 +1.60 +0.90). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI–II: 2-1-1-4(3), III–IV: 2-1-1-2(1); MeI–II: 2-1-1-0, III–IV: 2(1)-1-0-0. Length of tibial spines 1.5–2.5 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.19. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.25 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 8E . Epigyne ( Figs 8F–G , 9J–K ). Scape oval, its median and distal parts merged. Bursa copulatrix opening near middle of internal surface of scape. Stretcher rudimentary, short, without pit. Posterior median plate large, wide, its lateral branches covering entire aperture of epigyne.

Distribution

Known only from the territory of the Russian Embassy, Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, at 2467 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 8. Photographs of Lepthyphantes legatus sp. nov., paratypes (Eth005; ZMMU).A–D. ♂. E–G. ♀. A, E. Habitus, dorsal views. B–C. Abdomen, dorsal views. D. Prosoma, frontolateral view. F–G. Epigyne, ventral and dorsal view, respectively. Scale bars: A–E = 0.5 mm; F, G = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 9. Lepthyphantes legatus sp. nov., paratypes (Eth005; ZMMU). A–I. ♂, palpal structure J–K. ♀, epigyne. A. Right palp, retrolateral view. B. Posterodorsal outgrowth, dorsal view. C. Tibia and posterodorsal outgrowth, posterodorsal view. D–F. Distal suprategular apophysis, retrolateral, prolateral and frontal view, respectively.G. Embolic division, lateral view.H. Lamella characteristica, ventrolateral view. I. Embolus, lateral view. J–K. Epigyne, ventral and dorsal view, respectively. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.