Raveniola dolosa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 7EC137C9-9E8D-4B2C-8309-358072F8FF08

Figs 7, 41, 71, 89, 116, 143, 172, 208, 235, 265, 295, 356, 379–399, 500–503, 568–570, 643–650, 751

Diagnosis

In the structure of the embolus and the spermathecae, Raveniola dolosa sp. nov. resembles R. ignobilis sp. nov.; it can be distinguished from the latter in having the embolus lacking a raised keel and in possessing noticeably shorter spermathecae (vs a clearly keeled embolus and longer branches of the spermathecae in R. ignobilis; Figs 397–399, 500–503 cf. Figs 403–408, 509). Additionally, R. dolosa differs from R. ignobilis in having the posterior medium spinnerets strictly reduced in size (vs considerably larger PMS in the latter species; Figs 568–570 cf. Figs 573–574).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a Latin adjective ‘ dolosus/-a/-um ’ (= deceptive) referring to a general similarity of this new species to the closest congeners, Raveniola ignobilis sp. nov. and R. sororcula sp. nov.; the gender is feminine.

Material examined

Holotype

TAJIKISTAN • ♂; Peter I Mts, Childara Canyon, Shahobdara Gorge, 4 km NNW of Shahob Village; 38°51′ N, 70°18′ E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 12 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.

Paratypes (13 ♀♀)

TAJIKISTAN • 11 ♀♀; same locality as for holotype; 1900–2100 m a.s.l.; 12–13 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 2 ♀♀; same locality as for holotype, 2.5 km N of Shahob Village; 38°50′ N, 70°19′ E; 1800 m a.s.l.; 8 Jul. 2019; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH .

Description

Male (holotype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 7.

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 12.55, CL 5.24, CW 4.97, LL 0.50, LW 0.87, SL 2.51, SW 2.41.

COLOUR. Carapace, chelicerae and leg I dull reddish brown; palps and legs II–IV lighter reddish brown; eye tubercle dark brown; sternum, labium and maxillae light yellowish brown; abdomen tan brown, with dark brown dorsal chevron-like pattern and a few small brown marks on ventral side; book-lungs and spinnerets pale yellowish brown.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 89. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 143. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.20), ALE 0.26, PLE 0.16, PME 0.12; AME–AME 0.10(0.05), ALE–AME 0.11(0.08), ALE–PLE 0.10, PLE–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.37. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 3–4 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 208. Maxillae with 36–39 cuspules each.

LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 265, 295. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsi I–II; narrowly divided by setae on tarsus III; widely divided on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 12–14 on metatarsi, 10–11 on tarsi, 7–8 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 9–10 and 7–8 teeth on inner and outer margins, respectively.

SPINATION. All femora with 1–2 basodorsal spines and 3–4 dorsal bristles; metatarsus I and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd2, rd1; patella pd1; tibia d1, p2, r3, v5; cymbium d4(5)+12–15 spikes. Leg I: femur pd3, rd3; patella p1; tibia p2, pv1, r2, rv2+ 2M. Leg II: femur pd3; patella p2; tibia p3, v7; metatarsus v5(4). Leg III: femur pd3, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d2(1), p4, r3, v7; metatarsus d3, p4, r3, v8. Leg IV: femur pd3(2), rd2(1); patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p3, r3, v9(7); metatarsus d3, p4(3), r5(4), v9.

PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 356. Embolus with moderately long basal portion provided with very low keel and short, hooked apical part (Figs 397–399).

SPINNERETS. See Fig. 568. PMS: length 0.36, diameter 0.16. PLS: maximal diameter 0.49; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.75, 0.43, 0.38; total length 1.56; apical segment triangular.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)

Female (paratype)

HABITUS. See Fig. 41.

MEASUREMENTS. TBL 15.60, CL 5.26, CW 4.53, LL 0.87, LW 1.11, SL 2.76, SW 2.48.

COLOUR. Similar to that of male, but carapace and legs slightly paler.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 116. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 172. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13(0.18), ALE 0.25, PLE 0.18, PME 0.16; AME–AME 0.12(0.07), ALE–AME 0.10(0.07), ALE–PLE 0.09, PLE–PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.35. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 9–10 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 235. Maxillae with ca 70 cuspules each.

LEGS. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on palpal tarsus and tarsus I; widely divided by setae on tarsus II; rudimentary on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 11–12 each on tibiae, 16–18 on metatarsi; 13–15 on tarsi; 11 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 5 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 4–5 and 5–7 teeth on each margin, respectively.

SPINATION. All femora with one basodorsal spine and 3 dorsal bristles; palpal patella, patellae I–II, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia p1, v7; tarsus v3. Leg I: femur pd1; tibia v6; metatarsus v6. Leg II: femur pd1; tibia p2, v6; metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur pd2, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d1, p2, r2(1), v7; metatarsus d3(2), p3, r3, v9(8). Leg IV: femur rd1; patella r1; tibia p2, r2, v7; metatarsus p3, r3, v8(7).

SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae V-shaped with relatively low and wide base carrying two densely located, short and weakly diverging branches (Fig. 500).

SPINNERETS. See Figs 569–570. PMS: length 0.47, diameter 0.15. PLS: maximal diameter 0.57; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.98, 0.42, 0.43; total length 1.83; apical segment triangular.

Variation

Carapace length varies in females (n =9) from 4.30 to 6.17. Variations in the habitus and structure of the spermathecae as shown in Figs 71, 501–503.

Ecology

All spiders were found hiding in soil cavities under stones in riverside woodlands, dominated by Juniperus seravschanica, Juglans regia and Populus sp. (Figs 643–650).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality. See Fig. 751.