Raveniola sororcula sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8ECBE7DA-43F6-4D99-96B6-C87823C6E986

Figs 49, 123, 181, 242, 524–525, 587–588, 691, 698, 754

Diagnosis

The rich and dense dorsal ornament of the abdomen in the new species resembles that in Raveniola ornata sp. nov. and R. ornatula sp. nov. (Fig. 49 cf. Figs 45–47). However, unlike these congeners, R. sororcula sp. nov. possesses a broadly oval sternum, medium-sized PMS and a very short apical segment of the PMS (vs a subcircular sternum, small PMS and digitiform apical segment of PLS; Figs 242, 587–588 cf. Figs 239–240, 579, 582) and lacks any more-or-less developed ventral abdominal pattern (such as shown in Figs 580, 583). In the structure of the spermathecae, R. sororcula seems to be similar to R. dolosa sp. nov. (Figs 524–525 cf. Figs 500–503); however, it differs from the latter species in possessing clearly larger PMS, compared with small PMS in R. dolosa (see Fig. 587 cf. Figs 569–570). Finally, this new species differs from the sympatric congener, R. pamira sp. nov., in having a weak cheliceral rastellum and a shorter apical segment of the PLS (vs the absence of rastellar setae and a noticeably longer apical segment of the PLS in the latter species; see Fig. 586 cf. Fig. 588).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a Latin noun meaning ‘a little sister’; the name refers to a smaller species size, compared to that of a larger sibling neighbor, R. pamira sp. nov.

Material examined

Holotype

TAJIKISTAN • ♀; Western Pamir, Darvaz Mts (southern slope), Obiviskharvi Canyon, environs of Hurk Village; 38°31′ N, 71°02′ E; 1600–1700 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 2019; S. Zonstein and A. Hakimov leg.; SMNH.

Paratypes (3 ♀♀)

TAJIKISTAN • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; SMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding, surroundings of Ubagan Village; 38°32′ N, 71°03′ E; 1950–2100 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH .

Description

Female (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 49.

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 18.35, CL 6.77, CW 6.10, LL 0.64, LW 1.21, SL 3.55, SW 3.17.

COLOUR. Carapace dark reddish brown; eye tubercle dark brown with eyes encircled with wide blackish brown rings; chelicerae very dark cherry brown; sternum, labium, maxillae, palps and legs I–IV medium to dark brownish orange; abdomen medium fawn brown, dorsally with rich and dense dark reddish brown reticulate ornament (similar in its shade and intensity to carapace colouration); book lungs, epigastrum and spinnerets light yellowish brown.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 123. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 181. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.15(0.21), ALE 0.29, PLE 0.22, PME 0.15, AME–AME 0.16(0.10), ALE–AME 0.14(0.11), ALE–PLE 0.16, PLE–PME 0.10, PME–PME 0.47. Dorsodistal edge of chelicerae with a transverse row of ca 20 thickened and partially broken setae in front of fang base. Each cheliceral furrow with 8 promarginal teeth and 7–8 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 242. Maxillae with ca 80 cuspules each.

LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II; widely divided by setae on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–10 each on tibiae, 15–18 on metatarsi, 11–16 on tarsi. Palpal claw with 5 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 4–7 and 7–8 teeth on each margin, respectively.

LEG MEASUREMENTS

SPINATION. All femora I–II with one basodorsal spine and 3–4 dorsal bristles. Palpal patella, patella I and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia p2, v8(7); tarsus v5(4). Leg I: femur pd1; tibia p1, v5(4); metatarsus v6. Leg II: femur pd3; patella p1; tibia p2, v5; metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur pd3, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d2, p2, r3, v7; metatarsus d3, p4, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur pd1, rd1; patella r1; tibia p2, r3, v7; metatarsus d1, p3, r3, v10(8).

SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae provided with low and wide base carrying two thin and weakly diverging branches (Fig. 524).

SPINNERETS. See Figs 587–588. PMS: length 0.64, diameter 0.22. PLS: maximal diameter 0,74; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.22, 0.63, 0.30; total length 2.15; apical segment shortly triangular and obliquely truncated from base to apex in lateral view.

Male

Unknown.

Variation

Carapace length in three paratype females varies from 6.72 to 7.79. Variation in the structure of the spermathecae as shown in Fig. 525.

Ecology

The spiders were found under stones along the stream in the riverside gallery woodland dominated by Juglans regia . Their retreats and females with cocoons are shown in Figs 691–698.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality. See Fig. 754.