Raveniola farkhor Zamani and Fomichev, 2025

Zamani, Alireza & Fomichev, Alexander A., 2025, Four new species of Mygalomorphae (Araneae) from Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Journal of Natural History 59 (13 - 16), pp. 775-793 : 785-788

Raveniola farkhor Zamani and Fomichev sp. n.

( Figures 29–35 , 44 , 47–48 )

Type

♂ holotype ( ISEA, 001.9170); TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Region, Panj Karatau Mt . Range, between Panj Village and Farkhor Village , 37.2754°N, 69.2469°E, 600–700 m, 29–30 April 2024, leg . A .A. Fomichev.

Etymology

The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the type locality of the species.

Diagnosis

The new species belongs to the caudata group sensu Zonstein (2024). It differs from the three other species in this group in having a notably longer embolic tip ( Figure 35 , cf. Zonstein 2024, figs 379, 381, 383), in the shape of the subapical keel ( Figure 34 , cf. Zonstein 2024, figs 380, 382, 384), and in the distal part of the bulb having a distinct invagination at the dorsal surface in lateral view (with a smooth transition in other species of the caudata group; Figure 35 , cf. Zonstein 2024, figs 379, 381, 383).

Description

Male (holotype). Habitus as in Figures 29–30 . Total length 12.5. Carapace 5.75 long, 4.9 wide. Sternum 2.8 long, 2.35 wide. Eye sizes: AME 0.14, ALE 0.19, PME 0.10, PLE 0.11. Each chelicera with 9–10 promarginal teeth and 2 mesobasal denticles. Each maxilla with 15–19 cuspules. Carapace, sternum, labium, and maxillae light brown. Chelicerae brown. Leg coxae light brown. Palps and legs brown, lighter distally. Dorsal side of abdomen yellow-grey, ventral side lighter. Book-lung covers yellow-brown. Spinnerets yellow. Spination of palp and legs: palp: Fe d5 p2 r1, Pa p1, Ti d2 p5 r3 v3; leg I: Fe d3 p3 r2, Ti p3 v6, Mt v2; leg II: Fe d3 p3, Pa p1, Ti p4 v7, Mt p1 v6; leg III: Fe d4 p3 r2, Pa p2 r1, Ti d2 p5 r3 v7, Mt d4 p4 r2 v8; leg IV: Fe d4 p3 r2, Pa p2 r1, Ti d2 p3 r4 v8, Mt d5 p5 r3 v8. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 8.15 (2.95, 1.85, 2.40, -, 0.95); leg I: 17.20 (4.60, 2.90, 3.85, 3.70, 2.15); leg II: 16.30 (4.40, 2.55, 3.70, 3.55, 2.10); leg III: 15.10 (4.00, 2.15, 3.00, 4.05, 1.90); leg IV: 19.55 (4.70, 2.50, 4.20, 5.75, 2.40).

Palp as in Figures 31–35 ; bulbal part of palpal organ oval; conical part of embolus short, subapical part with distinct semicircular keel, apical part pointed, straight, and distaddirected in lateral view.

Female. Unknown.

Habitat

Loess hills with rocky outcrops and pistachio ( Pistacea vera ) woodland ( Figure 44 ).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in the Khatlon Region of south-western Tajikistan ( Figure 47 ).

Figures

Figures 29–32. Habitus (29–30) and left palp (31–32) of male of Raveniola farkhor sp. n.; 29 = dorsal view; 30 = ventral view; 31 = prolateral view; 32 = retrolateral view. Scale bars: 29–30 = 2 mm; 31–32 = 1 mm.

Figures 33–35. Left palpal organ of Raveniola farkhor sp. n.; 33 = prolateral view; 34 = anterior view; 35 = retrolateral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figures 43–46. Living male of Ummidia dudkoi sp. n. (43), and habitat at type localities of Raveniola farkhor sp. n. and U. dudkoi sp. n. (44), of Anemesia gidzhovak sp. n. (45), and of Raveniola zonsteini sp. n. (46). Photographs: A.A. Fomichev (43–45) and C. Reuter (46).

Figures 47, 48. Type localities of the new mygalomorph species. Diamond = Anemesia gidzhovak sp. n.; triangle = Raveniola zonsteini sp. n.; square = Raveniola farkhor sp. n. and Ummidia dudkoi sp. n. Figure 47 corresponds to the inside of the frame in Figure 48. National borders are shown in black, rivers and lakes are shown in blue.