Spinozodium khatlonicum, Zamani & Marusik, 2022

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2022, A new genus of Zodariidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from Tajikistan, Journal of Natural History 56 (25 - 28), pp. 1187-1198 : 1196-1197

Spinozodium khatlonicum sp. nov.

( Figures 1c–d , 2d–f , 3a–c , 4c–d , 5c–d )

Type material

Holotype ♂ ( ZMMU), TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Region: Dangara Dist., Sanglok Mt. range, above Shar-Shar Pass , 38.298950, 69.226633, 1700–2060 m, 29 April 2015 (Yu.M. Marusik) . Paratypes: 5♂ 9♀ ( ZMMU), same data as the holotype; 4♂ 2♀ ( ZMMU), Dangara dist ., Sanglok Mt. range, above Shar-Shar Pass , 38.218183, 69.238033, 1362 m, 30 April 2015 (Yu. M. Marusik); 3♂ 1♀ ( MMUE), Shaartuz Dist ., Khushody , 37.091320, 68.041950, 378 m, edge of sandy desert, 20.04 .2015 ( Yu. M. Marusik) .

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis

The male of this species differs from that of S. denisi by (1) the tip of RTA bent at a different angle (see Figure 4 (a,c)), (2) smaller and claw-like process of tegular apophysis (Tp) located anteriorly (vs larger, spine-like, and located prolaterally), and (3) having small ridges on the anterior edge of tegular apophysis (vs having teeth instead of ridges). The female of the new species differs from that of the type species by (1) the converging lateral margins of fovea (vs subparallel; see Figure 5 (a–d)), (2) relatively wider base of septum and (3) larger head of receptacle (see Figure 5 (a–d)).

Description

Male (Holotype). Habitus as in Figure 1 (d). Total length 2.40. Carapace 1.20 long, 0.93 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.11, ALE: 0.08, PME: 0.07, PLE: 0.08. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium and maxillae yellowish. Carapace with irregular darker markings. Legs yellowish, without annulations. Abdomen dorsally dark greyish with pale beige median stripe, ventrally pale beige. Spinnerets uniformly pale beige. Measurements of legs: I: 3.88 (1.10, 0.36, 0.90, 0.82, 0.70), II: 3.68 (1.00, 0.40, 0.80, 0.90, 0.58), III: 3.64 (0.90, 0.45, 0.73, 0.96, 0.60), IV: 5.09 (1.36, 0.45, 1.14, 1.46, 0.68).

Palp as in Figures 2 (d–f), 3(a–c) and 4(c); terminal half of RTA bent ventrally; bulb almost round; tegular apophysis (Ta) with small claw-like process (Tp), anterior part of tegular apophysis with transversal broken ridges ( Figure 4 (a)).

Female. Habitus as in Figure 1 (c). Total length 3.65. Carapace 1.65 long, 1.20 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.13, ALE: 0.11, PME: 0.09, PLE: 0.09. Colouration as in male. Measurements of legs: I: 4.85 (1.30, 0.45, 1.05, 1.30, 0.75), II: 4.32 (1.20, 0.45, 0.90, 1.10, 0.67), III: 4.54 (1.25, 0.46, 0.90, 1.25, 0.68), IV: 6.36 (1.70, 0.55, 1.50, 1.83, 0.78).

Epigyne as in Figures 4 (d) and 5(c,d); anterior hood arched; foveal lateral margins converging posteriorly ( Figure 5 (c,d)); heads of receptacles (Rh) visible through integument ( Figure 5 (d)); septal base (Sb) about 3 times wider than septal stem (Ss); head of receptacle larger than base of receptacle, separated by about 4 diameters.

Distribution

Known only from the listed localities in Khatlon region, south-western Tajikistan ( Figure 6 ).

Figures

Figure 1. Habitus of Spinozodium denisi (a, b) and S. khatlonicum sp. nov. (c, d), dorsal view. (a, c) females; (b, d) males. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figure 2. Male palps of Spinozodium denisi (a–c) and S. khatlonicum sp. nov. (d–f). (a, d) ventral view; (b, e) prolateral view; (c, f) dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figure 3. Scanning electron microscopy images of the male palps of Spinozodium khatlonicum sp. nov. (a–c) and S. denisi (d–g). (a, e) detail of embolus and tegular apophysis, anteroventral view; (b, d) ventral view; (c, f) retrolateral view; (g) cymbial trichobothrium. Scale bars = 0.1 mm, unless otherwise stated. Abbreviations: Cf – cymbial fold, Co – conductor, Em – embolus, Ep – process of embolus tip, Os – opening of the sperm duct, Ta – tegular apophysis, Tp – process of tegular apophysis, Tr – retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tt – teeth of tegular apophysis.

Figure 4. Spinozodium denisi (a, b) and S. khatlonicum sp. nov. (c, d). (a, c) male palp, retrolateral view; (b, d) intact epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Figure 5. Macerated epigynes of Spinozodium denisi (a, b) and S. khatlonicum sp. nov. (c, d). (a, c) dorsal view; (b, d) ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ah – anterior hood, Rh – head of receptacle, Sb – septal base, Ss – septal stem.

Figure 6. Collection localities of Spinozodium denisi (circles) and S. khatlonicum sp. nov. (squares). Black symbols indicate the type localities.