Crossopriza maculipes (Spassky, 1934)

Figs 353B, 823–840, 854–865

Ceratopholcus maculipes Spassky, 1934: 361, figs 1–3.

Ceratopholcus maculipes – Senglet 2001: 49, fig. 26.

Crossopriza maculipes – Huber et al. 2014a: 420. — Ali et al. 2016: 250, fig. 3a–c. — Najim & Al- Khazali 2019: 548, figs 2–3.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from known congeners (see also Remarks below) by details of male palp (Figs 826–829; procursus ventral sclerite with distinctive retrolateral branch; procursus tip with dorsal sclerite; distal bulbal sclerite with two rows of apophyses on prolateral side); from similar species ( C. lyoni, C. surobi sp. nov.) also by male chelicerae (Fig. 833; lateral apophyses in lateral view short and broadly truncated) and by female genitalia (Figs 834–835; epigynum longer than in C. lyoni; pore plates closer together than in C. surobi).

Remarks

The MHNG has a very similar species from Afghanistan (Nangarhar, NE of Djelalabad) that shares the distinctive dorsal sclerite distally on the procursus and has a possibly indistinguishable epigynum. It differs most clearly by the distal bulbal sclerite (prolateral view: only three apophyses in one row); also slightly by the lateral cheliceral apophyses (more slender and longer in lateral view), by the shape of the retrolateral branch on the ventral sclerite of the procursus (smaller). The available specimens are also very small compared to most C. maculipes specimens (male chelicerae maximum width 580 µm; tibia 1 in three males: 7.7, 8.2, 8.3; in three females: 6.2, 6.6, 7.2). This species is not formally described because all available specimens are in very poor condition.

Type material

Syntypes UZBEKISTAN • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juvs, not examined; Tashkent; 41.3° N, 69.2° E; 1928; Civirko leg.; presumably in Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia (repeated loan requests since 2013 were unsuccessful) • ♀♀, juvs, unknown number, not examined; Bukhara, Qorak’ol (“Karakul”); 39.50° N, 63.85° E; 1933; A. Alparov leg.; presumably in Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia .

TAJIKISTAN • ♀♀, juvs, unknown number, not examined; Dushanbe (“Stalinabad”); 38.55° N, 68.77° E; 1933; A. Alparov leg.; presumably in Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia .

TURKMENISTAN • 3 ♀♀, 2 juvs, not examined; Ashgabat; 37.94° N, 58.36° E; 1933; Melnikova leg.; presumably in Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia .

Material examined

UZBEKISTAN – Samarqand • 3 ♂♂; Sovetabad Distr., near Dzham; 39.43° N, 66.41° E; 8 Jun. 1991; A.A. Zyuzin leg.; ZMMU . – Surxondaryo • 3 ♀♀; Uzun Distr., E slope of Babatagh Mt Range, ~ 6.5 km W of Akmechet; 38.0472° N, 68.2394° E; 905–1010 m a.s.l.; 28 Apr. 1995; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 4 May 2002; A.V. Gromov leg.; ZMMU • 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Kafirnighan river valley, Ak-Mechet; 38.047° N, 68.240° E; 7 May 1994; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; in house; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Djarkurgan [Dzharkugan] Town; 37.51° N, 67.41° E; 25 Apr. 1986; A.A. Zyuzin leg.; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 3 juvs; Uzun Distr., W foot of Babatagh Mt Range, ~ 13 km ESE of Denan, Argamchi canyon; 38.2128° N, 68.0531° E; ~ 630 m a.s.l.; 30 Apr. 2002; A.V. Gromov leg.; ZMMU . – Bukhara • 2 ♀♀; 33 km SE of Bukhara; 39.57° N, 64.72° E; 19–20 May 1994; A.A. Zyuzin leg.; ZMMU • 2 ♀♀, 1 juv.; Bukhara; 39.7761° N, 64.4330° E; 220 m a.s.l.; 20 Apr. 2002; A.V. Gromov leg.; buildings; ZMMU .

TAJIKISTAN – Dushanbe • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Dushanbe; 38.55° N, 68.75° E; 28 Apr. 1986; S.L. Zonstein leg.; in building; ZMMU . – Khatlon • 1 ♂; Vaksh river valley, Tigrovaya Balka State Res., Korolevskaia Dacha; 37.23° N, 68.38° E; 3 Aug. 2006; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Il’ichevsk Distr., near Gandzhino Vil., slope of Aktau Mt. Range; 37.965° N, 68.560° E; 850 m a.s.l.; 21 Apr. 1986; A.A. Zyuzin leg.; ZMMU • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Il’ichevsk Distr., near Gandzhino Vil.; 37.965° N, 68.560° E; 800 m a.s.l.; 19 Apr. 1986; A.A. Zyuzin leg.; ZMMU .

TURKMENISTAN – Ashgabat • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, 2 juvs; Ashgabat; 37.94° N, 58.36° E; date and collector unclear (“3/vi, Ahriger [?]”); ZMB 48586 . – Lebap • 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, 2 juvs; Kugitang [Kughitang], 5 km SW of Bazar-Tepe, office of Kugitang Reserve; 37.77° N, 66.38° E; 10–13 Jul. 1991; V.V. Dubatolov leg.; SZMN • 1 ♂, 1 juv.; Chardzhou Area, Amudarya Reserve, 140 km NW of Chardzhou; 39.65° N, 62.78° E; 11 May 1988; F. Zeeleev leg.; Kabakli tugai [kind of habitat], house; ZMMU . – Balkan • 1 ♀; Turkmenbashi (“ Krasnovodsk ”); 40.02° N, 52.97° E; 4 Jul. 1929; collector unknown; house terrace, angle of window frames; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; in basement; date and collector unclear (“15 iv, Müller-C. Ahriger ”); ZMB 48587 . – Mary • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Zakhmet Vil.; 37.77° N, 62.53° E; 6 Apr. 1991; collector unknown; ZMMU .

AFGHANISTAN – Parwan • 2 ♂♂; N of Charikar; 35.167° N, 69.233° E [actual collecting site probably further west along Salang River]; 10 Aug. 1975; A. Senglet leg.; in small cave; MHNG . – Kabul • 1 ♀; SE of Sarobi / Surubi (“ Sorubay ”); 34.50° N, 69.87°E (label coordinates slightly outside of Kabul Province); 800 m a.s.l.; 6 Aug. 1975; A. Senglet leg.; MHNG . – Nangarhar • 7 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀ (partly used for SEM); Djelalabad; 34.42° N, 70.45° E (label: 34°30’ N, 70°33’ E); 8 Aug. 1975; A. Senglet leg.; in hotel; MHNG . – Kandahar • 1 ♂, 10 ♀♀; W of Kandahar; 31.617° N, 65.600° E; 31 Jul. 1975; A. Senglet leg.; MHNG .

PAKISTAN – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Peshawar, Forestry Campus of Agricultural University; 34.00° N, 71.54° E; 28 Jul. 2004; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 14–26 Aug. 2005; ZMMU • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 4 Sep. 2004; ZMMU • 1 ♀; Chitral Distr., 7 km NE of Gobor-o-Bakh [Gobor Bakht]; 36.117° N, 71.383° E; 1 Aug. 2004; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 1 ♀, 1 juv.; Kagan Valley, Shogran (= Sharan); 34.64° N, 73.46° E; 2400–3000 m a.s.l.; 21 Aug. 2004; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 1 ♀; Orakzai, 4 km E of “Mangu”; 33.6° N, 70.7° E; 29 Aug. 2005; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; ZMMU • 9 ♂♂, 19 ♀♀; Sheringal; 35.275° N, 72.005° E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 6Apr.–4 Oct. 2013; F. Perveen and N. Khan leg.; in building; ZFMK Ar 22457, Ar 22458. – Gilgit-Baltisan • 1 ♂; Gilgit; 35.92° N, 74.32° E; 23–24 Apr. 1976; V. Puthz leg.; SMF . – Balochistan • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; Quetta; 30.2° N, 67.0° E; 27 Jul. 2005; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; in hotel; ZMMU . – Punjab • 1 ♀ (assigned tentatively); Musa Khel, Namal gorge; 32.68° N, 71.79° E; 300 m a.s.l.; 28 Feb. 1963; E. Kullmann leg.; ZFMK Ar 22459 .

WITHOUT LOCALITY DATA • 2 ♀♀ (possibly syntypes); “ Ceratopholcus maculipes ”, no further data; MNHN Ar 10548.

Redescription

Male (Uzbekistan, Ak-Mechet, ZMMU)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.4, carapace width 1.9. Distance PME–PME 110 µm; diameter PME 120 × 140 µm; distance PME–ALE 30 µm; diameter AME 120 µm; distance AME–AME 20 µm. Leg 1: 42.4 (12.5 + 0.9 + 12.1 + 14.4 + 2.5), tibia 2: 8.3, tibia 3: 6.3, tibia 4: 7.6; tibia 1 L/d: 58; femora 1–4 diameters: 0.32, 0.27, 0.27, 0.28.

COLOR (in ethanol). Carapace ochre-yellow; carapace pit anteriorly light brown; sternum dark brown, with radial marks; legs ochre-yellow, without darker rings, with black lines on femora and tibiae; abdomen ochre-gray, with few indistinct dark marks dorsally; ventrally with distinct black median band, partly disrupted, with two parallel longitudinal marks behind gonopore.

BODY. Habitus similar to C. sahtan sp. nov. (cf. Fig. 391). Ocular area slightly raised. Deep thoracic pit and pair of furrows diverging from pit toward posterior margin. Clypeus unmodified, only rim more sclerotized than in female. Sternum wider than long (1.30/0.85), unmodified. Abdomen slightly elongated, dorso-posteriorly angular. Gonopore with five epiandrous spigots (Fig. 854); ALS with one widened spigot and one pointed spigot (Fig. 855).

CHELICERAE. As in Figs 832–833, with two pairs of apophyses, lateral pair with 2–3 small processes (distinct in lateral view), median pair with one large modified cone-shaped hair each (Fig. 859); distance between tips of modified hairs 50 µm; lateral stridulatory ridges fine (Fig. 860; distances between ridges proximally ~4 µm, distally ~3 µm), visible in dissecting microscope.

PALPS. As in Figs 823–825; coxa with rounded retrolateral hump; trochanter barely modified; femur distally strongly widened, with rounded ventral protrusion, proximally with prolateral stridulatory pick, retrolateral-ventral rim with row of sclerotized hair-bases, with barely visible retrolateral transversal line, without retrolateral proximal process; femur-patella joints shifted toward prolateral side; tibia large relative to femur, tibia-tarsus joints slightly shifted toward retrolateral side; tarsus without macrotrichia; tarsal organ capsulate (Fig. 862); procursus (Figs 826–828) straight, densely set with long hairs dorsally, few hairs slightly curved upwards; proximally on prolateral side with strong hump set with numerous long hairs and followed distally by thick sclerotized ridge, procursus tip (Figs 856–857) with several distinctive elements: ventral sclerite with retrolateral branch, dorsal sclerite, prolateral partly sclerotized element, and retrolateral brush of short hair-like structures; genital bulb (Figs 829–831) with simple basal sclerite connected to distal (main) sclerite, sperm duct opening on prolateral-dorsal side (arrow in Fig. 858); distal sclerite with indistinct retrolateral ridge and distinctive set of two prolateral sclerotized ridges, each with three rounded apophyses.

LEGS. Femur 1 with single row of ~22 ventral spines (Fig. 864); without curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 4%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1, present on other leg tibiae; tarsal pseudosegments indistinct except 2–3 distally; tarsal organs capsulate, with round to slightly irregular rims (Fig. 863).

Male (variation)

Tibia 1 in 40 other males: 8.0–14.1 (mean 11.8). Abdomen usually also with whitish internal marks; ventral dark band on abdomen variably distinct, section behind gonopore with 2–4 longitudinal bands. Small males with fewer spines on femur 1 (smallest measured male with ~12 spines). Apophyses on prolateral bulbal ridges variably distinct, sometimes only two on each ridge; separation of ridges and angle between ridges very consistent. Retrolateral branch on ventral sclerite of procursus slightly variable in shape; in single male from Turkmenbashi slightly tilted (proximal rim bent towards retrolateral).

Female

In general similar to male but without spines on legs, with fewer and very indistinct stridulatory ridges on chelicerae (Fig. 861; distances between ridges ~4.5 µm), and with stridulatory organ consisting of pair of weakly sclerotized but distinct processes posteriorly on carapace and pair of light brown plates anteriorly on abdomen. Tibia 1 in 63 females: 6.1–12.9 (mean 10.2). Epigynum as in Figs 836–837 and 865, main epigynal plate semicircular, weakly protruding; posteriorly laterally strongly sclerotized, anteriorly weakly sclerotized, ochre-yellow with light brown median area; with pair of pockets very close to median line on both sides of median ridge (distance between pockets 25 µm), posteriorly slightly protruding; internal sclerotized arc and median round structure visible in uncleared specimens; pair of oblique black lines originating from posterior epigynal margin variably visible or not, possibly depending on degree of external sclerotization (difference not visible in cleared specimens); posterior plate short but wide. Internal genitalia (Figs 834–835, 838–840) with large oval pore plates converging anteriorly, dorsal arc strongly sclerotized but simple, ventral arc medially slightly modified, with simple median pouch. In the single female from Musa Khel (Punjab) the median epigynal area carrying the pockets is barely protruding towards posterior; this specimen is therefore assigned tentatively.

Natural history

Several records are from buildings. Beyond that, nothing is known about the biology of this widespread species.

Distribution

Widely distributed in Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan), ranging into Afghanistan and Pakistan (Fig. 353B). I have not seen specimens from Iraq (contrary to what Najim & Al-Khazali 2019 imply in their acknowledgements); however, judging from the illustrations in Najim &Al-Khazali (2019), their specimens from Basrah province may be correctly identified. This suggests that the species is either also present in Iran or was somehow transported to Iraq. Sequences available in the Barcode of Life Data System (http://v3.boldsystems.org/) of two females collected in China (Hubei Province, Wuhan, in a building) are further evidence that the species has already spread far from its original distributional area.