Lepthyphantes chilalo, 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 : 266-269

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2795

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D91F26F-C5F8-4BC0-9BE9-741CB9F5030E

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14937616

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03CF064E-FFDE-FFA8-FDC4-4BB7FD1F1A42

treatment provided by

Plazi (2025-02-27 12:40:22, last updated 2025-02-28 09:20:17)

scientific name

Lepthyphantes chilalo
status

sp. nov.

Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5DC1B0C6-8AFE-4A42-9323-EED2CAF0E781

Figs 5–6 View Fig View Fig

Diagnosis

The species probably belongs to the tropicalis species-group, but, unlike other members, its epigyne lacks lateral lobes of the posterior median plate. Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov. is very similar to L. legatus sp. nov. (see below), a true member of the tropicalis group. The male differs by the shape of the cymbial posterodorsal outgrowth, which lacks apical denticles, vs serrate ( Fig. 6A–C View Fig cf. Fig. 9A–C View Fig ), as well as by the shape of the lamella characteristica, which has several branches, vs entire ( Fig. 6H View Fig cf. Fig. 9H View Fig ). The female differs by a triangular and shield-shaped scapus, vs oval ( Fig. 6J View Fig cf. Fig. 9J View Fig ).

Etymology

The species name is a noun in apposition, referring to Chilalo-Terara, an isolated extinct volcano, the terra typica of the new species.

Material examined

Holotype

ETHIOPIA • ♂; Oromia Region, Asela Zone, ca 7–8 air-km SE of Asela, Chilalo-Terara Volcano , Chilalo Mt , canyon , steep northern slope ; 7.93524° N, 39.19368° E; 3080 m a.s.l.; 24 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Hypericum revolutum bushes with sporadic Schefflera abyssinica , grass, green mosses, sifting litter and mosses; [Eth016]; ZMMU.

GoogleMaps

Paratypes

ETHIOPIA • 3 ♀♀, together with holotype; same data as for holotype; ZMMU • 1 ♀; Asela Zone, ca 32 air-km SE of Asela, Arsi Mountains N.P. , road from Digelu to Ticho , top of mountains ; 7.82472° N, 39.41659° E; 3780–3866 m a.s.l.; 18 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Erica arborea bushes , sedge , Alchemilla sp. , green mosses , sifting humus and mosses; [Eth010]; MHNG GoogleMaps .

GoogleMaps

Description

Male (holotype, Eth016, ZMMU)

Total length 2.70. Carapace unmodified, 1.25 long, 1.05 wide, pale yellow, with grey median stripe and darkened margins, as in Fig. 5A View Fig . Eyes not enlarged. Chelicerae 0.50 long. Stridulatory ridges distinct, as in Fig. 5B View Fig . Legs pale yellow to pale brown. Leg I 7.06 long (1.95 +0.38 +1.83 + 1.80 +1.10), IV 6.53 long (1.80 +0.38 +1.55 +1.85 + 0.95). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI: 2-1-1-3, II: 2-1-1-3(4), III–IV: 2-1-1-1(2); Me: I–IV: 2(1)-1-1-0. Length of tibial spines 2.5–3.5 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with trichobothrium. TmI 0.19. Palp ( Fig. 6A–I View Fig ): patella with long spine dorsally. Tibia unmodified. Cymbium with short, bent posterodorsal outgrowth pointed apically. Paracymbium relatively large, its apical pocket transformed into sharp and dentiform lobe. Distal suprategular apophysis short, abruptly truncated, its ventral hook broad and stout. Pit-hook slender, pale, poorly sclerotized, relatively long and slightly curved. Lamella characteristica well sclerotized, large, straight, tapering distally, with a slender, needle-shaped, pale process. Terminal apophysis membranous, vague in shape. Embolus with slender stem, thumb well developed, bent distally, embolus proper bifid. Fickert’s gland small. Abdomen 1.53 long, 0.85 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 5C View Fig .

Female (Eth016, ZMMU)

Total length 2.95, habitus as in Fig. 5 D–F View Fig . Carapace unmodified, 1.30 long, 1.05 wide. Chelicerae 0.75 long. Leg coloration as in male. Leg I 6.88 long (1.80 +0.45 +1.68 +1.80 + 1.15), IV 6.11 long (1.73+0.40 +1.45 +1.63 + 0.90). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI–II: 2-1-1-3(4), III– IV: 2-1-1-2(1); Me: I–IV: 2-1-1-0. Length of tibial spines 2.5–3.5 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with trichobothrium. TmI 0.17. Abdomen 1.88 long, 1.25 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 5D–G View Fig . Epigyne ( Fig. 6J–M View Fig ). Scapus triangular shield. All of its parts: proscapus, both median and distal, merged. Bursa copulatrix opening near middle of internal surface of scapus. Stretcher rudimentary, short, without pit. Posterior median plate large, broad, without lateral branches.

Distribution

Known from the the Chilalo-Terara Volcano and from the Arsi Mountains N.P., Oromia Region, Ethiopia, altitude ranging from 3080 to 3866 m a.s.l.

Gallery Image

Fig. 5. Photographs of Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov. A–C. Holotype, ♂ (ZMMU). D. Paratypes, ♀♀ (Eth010; ZMMU). E–G. Paratypes, ♀♀ (Eth016; ZMMU). A. Prosoma, dorsal view. B. Same, frontolateral view. C, G. Abdomen, dorsal view. D–F. Habitus, dorsal views. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Gallery Image

Fig. 6. of Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov. A–I. Holotype, ♂ (Eth016; ZMMU), palpal structure. J–M. Paratypes, ♀ (Eth010; ZMMU), epigyne. A. Right palp, retrolateral view. B–C. Posterodorsal outgrowths, dorsal and prolateral view, respectively. 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–M. Epigyne. J, L. Ventral view. K. Dorsal view. M. Dorsolateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Gallery Image

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.

MHNG

Switzerland, Geneva, Museum d'Histoire Naturelle

ZMMU

Zoological Museum, Moscow Lomonosov State University

MHNG

Museum d'Histoire Naturelle

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Linyphiidae

SubFamily

Micronetinae

Genus

Lepthyphantes