Tegenaria croatica, 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 : 793

TEGENARIA CROATICA SP. NOV.

( FIGS 17X–Z , 19N, O)

Male unknown.

Types

Holotype. Croatia: between Trsteno and Banja, ♀ ( SMF), 12.v.2006, Schönhofer.

Etymology

Named after the provenience of the holotype.

Diagnosis

Tegenaria croatica sp. nov. has a distinctly developed vulva with a broad and straight CD and a smoothly sclerotized and evenly convoluted FD that are not confusable with other species.

Description

Measurements: Female (holotype): CL 1.85, CW 1.40, STL 1.03, STW 0.94, OL 2.45, OW 1.60. Leg I (2.01, 0.79, 1.87, 1.78, 1.09), II (1.80, 0.68, 1.50, 1.54, 0.90), III (1.60, 0.60, 1.28, 1.47, 0.68), IV (2.07, 0.69, 1.90, 2.13, 1.05). Pedipalp (0.80, 0.32, 0.49, 0.79). EPL 0.27, EPW 0.55, ATL 0.09, ATW 0.20. Eyes: PME 0.10, PLE

0.11, AME 0.05, ALE 0.11. Eye distances: PME–PME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–AME 0.5–1 x PME, PME–PLE <0.5 x PME, PME–ALE 0.5–1 x PME, AME–AME 0.5 x AME, AME–ALE <0.5 x AME. CLY1 3–3.5 x AME, CLY2 1 x ALE.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigynal plate moderately sclerotized. Median plate only laterally separated from epigynal plate, medially slightly protruding. Posterior sclerite absent. Distinct CO posteriolaterally of the median plate. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD strongly sclerotized, bulky, and almost straight. RC globular, smoothly sclerotized, leading into consistently convoluted FD. FD ending in small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three teeth, retromargin with five 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 as long as or slightly longer than basal segment. Tarsal trichobothria at palp tarsus and cymbium absent. Tarsal trichobothria five to six. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I seven to eight. Leg spination: female palp (2–0– 0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0–0), leg femora (2–1–0–0, 1–1–0–0, 1–1–0–0, 1–1–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (2–0– 0–1p, 0–1–0–1, 2–2–1–1, 2–2–1–2), metatarsi (0–0– 0–3p, 0–0–0–2p+1, 0–1–0–3p+1 or 0–2–0–3p+1, 0–2– 2–3p+1), tarsi (all 0).

Coloration: Margin of carapace with dark band, two longitudinal symmetrical dark bands present but hardly recognizable (may be a result of alcohol preservation). Sternum with pale median region. Opisthosoma brown-grey-green with pale median band anteriorly continuing in chevrons posteriad. Colulus pale (probably a result of alcohol preservation), AMS and basal segment of PMS darkened, distal segment pale.

Distribution

Reported from Croatia.

Discussion

Even though Teg. croatica sp. nov. is currently known from only a single specimen, it is formally described here as it shows a very characteristic morphology of the epigyne and vulva.

Figures

Figure 17. A, B, Tegenaria domestica; C, F, G, M, N, Tegenaria racovitzai; D, E, Q, R, Tegenaria hauseri; H-J, Tegenaria bozhkovi; K, L, O, P, Tegenaria campestris; S, T, Tegenaria pieperi; U, Tegenaria schmalfussi; V, Tegenaria faniapollinis; W, Tegenaria percuriosa (holotype of Tegenaria bithyniae); X-Z, Tegenaria croatica sp. nov. Left male palp in ventral (M, O, Q) and retrolateral views (N, P, R); epigyne in ventral (D, F, H, K, S, U–W, Y) and posterioventral views (T), vulva in dorsal (E, G, I, L, U, Z) and lateral views (J); face of female Teg. domestica (A) and Teg. racovitzai (C); cheliceral margins of female Teg. domestica in posterioventral view (B); habitus, dorsal view (X). Scale bars = 0.5 mm (no scale for Teg. faniapollinis, V, and Teg. schmalfussi, U).