Zodarion jakubi Shafaie & Pekár sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3386636C-2078-4D3A-A564-66A25F5C75AC

Figs 56–58, 106

Diagnosis

Closely related to Zodarion simplex Jocqué, 2011 by similar median and tibial apophyses, but differs by a stouter retrolateral tibial apophysis (cf. Fig. 57C, F and Jocqué 2011: fig. 8), and the embolar tip gently curved distally (vs not curved, cf. Fig. 57B, 57E and Jocqué 2011: fig. 7). The female specimen can be distinguished from other species by simple, fusiform atria of epigyne (Fig. 58A–B).

Etymology

The specific name is dedicated to Jakub Pekár, the second author’s son, who co-collected the material of this new species.

Type material

Holotype

OMAN • ♂; Wadi Bani Habib; 23.069° N, 57.604° E; 652 m a.s.l.; 31 Jan. 2023; J. Pekár leg.; NMP P6A 7506.

Paratypes

OMAN • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; NMP P6A 7507, NMP P6A 7508 .

Other material examined

OMAN • 14 juv.; same collection data as for holotype; CMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Wadi Ghul; 23.205° N, 57.213° E; 1031 m a.s.l.; 13 Feb. 2022; S. Pekár leg.; CMU • 1 ♀, 4 juv.; Misfah; 23.228° N, 57.135° E; 1000 m a.s.l.; 28 Jan. 2023; S. Pekár leg.; CMU .

Description

Male (holotype NMP P6A 7506)

HABITUS (Fig. 56A–B). Carapace, chelicerae, sternum, labium, gnathocoxae and spinnerets pale, with no pattern except for a dark ocular area on carapace; ocular area almost slender. Legs uniformly yellow. Palpal segments pale except cymbium, cymbium light brown anteriorly and pale posteriorly. Abdomen crumpled; dorsum white anteriorly and dark posteriorly, venter pale; PVS present.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.35; carapace 1.2 long, 0.9 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE = PME= PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.3, PME–PME 0.15, PLE–PLE 0.32, PME–PLE 0.03. Legs: I 6.03 (1.45, 0.76, 1.48, 1.04, 1.3), II 5.8 (1.3, 0.72, 1.34, 1.45, 0.99), III 5.02 (1.3, 0.67, 1.01, 1.04, 1), IV 6.9 (1.65, 0.76, 1.56, 1.61, 1.32). Palp: 1.24 (0.42, 0.22, 0.1, 0.5).

PALP (Fig. 57A–F). RTA triangular, with a dentate tip. Cymbium elongated, cymbial tip as long as bulb. Tegulum simple, without any posterior process. Median apophysis sickle-shaped. Embolus simple, embolar tip slightly curved distally.

Female (paratype NMP P6A 7507)

HABITUS (Fig. 56C–D). Prosoma entirely similar to that of male. Abdomen light brown dorsally and pale ventrally; PVS present.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.63; carapace 1.24 long, 0.93 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.14, ALE=PME = PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.33, PME–PME 0.17, PLE–PLE 0.37, PME–PLE 0.03. Legs: I (1.76, 0.38, 1.33, 1.52, tarsus missing), II (1.6, other segments missing), III 5.36 (1.47, 0.29, 1.26, 1.56, 0.78), IV (2.02, other segments missing). Palp: 1.12 (0.43, 0.16, 0.1, 0.56).

EPIGYNE (Fig. 58A–D). Epigyne with fusiform atria. Posterior margin of epigyne distinctly incised and covered by a medium-sized hood; spermathecae small, divergent and separated by 5.46 times their diameter. Vulva very simple, comprising a pair of large and fusiform wings, situated obliquely downward to each other and ended to spermathecal heads.

Size variation

Total body length 2.35–2.66 in males (N =2) and 2.63–3.53 in females (N=4). Carapace length/width 1.2/ 0.86–0.9 in males and 1.24–1.66/ 0.93–1.26 in females.

Distribution

At present, known only from Oman. This is the first report of the family Zodariidae in Oman.