Neoscona isatis, Zamani & Marusik & Šestáková, 2020

Zamani, Alireza, Marusik, Yuri M. & Sestakova, Anna, 2020, On Araniella and Neoscona (Araneae, Araneidae) of the Caucasus, Middle East and Central Asia, ZooKeys 906, pp. 13-40 : 13

Neoscona isatis sp. nov. Figs 11D, E ; 13E, F ; 14B, F ; 15E-G ; 16D-F ; 17G-I ; 18

Type material.

Iran: Holotype ♂ and paratype 1♀ (MHNG), Yazd Province: Ahmadabad, 32°20'N, 53°59'E, 15.08.2018 (A. Zamani).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, and refers to the historic name of Yazd, the type locality of the species.

Diagnosis.

The new species is similar to N. theisi and N. spasskyi in having a white median band on sternum (Fig. 13A, C, E ), but well differs by having a broad white median band on the venter of abdomen (vs. venter with lateral white band, and dark median band). Males of N. isatis sp. nov. can be easily distinguished from the species occurring in the region by numerous small spines on tibia II (Fig. 14F ) lacking in other species (Fig. 14D-E ) and median apophysis lacking prolateral extension (Me) (vs. present). Epigyne of this species well differs from other species occurring in Central Asia by having prominent lateral extensions (Le) as long as wide and long scape (Sc) almost 2 times longer than wide (vs. lateral extensions absent or poorly developed and scape almost as wide as long, cf. Fig. 17A, D, G ).

Description.

Male. Habitus as in Fig. 11E . Total length 9.62. Carapace 4.14 long, 3.90 wide in pars thoracica, 1.28 in pars cephalica. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME: 0.20, ALE: 0.19, PME: 0.14, PLE: 0.14, AME-AME: 0.25, PME-PME: 0.10. Carapace, labium, chelicerae, and maxillae light brown, carapace with distinct and relatively long foveal mark, slightly darker in submarginal and without any patterns. Sternum with light median band. Legs the same color as the carapace, with annulations and numerous spines. Tibia II ventrally with about 90 spines of three types, fine - over 50, medium-sized - over 30, and few macrospines. Abdomen light yellowish, with scattered long white setae, dorsally with a horizontal gray line anteriorly, and a gray longitudinal branched pattern medially, with a brown dot on each side; ventrally with a white patch between epigastric furrow and spinnerets area. Spinnerets light brown, apical segment lighter. Leg IV (leg I incomplete) measurements: 14.39 (4.84, 1.91, 3.07, 3.47, 1.10).

Palp as in Figs 14B , 15E-G , 16D-F . Tegulum without distinct ventral extension; median apophysis (Ma) without prolateral extension, stipes of median apophysis (Sm) as long as apophysis; lamella (La) weakly sclerotized; conductor club-like.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 11D . Total length 11.56. Carapace 5.02 long, 3.49 wide in pars thoracica, 1.74 in pars cephalica. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME: 0.17, ALE: 0.17, PME: 0.18, PLE: 0.19, AME-AME: 0.31, PME-PME: 0.12. Coloration generally as in male, slightly lighter and more uniform, with less distinct patterns and markings, and abdomen with an additional two brown dots on dorsum, without any distinct patterns. Leg I measurements: 18.11 (5.01, 2.69, 4.27, 4.53, 1.61).

Epigyne as in Figs 13F , 17G-I . Long, with scape (Sc) as long as base; lateral extensions (Le) prominent, as long as wide, originates dorsally; scape almost twice longer than wide.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Yazd Province, central Iran.

Figures

Figure 11. Dorsal habitus of Neoscona theisi (A, B), N. spasskyi (C) and N. isatis sp. nov. (D, E). A, C, D Females B, E males.

Figure 13. Females of Neoscona theisi (A, B), N. spasskyi (C, D) and N. isatis sp. nov. (E, F). A, C, E Prosoma, ventral B, D, F abdomen, ventral. Photos A, B courtesy of A. Seropian.

Figure 14. Male palps and tibiae II of Neoscona theisi (A, D), N. isatis sp. nov. (B, F) and N. spasskyi (C, E). A-C Male palp, prolateral D-F male tibia II, ventral. Abbreviations: Co conductor, La lamella, Ma median apophysis, Me extension of median apophysis, Ta terminal apophysis, Te tegulum. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.

Figure 15. Male palps of Neoscona spasskyi (A-C) and N. isatis sp. nov. (E-G). A, C, E, G Anterior B, F ventral. Abbreviations: Co conductor, Em embolus, La lamella, Ma median apophysis, Sm stipes of median apophysis, Ta terminal apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 16. SEM graphs of the bulbs of Neoscona spasskyi (A-C) and N. isatis sp. nov. (D-F). A, C, D, F Prolateral B, E anterior. Abbreviations: Co conductor, Em embolus, La lamella, Ma median apophysis, Ms spur of median apophysis, Sm stipes of median apophysis, Ta terminal apophysis. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 17. Epigynes of Neoscona theisi (A-C), N. spasskyi (D-F) and N. isatis sp. nov. (G-I). A, D, G Ventral B, E, H posterior C, F, I lateral. Abbreviations: Le lateral extension, Sc scape. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 18. Distribution records of Araniella mithra sp. nov. (blue circle), A. villanii sp. nov. (violet star), Neoscona isatis sp. nov. (green pentagon), N. spasskyi (black square), N. theisi (gray triangle, only new records) and N. tedgenica (brown asterisk).