Eratigena fuesslini Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013

Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 168 (4), pp. 723-848 : 764-766

ERATIGENA FUESSLINI ( PAVESI, 1873) COMB. NOV.

( FIGS 8G–I , 10H–K )

Tegenaria fuesslinii Pavesi, 1873: 105–107 , figure without a number, only female.

Tegenaria pallidula Simon, 1875: 95 , 96, only male.

Tegenaria capra Simon, 1875: 97 , 98, only male.

Tegenaria ericarum Simon, 1875: 98 , 99.

Tegenaria corsica Simon, 1937: 1038, 1039 , figs 1539, 1540.

Simon (1937) synonymized Teg. pallidula , Teg. capra , and Teg. ericarum with Teg. corsica Bremi-Wolf (also Bremi-Wolff); the name Teg. corsica is considered a nomen nudum (see Brignoli, 1971a: 84).

Types

No type material was available for this study [could not be traced, apparently not represented in the collection of Genova (Giuliano Doria, pers. comm.) and until now not traceable in the collection of the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Pavia (Michele Abderhalden, pers. comm.)].

Other material examined

France (36 ♂, 65 ♀) ; Italy (19 ♂, 40 ♀) ; Spain (35 ♂, 14 ♀) ; Switzerland (1 ♂, 2 ♀) .

Diagnosis

Eratigena fuesslini can easily be separated from all other Eratigena gen. nov. species by the distinct terminal end of the conductor, and the atrial cavity posteriorly limited by a large bulge. From the closely related species, E. agrestis , it can be separated by the body size ( E. fuesslini much smaller than E. agrestis ), the less broad conductor (in retrolateral view, broader in E. agrestis ), the terminal end of the conductor, the bulge at the epigyne protruding posteriad (not protruding in E. agrestis ), and the CD being visible through the epigynal plate.

Description

Measurements: Male (N = 2): CL 3.25–4.2, CW 2.35– 3.0, STL 1.7–2.05, STW 1.4–1.75, OL 3.75–4.0, OW 2.3. Leg I (3.4–4.35, 1.2–1.55, 3.2–4.0, 3.3–4.2, 2.0– 2.65), II (2.95–3.5, 1.1–1.5, 2.4–2.85, 2.75–3.4, 1.75– 2.2), III (2.75–3.3, 1.1–1.3, 2.05–2.5, 2.25–3.5, 1.3– 1.9), IV (3.6–4.0, 1.15–1.5, 3.15–3.7, 4.0–4.6, 2.0–2.3). Pedipalp (1.5–1.75, 0.55–0.65, 0.6–0.75, 1.45–1.75), bulbL 1.0–1.25. Female (N = 2): CL 2.25–4.2, CW 1.6– 2.7, STL 1.25–2.1, STW 1.05–1.7, OL 2.75–4.9, OW 1.85–3.0. Leg I (1.9–3.5, 0.85–1.5, 1.6–3.1, 1.6–2.95, 1.15–2.0), II (1.65–3.1, 0.75–1.45, 1.2–2.4, 1.45–2.7, 1.0–1.8), III (1.5–3.0, 0.7–1.35, 1.05–2.1, 1.45–2.75, 0.9–1.75), IV (2.05–3.9, 0.8–1.45, 1.8–3.4, 2.1–4.0, 1.05–2.1). Pedipalp (0.85–1.65, 0.45–0.7, 0.5–1.05, 0.6–1.6). EPL 0.48–0.54, EPW 0.62–0.71, ATL 0.07– 0.08, ATW 0.29–0.3. Eyes: PME 0.09–0.143, PLE 0.10–0.152, AME 0.08–0.129, ALE 0.10–0.171. Eye distances: PME- PME 1.5–2 x PME, PME–AME 1 x PME, PME–PLE 1–1.5 x PME, PME–ALE 1.5 x PME, AME–AME 0.5–1 x AME, AME- ALE 0.5 x AME, CLY1 2–2.5 x AME, CLY2 1–1.5 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with two branches, lateral branch simple and pointed, dorsal branch broad, distally truncated and variable shaped (from one larger and several smaller points to only two points). Short dorsal spike on palp tibia present. Embolus length 1.25–1.5 x CB, originating at 9–10 o’clock position, distal tip at 4–5 o’clock position. Conductor massive, not conspicuously broad in retrolateral view, distal portion not elongated, folded only at the terminal half, which is twisted ventroprolaterad. Terminal end complex, consisting of two strongly sclerotized, stepped, and elongated points (one additional thornlike point possible, Fig. 8H ), ventral point with a strongly sclerotized, dark posterior margin and a much thinner, plate-like anterior part. Conductor retrolaterally moderately furrowed. Transversal ridge of conductor expressed as membranous lamella. Conductor membranously connected to tegulum. MA originating at 6–8 o’clock position, protruding, wider than long, distally with pocket-like sclerite. Connection of MA to tegulum at least partly strongly sclerotized.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with distinct atrial cavity, posteriorly limited by a posterior sclerite expressed as distinct large bulge, strongly fused with the epigynal plate, and moderately protruding posteriad. Epigynal teeth present, originating lateral on the posterior bulge, pointing posteriomediad. Anteriorly, CD visible through epigynal plate. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD moderately convoluted, with a ventral protuberance (close to the CO). RC irregularly oblong and sclerotized, enclosing convoluted ducts, separated by about 1.5 x their diameter. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral retromargin with eight to 12 teeth. Colulus rectangularly shaped with distal margin w-shaped. PMS with one prominent minor ampullate gland spigot and three to four cylindrical gland spigots laterally. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus absent. Tarsal trichobothria five to nine. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I 12–14. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–1+1p–0–0 or 1–2–0–0), female palp (2–0– 0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2p–0–0), leg femora [2–2–0–0, 1–0–0–0 or 2–2–0–0 or 2–3–1–0 (in small female with only one dorsal spine), 1–0–0–0 or 2–2–2–0 or 2–2–3–0 or 2–3–3–0 (in small female with only one dorsal spine), 1–0–1–0 (only in small female) or 1–1–1–0 or 2–1–1–0 or 2–2–1–0 or 2–2–2–0], patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae [0–0–0–1+1p or 0–0–0–1+2p or 0–0–0–2 or 0–0–0–2p or 0–0–0–3p (indistinct dorsal spines possible), 0–1– 0–1 or 0–1–0–1p+1+1p or 0–2–0–1p+1+1p, 2–2–1–1 or 2–2–1–2 or 2–2–2–2p or 2–2–2–3p, 2–2–2–1p+1+1p or 2–2–2–2 or 2–2–2–2p], metatarsi (0–0–0–4p+1, 0–0–0–2p+1 or 0–1–0–2p+1 or 0–2–0–4p+1, 0–2–2– 1p+1+2p or 0–3–2–1p+1+2p or 1p–4–3–5p or 1p–4–4– 5p, 0–4–3–1p+2+2p or 1–4–3–1+4p or 1–4–4–5p or 1p–4–3–4p+1), tarsi (I–II 0, III 0–0–1–0 or 0–2–3–0, IV 0–0–1–1 or 0–2–4–0).

Coloration: Carapace with weakly serrated, longitudinal dark symmetrical bands, may be reduced to only triangular dots. Sternum with distinct pale median region. Opisthosoma darkened greenbrownish, at the cardiac mark yellowish, posteriorly continuing in broad chevrons (~ five). Legs moderately continuous darkened. ALS and both segments of PLS dorsally darkened.

Distribution

Reported from Central to south-western Europe ( CH, FR, IT, ES, PT). Some records may be unsure (e.g. YU, DE).

Discussion

As described for the previous species, E. fuesslini shows very considerable morphological variation in genital characters. This variation led Simon (1875) to describe three species, which he subsequently synonymized ( Simon, 1937). Some specimens are strikingly smaller and the female and male genitalia differ in some morphological details. This, however, may be a result of smaller size. With the evidence at hand it is not possible to decide whether these differences reflect intraspecific or interspecific variation and we adopt the synonymy proposed by Simon.

Figures

Figure 8. A, B, Eratigena atrica; C-F, Eratigena agrestis; G-I, Eratigena fuesslini; J, K, P, Q, Eratigena feminea; L–O, R, S, Eratigena bucculenta s.l. Left male palp in ventral (A, C, G, J, L, N) and retrolateral views (B, D, H, I, K, M, O); epigyne in ventral view (E, P, R); vulva in dorsal view (F, Q, S).

Figure 10. A–G, Eratigena atrica; H–K, Eratigena fuesslini; L-O, Eratigena montigena. Female intraspecific morphological variation (A–F); the extremes correspond to the following taxa recognized by some authors: Eratigena atrica (A, D), Eratigena saeva (B, E), and Eratigena duellica (C, F). Epigyne in ventral view [A–C with ‘pseudo teeth’ (white arrows), J, M]; vulva, dorsal view (D–F, K, N); left male palp in ventral (H, L) and retrolateral views (I, O); male tibia in dorsal view (G) with short dorsal spike (white arrow). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.