Zodariellum turkmenicum, Zamani & Marusik, 2022

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2022, New taxonomic considerations in Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae), with notes on the presence of cymbial diverticulum in different zodariid genera, Zootaxa 5178 (2), pp. 161-177 : 175

Zodariellum turkmenicum sp. n.

Figs 1F , 2E , 3E , 4E , 5E , 6E , 12A

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( ZMMU), TURKMENISTAN: Lebap Region: 90 km WNW of Repetek , [38°46'N 62°21'E], saline land, 16.05.1978 (V. Kaplin).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to Turkmenistan, from where the holotype was collected.

Diagnosis. The male of this species differs from those of its congeners known in the region (except for Z. surprisum ) by the uniformly coloured carapace and abdomen. The palp of the new species is most similar to those of Z. surprisum and Z. continentale by having unbranched and gradually tapering process of RTA with sharply pointed tip, but can be differentiated from Z. surprisum by the process of RTA directed proximally (vs. anterolaterally). The palp of Z. turkmenicum sp. n. is similar to that very schematicly illustrated by Andreeva & Tyshchenko (1968) for Z. continentale , but differs by having a triangular outgrowth at the tip of RTA (To, Fig. 2E ).

Description. Male. Habitus as in Fig. 1F . Total length 4.65. Carapace 2.35 long, 1.97 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.26, ALE: 0.11, PME: 0.12, PLE: 0.11. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium and maxillae uniformly dark brown. Legs colored as carapace on the proximal segments, yellowish on the distal ones. Abdomen dark maroon, lacking any pattern, lighter ventrally. Spinnerets uniformly yellowish brown. Measurements of legs (unlisted segments missing): Fe I: 2.46, II: Fe 2.71, Pa 0.93, Ti 2.31, Mt 3.44, III: 12.02 (2.95, 0.96, 2.70, 3.85, 1.56), IV: 13.86 (3.72, 0.96, 3.29, 4.24, 1.65).

Palp as in Figs 2E , 3E , 4E , 5E , 6E . RTA 2 times longer than tibia, and almost 3 times thinner than tibia, tip roundly bent, with only one process; cymbium 2.2 times longer than tibia together with RTA, 1.9 times longer than wide; bulb as in congeners with exception to long spur (Sp) of tegular apophysis, about as long as RTA; embolus originating at about 5:30 o’clock position.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Lebap Region, northeastern Turkmenistan ( Fig. 12A ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Habitus of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. turanicum sp. n. (C), Z. nenilini (D–E) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (F), dorsal view. A–D, F males; E female. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 2. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B, F), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E). A–E ventral view; F dorsal view of cymbium, showing cymbial diverticulum. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Eb—base of embolus, Di—diverticulum, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branch(es) of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spur of tegular apophysis, Tg—tegular apophysis, To—triangular outgrowth, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 3. SEM images of the male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), ventral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Eb—base of embolus, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Sp—spur of tegular apophysis, Tg—tegular apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 4. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ap—anterodorsal part of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Cn—conductor, Di—diverticulum, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 5. SEM images of the male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cn—conductor, Cp—prolateral arm of conductor, Di—diverticulum, Eb—base of embolus, Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis, Rb—branches of retrolateral tibial apophysis, Tr—retrolateral arm of tegular apophysis, Tu—tutaculum.

FIGURE 6. Male palps of Zodariellum asiaticum (A), Z. bactrianum (B), Z. nenilini (C), Z. turanicum sp. n. (D) and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. (E), dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 12. Distribution records of Zodariellum spp. A: 1) Z. asiaticum, 2) Z. bactrianum, 3) Z. bekuzini, 4) Z. continentale, 5) Z. proszynskii, 6) Z. spasskyi and Z. zebra, 7) Z. surprisum, 8) Z. sytchevskajae, 9) Z. turanicum sp. n., 10) Z. turkmenicum sp. n., 11) Z. tadzhikum, 12) Z. testaceofasciatum, 13) Z. volgouralense, 14) Z. nenilini (in part, excluding records from Mongolia). B: 1) Z. nenilini (in part, records from Mongolia), 2) Z. schmidti, 3) Z. mongolicum, 4) Z. chaoyangense, 5) Z. furcum, 6) Z. hunanense, 7) Z. planum. A single point may refer to several closely located records.