Agroeca istia de Biurrun & Barrientos, 2021

Biurrun, Gabriel De, Barrientos, José Antonio & Baquero, Enrique, 2021, A new species of Agroeca Westring, 1861 from Navarra, Spain (Araneae Liocranidae), Zootaxa 4941 (1), pp. 84-90 : 86-87

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4941.1.4
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BA2E0E0F-C1DA-4807-A395-C6BF9E9B3879
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10526967
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/8F165F62-2C37-4549-947F-901D3461B77F
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:8F165F62-2C37-4549-947F-901D3461B77F
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Agroeca istia de Biurrun & Barrientos
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Agroeca istia de Biurrun & Barrientos View in CoL sp. n.

Figs 2–4 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8F165F62-2C37-4549-947F-901D3461B77F

Type material. Holotype Ƌ ( MZNA 716538 View Materials ), pitfall trap in pine forest, 3.III.2014 . Allotype ♀ ( MZNA 716544 View Materials ), direct capture in pine forest, 18.III.2014 .

Paratypes: 8 ♀, 11 Ƌ, 1 immature (28.X.2013 – 29.X.2014), all from Vedado de Eguaras , Bardenas Reales, Navarra, Spain (42.25°N, 01.52°W) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The species name istia , feminine, is derived from the ancient Greek term “ ἱστία ”, for the noun ‘sail’, and it also applies to the Vela constellation. It refers here to the flat triangular keel protruding in the middle of the embolic base of the male pedipalp, resembling the triangular sail of a ship (TK in Fig. 2A View FIGURE 2 ).

Diagnosis. Males are distinguished by the presence of a triangular keel (TK in Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–B, 3C) at the base of embolus, clearly seen in the ventral view, widely spaced between a prolateral bulge (PB in Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–B, 3A, C) and the terminal plate from which the embolus emerges (EP in Figs 2A, E View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ). The tibial apophysis ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–C, E) is long and thin, and it does not appear truncated in lateral view ( Fig. 2E View FIGURE 2 ). The female can be distinguished by the profile of the copulatory ducts, showing an inverted U shape ( Figs 2I, K View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ).

Description. Description. Male ( Fig. 2H View FIGURE 2 ): total length 4.03 (3.34–4.43); prosoma 1.78 long (1.64–1.97), 1.40 wide (1.34–1.53). Female ( Fig. 2G View FIGURE 2 ): total length 4.72 (4.49–4.99); prosoma 2.06 long (1.64–2.16), 1.56 wide (1.36– 1.85). Leg measurements are shown in Table 1. Leg spination of holotype is depicted in Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 . Colour: carapace in both sexes with yellowish median stripe, rest of carapace dark brown with faint radiating stripes. Fovea conspicuous. Abdomen reddish-brown, with vague chevron-like pattern, more evident in females. Legs yellowish.

Palp ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–F, 3A, C): RTA long, slightly curved in proximal half; twice as broad at base, pointed at tip ( Figs 2C, E View FIGURE 2 ). Cymbium with apical scopula (CS in Figs 2D, F View FIGURE 2 ). Base of embolus consists of three differentiated parts: a prolateral bulge (PB in Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–F, 3A, C) divided by distinct furrow, a flat triangular keel (TK in Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–B, 3C), and a retrolateral non-forked plate from which proximal portion of embolus emerges towards cymbium (EP in Figs 2A, E, F View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ). Embolus takes anti-clockwise turn dorsally into cymbium and, in unexpanded palp, emerges again near prolateral bulge. Membranous conductor whitish, curved and tubular ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–F, 3C), arises behind prolateral bulge, runs parallel to distal tip of embolus (ED in Figs 2B, E, F View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ), ending both ventrally to triangular keel. Median apophysis with protruding retrolateral lobe, base forming semi-circular pointed hook directed towards base of tegulum.

Epigyne ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ): often covered anteriorly by strong, dark plugs, densely covered by thick plumose hairs ( Fig. 2J View FIGURE 2 ). Almost circular, posteriorly reaching epigastric furrow. Although barely noticeable as part of epigyne due to less pronounced sclerotization, there are two ear-shaped lateral shallow depressions (ESD in Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ) ending posteriorly on semi-circular hoods of copulatory openings (Ho and CO in Fig. 2K View FIGURE 2 ). Median septum shows flanks appearing flat and wing-like anteriorly ( Figs 2I, K View FIGURE 2 , MS in Fig. 3B View FIGURE 3 ). Visible first half of copulatory duct forms inverted U-shape ( Fig. 2I View FIGURE 2 ).

Vulva ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 K–L): after long course forming inverted U-shape from copulatory openings, copulation ducts, not touching medially ( Fig. 2K View FIGURE 2 ), run briefly dorsally, loop in semicircle, before ending in small kidney-shaped spermathecae ( Fig. 2L View FIGURE 2 ).

Distribution. Only known from the type locality.

Habitat. Aleppo pine forest ( Pinus halepensis ) and immediate surroundings, within typical salt marshes of the Bardenas area.