Harpactea dilekensis 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 : 404-408

Harpactea dilekensis Kunt, Danışman and Yağmur sp. n.

( Figures 3 , 4D–E , 5 )

Material examined

Holotype ( KUAM) ♂ TURKEY: Aydın Province, Dilek Peninsula NP, 4 km South of GüzelÇamlı Village (37.690556°N, 27.237222°W), c. 163 m asl, 12 May 2017, Litter sifting, Leg. E.A. Yağmur . Paratypes 3 ♂, 2 ♀ ( KUAM), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( AZMM), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( HZH), same data as holotype.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a toponym for the ‘Dilek Peninsula, Aydın Province, Turkey’.

Diagnosis

The male copulatory organ of H. dilekensis sp. n. resembles that of H. chaniaensis Bosmans, 2023 (Crete) and H. walterdebucki Bosmans, 2023 (Cyclades, Iraklia) distributed in the Aegean islands. However, H. dilekensis sp. n. can be distinguished from the latter two species by the robust, thick and comma-shaped embolus (E). Indeed, the embolus is straight in H. chaniaensis and slightly curved in H. walterdebucki (see Figure 3B–G ; Bosmans 2023, fig. 7b–h; Bosmans and Gavalas 2023, fig. 7c–g).

In the female of H. dilekensis sp. n. the vulva is similar to that of H. walterdebucki . The anterior arcs (AC) of the two species are similar in terms of their general morphological features. The most important difference is that the spermathecal keel (SK) is narrower in H. dilekensis sp. n. than in H. walterdebucki . There is also a prominent sclerotised plate (SP) posterior to the spermatheca in H. dilekensis sp. n., whereas in H. walterdebucki , there is a gently developed sclerotised belt (SB).

Description

Measurements. [Holotype ♂ / Paratypes ♀] TL 2.94/4.08–4.19; AL 1.71/2.55–2.71; CL 1.23/1.48–1.53; CWmax 0.99/1.11–1.14; CWmin 0.47/0.49–0.51; Clh 0.04/0.04–0.04; Aed 0.07/0.07–0.08; iAE 0.04/0.04–0.04; PLEd 0.06/0.06–0.08; PMEd 0.05/0.05–0.06; ChF 0.27/0.32–0.33; ChG 0.13/0.14–0.15; ChL 0.44/0.62–0.63.

[Paratype ♂] TL 3.12; AL 1.73; CL 1.39; CWmax 1.07; CWmin 0.46; Clh 0.04; Aed 0.07; iAE 0.05; PLEd 0.06; PMEd 0.05; ChF 0.28; ChG 0.14; ChL 0.46.

Small-sized harpacteine spider. Carapace brownish with smooth surface. Eye region of carapace darker than thoracic region. Fovea longitudinal, blackish-brown, distinct. Surface of carapace with sparse blackish short setae. There is a single line of hairs between fovea and PME. Eye region slightly higher than thoracic region. They are almost in alignment. Anterior margin of eyes region convex, while posterior margin of thoracic region straight.

Eyes silvery honey-coloured, arranged annularly. AE>PLE = PME. AE seperated; AE-PLE 0.01, PLE-PME 0.01, PME-PME 0.01. Sternum yellowish brown; length 0.85, width 0.68. Surface with brownish setae. Setae in front of 3 rd and 4 th coxae and posterior margin of sternum longer. Labium and gnathocoxae brownish. Labium length 0.26, width 0.19. Gnathocoxae length 0.48, width 0.25. Chelicerae brownish. Cheliceral groove with 4 teeth ( Figure 3A ). Promarginal teeth triangular, retromarginal teeth conical. Promarginal teeth more strongly developed than retromarginal teeth. They are several times larger than retromarginal teeth. While retromarginal teeth are equal in length to each other, promarginal tooth at the base of the cheliceral groove slightly larger than one following it. There is a distance of 0.01 between the promarginal and 0.04 between the retromarginal teeth. Abdomen brownish greyish. Surface covered with brownish setae. Legs yellowish light brown. Anterior legs slightly darker than posterior legs. Tarsi with 3 claws. Paired claws toothed. Paired claws of legs I and II with 6–7 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 weak scopulae. First and second femora with 2 spines prolaterally. First femoral spines arranged side by side, and second femoral spines arranged back to back. Third and fourth coxae also with spine. Leg formula: VI, I, II, III. Leg spination and measurements are given in Tables 3 and 4 , respectively.

Palp. ( Figures 3B–G , 4D–E ). Palpal tarsus triangular, length 0.36 ( Figure 3D–E ). Palpal tibia shorter than tarsus, length 0.28. Ratio Ti/Ta 0.77. Tegulum (T) yellowish brown, spherical, gradually narrowing distally; length 0.34, width 0.32 ( Figure 3B, C ). Embolus (E), conductor (C) and median apophysis (MA) black, strongly sclerotised. Embolus longer than conductor and median apophysis ( Figure 3C–F ). Embolus length 0.21, conductor 0.08. Embolar base wide. It is on same axis as tegulum. Conductor and median apophysis aligned and positioned opposite each other. Median apophysis shaped like a small tubercle, while the conductor relatively larger ( Figures 3D, G , 4D–E ). Conductor on a convex-shaped sclerotised plate. Its shape like a triangular hook, and its tip orientated at three o’clock. Embolus comma-shaped and gradually tapers from base to tip ( Figure 4D–E ). Base on same axis as tegulum and tip curved ventrally at an angle of about 45° to this axis ( Figure 3C ).

Although there are size differences between the somatic parts of males and females, they are generally similar. Palpal tarsus cylindrical, length 0.35–0.37. Palpal tibia shorter than tarsus, length 0.26–0.28. Female individuals have slightly developed epigastral scutum in gastral area. In females, third coxae without spines.

Vulva. ( Figure 5 ). General parts of vulva strongly sclerotised at almost same level. Sclerotised plate (SP), posterior and central region of spermatheca (S) less sclerotised than in general ( Figure 4B ).

Anterior arc (AC) longer in width than length. Central region of spermatheca bulging, ovoid. Posterior and anterior half almost equal in size. However, quadrangular posterior half wider than anterior half. Spermathecal keel (SK) blunt ( Figure 5B–D ). Anterior margin of anterior arc (AA) thick and robust. Lateral margins initially oriented anteriorly in a halfmoon shape and then bent and oriented laterally. Distinctive roundish structures (R S), nearly half height of anterior arc’s anterior margin ( Figure 5B–D ). Transversal bar (TB), same length as anterior margin of anterior arc ( Figure 5B–C ). A planar, oval sclerotised plate located posterior to transversal bar. Lateral margins of this plate slightly curved dorsally ( Figure 5C ). Behind this plate, transparent, membranous folds associated with posterior diverticulum ( Figure 5D ). Posterior diverticulum (PD) roundish, membranous, and equal in width and length ( Figure 5A, B ).

Distribution

Known only from type localities.

Habitat

The collection locality consists of red pine trees and oak bushes. It is a cool and humid area with thick leaf litter.

Figures

Figure 3. Harpactea dilekensis sp. n. (A) Chelicerae, ventral view (red dots indicate promarginal; white dots indicate retromarginal teeth). (B) Male palp, left, nearly retrolateral. (C) Same, retrolateral. (D) Same, nearly retrolateral view. (E) Same, nearly retrolateral view. (F) Same, nearly ventral view. (G) Same, prolateral view. Abbreviations: C – conductor, E – embolus, MA – median apophysis, T – tegulum.

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.

Figure 5. Harpactea dilekensis sp. n. (A) Vulva, ventral view. (B) Same, dorsal view. (C) Same, nearly dorsal view. (D) Same, posterior dorsal view. Abbreviations: AA – anterior margin of the anterior arch, AC – anterior arc, ES – epigastral scutum, PD – posterior diverticulum, RS – roundish structures, S – spermatheca, SK – spermathecal keel, SP – sclerotised plate, TB – transversal bar.