Harpactea bozdaglarensis Kunt, Danışman and Yağmur, 2025

Kunt, Kadir BoğaÇ, Danışman, Tarık & Yağmur, Ersen Aydın, 2025, Two new species of Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 from Turkey (Araneae: Dysderidae), Journal of Natural History 59 (5 - 8), pp. 397-409 : 398-404

Harpactea bozdaglarensis Kunt, Danışman and Yağmur sp. n.

( Figures 1 , 2 , 4A–C )

Material examined

Holotype. ♂ ( KUAM), TURKEY: Manisa Province, Salihli District, 2 km south of Allahdiyen Village (38.427222°N, 28.089167°W), c. 800 m asl, 14 May-2 July 2012, pitfall traps, Leg. E.A. Yağmur . Paratypes 1 ♂ ( KUAM), TURKEY: Manisa Province, Salihli District, 10 km north of Bozdağ Village (38.416667°N, 28.084167°W), c. 922 m asl, 05 April-5 May 2015, MSS trap, Leg. E.A. Yağmur – 1 ♂ ( HZH), Manisa Province, Turgutlu District, Kuşlar (Dağmarmara) Village (38.353056°N, 27.839167°W), c. 962 m asl, 10 May-26 June 2016, pitfall traps, Leg. E. A. Yağmur – Same place but 1 ♂ ( AZMM ) , 1 ♀ ( AZMM) , 1 ♀ ( KUAM) 26 November 2017 - 2 March 2018, pitfall traps, Leg. E.A. Yağmur .

Etymology

The specific epithet is a toponym for the ‘ Bozdağlar’, a mountain range located in the provinces of İzmir and Manisa in Turkey, including the type locality of the new species.

Diagnosis

The male copulatory organ of H. bozdaglarensis sp. n. shows affinity with H. alexandrae Lazarov, 2006 , whose type locality is Bulgaria. However, in H. alexandrae , the embolus (E) is longer than the conductor (C) (see Lazarov 2006, figs. 2, 3). Also, the angle between the embolus and the conductor is much narrower in H. bozdaglarensis sp. n. than in H. alexandrae ( Figures 2B–C , 4A–C ). The vulva of the females of these two species is entirely different. Whereas in H. bozdaglarensis sp. n., the distal end of the spermatheca (S) is concave or straight, the middle is bulging, in H. alexandrae , the spermatheca is almost straight, and the tip is narrow and convex (see Figure 2A–D ; Spiegelaere and Bosmans 2009, fig. 2).

Another species resembling H. bozdaglarensis sp. n. is H. clementi Bosmans, 2009 . However, while the tegulum is cylindrical in H. bozdaglarensis sp. n., it is pear-shaped in H. clementi . In addition, the embolus, which is cylindrical in H. clementi , is flattened in H. bozdaglarensis sp. n. When the females of these two species are compared, it is characteristic that the anchor-like chitinous parts of the vulva of H. bozdaglarensis sp. n. are wider than those of H. clementi and that the vulva of the new species has a distinct sclerotised belt (see Figures 1B–C and 2A–D ; Keer and Bosmans 2009, figs. 1–6).

Description

Measurements. [Holotype ♂ / Paratypes ♀] TL 5.60/5.70–6.65; AL 2.91/3.10–3.55; CL 2.69/2.60–3.10; CWmax 2.02/2.05–2.40; CWmin 0.87/0.90–1.05; Clh 0.08/0.06–0.07; Aed 0.12/0.11–0.11; iAE 0.08/0.06–0.08; PLEd 0.11/0.10–0.12; PMEd 0.10/0.08–0.10; ChF 0.61/0.53–0.54; ChG 0.31/0.23–0.25; ChL 1.24/1.00–1.25.

[Paratype ♂] TL 5.58; AL 2.94; CL 2.64; CWmax 1.92; CWmin 0.77; Clh 0.06; Aed 0.12; iAE 0.09; PLEd 0.12; PMEd 0.11; ChF 0.61; ChG 0.32; ChL 1.16.

Middle-sized harpacteine spider. Carapace reddish brown with smooth surface. Eye region and margins of thoracic region darker than general. Fovea longitudinal, blackish, distinct. Surface of carapace with sparse yellowish short setae. Setae around eyes relatively long compared to others. Anterior margin of eye region convex, while posterior margin of thoracic region straight. Eyes silver-coloured, arranged annularly. AE>PLE>PME. AE seperated; AE-PLE 0.01, PLE-PME 0.03, PME-PME 0.02.

Sternum glabrous, orangish-red; length 1.54, width 1.19. Surface with brownish hairs. Labium and gnathocoxae reddish. Labium length 0.39, width 0.30. Gnathocoxae length 0.69, width 0.55. Chelicerae reddish brown. Cheliceral groove with four triangular teeth ( Figure 1A ). Promarginal teeth more strongly developed than retromarginal teeth. Promarginal teeth almost same size. Of retromarginal teeth, one in centre of cheliceral groove about twice size of one at base. There is a distance of 0.02 between the promarginal and 0.08 between the retromarginal teeth.

Abdomen greyish. Surface covered with brownish setae. Legs yellowish light brown. Anterior legs slightly darker than posterior legs. Tarsi with three claws. Paired claws toothed. Paired claws of legs I and II with 7 teeth; legs III and IV with 5 teeth. Anterior legs without scopulae. Tarsi three and four and first distal quarter of metatarsi three and four with scopulae. Anterior femora and third and fourth coxae with spine. Leg formula: VI, I, II, III. Leg spination and measurements are given in Tables 1 and 2 , respectively.

Palp. ( Figures 1B–D , 4A–C ). Palpal tarsus cylindrical, length 0.63. Palpal tibia longer than tarsus ( Figure 1B ), length 0.65. Ratio Ti/Ta 0.97. Tegulum (T) cylindrical, brownish; length 0.55, width 0.31. Embolus (E) strongly sclerotised in the proximal half and weakly sclerotised in distal half, with a membranous appearance ( Figures 1C , 4A ). Conductor (C) massive, strongly sclerotised. Embolus and conductor almost same size ( Figures 1D , 4C ). Embolus length 0.27, conductor 0.28. Embolus originated from distal centre of tegulum, whereas conductor originated from distal prolateral margin. Embolus flattens and narrows towards tip ( Figures 1C , 4A–C ). Conductor cylindrical, spiniform with a sharply tapering end. As it distances from distal part of tegulum, tips of embolus and conductor become more distant from each other ( Figures 1D , 4C ).

Although there are size differences between the somatic parts of males and females, they are generally similar. Palpal tarsus cylindrical, length 0.75–0.90. Palpal tibia shorter than tarsus, length 0.60–0.65.

Vulva. ( Figure 2 ). Anterior arc (AC) wider than long. Spermathecal keel (SK) concave in some individuals and relatively straight in others. In all cases, lateral edges pointed ( Figure 4A–D ). Approximate middle part of spermatheca (S) slightly recurved to sides ( Figure 4A–D ). Anterior part of this region longer than part posterior to it. In addition, posterior part sclerotised at same level as anterior margin of the anterior arc (AA) and more strongly sclerotised than anterior part.

Lateral margins of anterior margin of the anterior arc are widened laterally ( Figure 4B ). These parts more weakly sclerotised than central regions. Round structures (RS) are symmetrical and distinct as conical tubercles ( Figure 4A–B ). Width of transversal bar (TB) approximately equal to anterior margin of the anterior arc ( Figure 4C ). Posterior diverticulum membranous, with indistinct borders, attached to the transversal bar ( Figure 4C ). Between anterior margin of the anterior arc and transversal bar there is a sclerotised belt whose width is approximately twice that of anterior margin of anterior arc ( Figure 4A–C ).

Distribution

Known only from type localities.

Habitat

The collection site, situated 2 km south of Allahdiyen Village, comprises dense oak bushes and scattered red pine trees. This habitat features a thick layer of leaf litter and is a serene and humid area located on the outskirts of a large valley. The MSS traps were positioned among accumulated, fragmented stone pieces in a small, cool, and humid valley. The area also encompasses plane trees and accumulated stones blanketed with leaf litter composed of dried plane leaves. Mixed red pine trees and oak bushes distinguish the Kuşlar site. It is a cool and humid environment with dense leaf litter.

Figures

Figure 1. Harpactea bozdaglarensis sp. n. (A) Chelicerae, ventral view (red dots indicate promarginal; white dots indicate retromarginal teeth). (B) Male palp, right, prolateral view. (C) Same, horizontally rotated. (D) Male palp, right, retrolateral view. Abbreviations: C – conductor, E – embolus,T – tegulum.

Figure 2. Harpactea bozdaglarensis sp. n. (A–C) Vulva, dorsal view from different angles; in Figure 2C, the outlines of the posterior diverticulum are drawn and highlighted for visibility. (D) Same, ventral view. Abbreviations: AA – anterior margin of the anterior arch, AC – anterior arc, PD – posterior diverticulum, RS – roundish structures, S – spermatheca, SB – sclerotised belt, – SK – spermathecal keel, TB – transversal bar.

Figure 4. Scanning electron microscopy images of the male palp. (A–C) Harpactea bozdaglarensis sp. n. (D–E) Harpactea dilekensis sp. n. Abbreviations: C – conductor, E – embolus, MA – median apophysis, o – sperm outlet.