Tegenaria pindosiensis, 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 : 811-812

TEGENARIA PINDOSIENSIS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 19L, M , 20W–Z )

Male unknown.

Type

Holotype. Greece: Epirus, Pindos-Mountains , street between Karpenisi and Agrinio, ♀ ( SMF), 28.ii.2006, Schönhofer.

Etymology

The species epithet is derived from the name of the mountain range in northern Greece and southern Albania where the only known specimen of this species was collected.

Diagnosis

Tegenaria pindosiensis sp. nov. is most similar to Tegenaria regispyrrhi but differs in the epigyne having a uniformly shaped median plate without transversal rim (strongly sclerotized transversal rim present in Teg. regispyrrhi ), the distally pointed projections of lateral margin of median region (‘pseudo teeth’), and the run of the first part of the CD being strongly convoluted.

Description

Measurements: Female (holotype): CL 1.86, CW 1.36, STL 0.99, STW 0.95, OL 3.33, OW 2.19. Leg I (1.69, 0.67, 1.45, 1.49, 1.03), II (1.53, 0.67, 1.18, 1.35, 0.84), III (1.47, 0.55, 1.07, 1.30, 0.74), IV (2.38, 0.87, 2.10, 2.42, 1.02). Pedipalp (0.73, 0.33, 0.46, 0.78). EPL 0.36, EPW 0.48, ATL 0.14, ATW 0.35. Eyes: PME 0.10, PLE 0.11, AME 0.07, ALE 0.13. Eye distances: PME–PME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–AME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–PLE 0.5 x PME, PME–ALE 0.5 x PME, AME–AME <0.5 x AME, AME–ALE << 0.5 x AME. CLY1 2–2.5 x AME, CLY2 0.5–1 x ALE.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with pale area, strongly sclerotized, only laterally separated from epigynal plate. ‘Pseudo teeth’ present. Posterior sclerite absent. CO lateral of pale median area. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD hardly detectable, only slightly sclerotized. RC globular and together with FD enclosed in a sclerotized structure. RC separated by 0.5 x their diameter anteriorly. RC and FD distinctly and conspicuously visible through epigynal plate.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three teeth, retromargin with four equally sized teeth. Colulus developed as trapezoidal plate with the distal margin medially notched. Same pattern of distal spigots on PMS (in females) as described for the type species. PLS with distal segment shorter than basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria at palp tarsus and cymbium absent. Tarsal trichobothria five to six. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I nine. Leg spination: female palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (2–2–0–0, 2–1–1–0, 2–1–1–0, 1–1–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (1–0–0–1+1p, 2–1–0–1, 2–2–1–1 or 2–2–2–1, 2–2–2–2p+1 or 2–2–2–3+1p), metatarsi (0–0–0–3p+1, 0–1–0–3p+1, 0–2–2–3p+1, 0–3–3–3p+1), tarsi (all 0).

Coloration: Margin of carapace narrowly darkened with three crescent-shaped spots, dorsally with two longitudinal symmetrical dark bands, moderately serrated. Sternum with distinct pale median band and laterally three symmetrical pale dots, most posterior pair moderately fused with median band. Opisthosoma dark brownish with yellowish median band and dots (mottled, may partly be caused by alcohol preservation) forming chevrons posteriorly. Legs annulated. Colulus darkened. ALS darkened, PLS with dark basal and pale distal segment.

Distribution

Reported from Greece.

Discussion

The morphology of the male genitalia is so distinct that despite the lack of more material the new species is described from a single male only.

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 20. A–I, Tegenaria silvestris, variation in males and females (F–I); J-M, Tegenaria parvula; N, S-V, Tegenaria henroti; O-R, Tegenaria eleonorae; W-Z, Tegenaria pindosiensis sp. nov. Left male palp in ventral (A, F, J, O, S) and retrolateral views (B, G, K, P, T); epigyne in ventral (C, H, L, Q, U, W) and vulva in dorsal (D, I, M, R, V, X) and lateral views (E); female habitus (N) and abdomen in dorsal view (Z); sternum in ventral view (Y). Scale bars = 0.5 mm (except 1 mm for N).