Tegenaria vankeerorum, Bolzern & Burckhardt & Hänggi, 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 : 821-822

TEGENARIA VANKEERORUM SP. NOV.

( FIGS 19J, K , 24K–P )

Female unknown. Type

Holotype. Greece: Rhodos : Aghia Nikolaos Fountoukli, ‘crevices in caves’, ♂ (ex. coll. van Keer: 2617, NMB-ARAN 20683 ), 9.v.2006, van Keer & van Keer.

Etymology

Named in honour of the Belgian arachnologists Johan and Koen van Keer who left many specimens, including the holotype, for examination; genitive singular case.

Diagnosis

The RTA of Teg. vankeerorum sp. nov. is morphologically similar to Teg. lenkoranica Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005 , comb. nov. ( Guseinov et al., 2005: 162, fig. 48). Tegenaria vankeerorum sp. nov. differs significantly from Teg. lenkoranica comb. nov. by a relatively short palp tibia (much longer in Teg. lenkoranica ) and the shape of the embolus and conductor.

Description

Measurements: Male (holotype): CL 6.00, CW 4.15, STL 2.6, STW 2.3, OL 6.5, OW 3.9. Leg I (-), II (9.0, 2.2, 8.1, 9.9, 2.9), III (7.3, 2.0, 6.4, 9.1, 2.7), IV (8.7, 2.0, 8.2, 11.7, 3.1). Pedipalp (2.8, 0.9, 1.1, 2.3), bulbL 1.3. Eyes: PME 0.22, PLE 0.24, AME 0.23, ALE 0.27. Eye distances: PME–PME 1 x PME, PME–AME 1 x PME, PME–PLE somewhat less than 1 x PME, PME– ALE 1–1.5 x PME, AME–AME <0.5 x AME, AME– ALE <0.5 x AME. CLY1 2 x AME, CLY2 1–1.5 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with two branches, ventral branch distally broad, lobe-like, strongly sclerotized, lateroventral ridge distinct, lateral branch strongly protruding, originating in the middle of palp tibia, finger shaped and distally pointed, with additional short spike originating at the dorsal side of the apophysis. Filiform embolus length about 0.75–1 x CB, originating at 10 o’clock position, distal tip at 1–2 o’clock position. Conductor drop-shaped, distal portion of conductor moderately elongated, lateral margin almost completely folded. Terminal end of conductor strongly sclerotized and pointed, moderately elongated and bent ventrad. Connection of conductor to tegulum sclerotized. MA originating at 4–5 o’clock position, protruding, distally with spoon-like sclerite. MA membranously connected to tegulum. Basal portion of tegulum conspicuously bulky (in prolateral view).

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with four, retromargin with five teeth, second most proximal smaller and most proximal tooth larger. Colulus developed as trapezoidal bulky plate with the distal margin medially notched. PLS with distal segment longer than basal segment. Tarsal tri- chobothria on cymbium absent. Tarsal trichobothria nine to ten. Leg spination: male palp (3–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (-, 1–3–2–0, 1–2–2–0, 1–2–1–0), patellae (-, III & IV with 2–0–0), tibiae (-, 0–1–0–2, 1–1–1–1+1p, 1–1–1–1+1p), metatarsi (-, 0–0–0–3p+1 or 0–1–0–3p+1, 0–2–2–1p+1+2p+1, 0–2–3–1p+1+2p+1), tarsi (all 0).

Coloration: The carapace does not show a pattern of coloration (this may be a result of the alcohol preservation). Sternum with distinct pattern of darkened median area with a bright and narrow median band. Opisthosoma dark brownish with yellowish median band and two to three symmetrical lateral spots of white pigmentation anteriorly, continuing in broad chevrons posteriad. Legs not annulated, only coxa and proximal part of femora with darkened spots. ALS and PLS with basal and distal segments darkened.

Distribution

Reported from Greece (Rhodos).

Figures

Figure 19. A–I, Tegenaria silvestris, variation in males and females (B, C, F–I); J, K, Tegenaria vankeerorum sp. nov.; L, M, Tegenaria pindosiensis sp. nov.; N, O, Tegenaria croatica sp. nov. Left male palp in ventral (A, K) and retrolateral views (B, C, J), with detailed drawing of variation of the terminal end of conductor (TEC); epigyne in ventral (D, L) and vulva in dorsal (E, F, H, M, O), ventral (N), and lateral views (G, I). Abbreviations: CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; FD, fertilization duct; MA, median apophysis; RC, receptaculum.

Figure 24. A–D, Tegenaria regispyrrhi; E, F, Tegenaria aff. regispyrrhi 1; G, H, Tegenaria aff. regispyrrhi 2; I, J, Tegenaria aff. regispyrrhi 3; K-P, Tegenaria vankeerorum sp. nov. Left male palp in ventral (C, K) and retrolateral views (D, L); retrolateral tibial apophysis of left male palp in dorsal view (M); female epigyne in ventral (A, E, G, I) and vulva in dorsal view (B, F, H, J); face in frontal view (N); sternum (O) and spinnerets (P) in ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.