Zodarion alacre ( Simon, 1870 )

Shafaie, Sepideh, Pekár, Stano & Ortiz, David, 2025, Integrative taxonomy of the Iberian Zodarion species of the rubidum and styliferum groups (Araneae: Zodariidae), Zootaxa 5624 (1), pp. 1-69 : 7-9

Zodarion alacre ( Simon, 1870)

Figs 2 , 13A–C , 15A–B , 16A , 17A

Enyo alacris Simon 1870: 144 (♂).

Enyo alacris — Simon 1873: 66, pl. 2, fig. 10 (♂).

Zodarion alacre — Denis 1937: 18, pl. 3, fig. 23 (♀).— Bosmans 1994: 131, figs 57–59, 115–116 (♂ ♀).— Pekár et al. 2011: 21 (♂ ♀).— Wunderlich 2023: 47, figs 83–86 (♂).

Type material examined. Lectotype SPAIN: 1♂, labeled as “Hisp., Sierra Morena, Aranjuez, Miranda”, MNHN-AR1514 . Paralectotypes 1♂, 5♀, 2 juv., same collection data as for lectotype .

Other material examined. PORTUGAL: 1♂, 3♀, 1 juv., Ribeira de Limas (Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana), Serpa , 37.824°N, 7.618°W, 24. V.2011, S. Korenko leg., CMU ; 1♀, 1 juv., Videla , Santarém, 4. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & S. Pekár leg., CMU ; 13♂, Rio Ardila, Moura , 38.166°N, 7.419°W, 12. V.2019, S. Pekár leg., CMU ; 1♀, Corte da Velha (Parque Natural do Vale do Guadiana), Mértola , 37.691°N, 7.732°W, 21.III.2022, S. Pekár et al. leg., CMU ; 1♀, 13 juv., Campinho, Reguengos de Monsaraz , 38.375°N, 7.423°W; 22.III.2022; S. Pekár, D. Gajski & M. Řezáč leg.; CMU . SPAIN: 1 juv., Pinarejos, Segovia , 7. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & O. Michálek leg., CMU ; 4 juv., Vicolozano, Ávila , 7. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & O. Michálek leg., CMU ; 1♂, 1♀, 1 juv., San Idelfonso, Segovia , 7. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & O. Michálek leg., CMU ; 3♀, Arévalo, Ávila , 7. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & O. Michálek leg., CMU ; 1 juv., Candelario, Salamanca , 8. VI.2018, D. Ortiz & O. Michálek leg., CMU .

Diagnosis: Zodarion alacre can be distinguished from other members within the rubidum group by the presence of whitish hairs on the prosoma ( Fig. 2A, 2C ), a stout and short tibial apophysis with an incised tip in the retrolateral view ( Fig. 13C ), and an elongated, bell-shaped epigyne ( Figs 15A–B , 17A ).

Description: For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Bosmans (1994). Epigyne ( Fig. 17A ): Epigynal plate bell-shaped with parallel edges, anteriorly limited by semi-circular margin. Epigyne with paired postero-median copulatory openings, accompanied by a pair of small, medio-lateral pits.

Molecular data:

COI mitochondrial barcodes (Genbank accession): MT370089, MW760719, OM287947, OM287948, OM287949, OM287950, OM287951, OM287952, OM287953, OM287954, OM287955, OM287956, OM287957, OM287958, OM287959, OM287960, OM287961, OM287962, OM287963, OM287964, OM287965, OM287966, OM287967, OM287968, OM287969, OM287970, OM287971, OM287972, OM287973, OM287974, OM287975, OM287976, OM287977, OM287978 .

Maximum intraspecific COI divergence (n=34): 5.0 %. Minimum interspecific divergence (to Z. andalusiacum ): 6.6%. Consensus COI distance to the closest species (to Z. styliferum ): 2.6%.

Comments: The tube including the type series of Z. alacre contains nine specimens. Therefore, we conclude that the type series is composed of nine specimens rather than the five mentioned by Bosmans (1994).

Two epigynal forms, differing in the width of the median plate and the distance between postero-lateral copulatory openings ( Fig. 15A–B ) were identified both in different specimens of the type series and in the non-type specimens examined.

A recent genome-based phylogeographic and species delimitation study of Z. alacre ( Ortiz et al. 2023a) detected four allopatric lineages inside this species. These lineages were found to have undergone recent and considerable gene flow among them, supporting their cohesion as a single species.

Distribution: Portugal, Spain.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus of Z. alacre. A–B. lectotype, male. C–D. paralectotype, female. A, C. dorsal view. B, D. ventral view. Scale = 0.4 mm.

FIGURE 13. Palp shape comparison among males of rubidum group. A–C. Z. alacre, lectotype. D–F. Z. andalusiacum. G–I. Z. minutum. J–L. Z. rubidum. M–O. Z. timidum, lectotype. P–R. Z. viduum, lectotype. A, D, G, J, M, P. prolateral view. B, E, H, K, N, Q. ventral view. C, F, I, L, O, R. retrolateral view. Scale = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Co conductor; Em embolus; Es subterminal tooth of embolus; MA median apophysis; RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis; T tegulum. Arrow indicates the lamellar shield at the base of the embolus.

FIGURE 15. Epigyne shape comparison among females of rubidum group in ventral view.A–B. Z. alacre, paralectotype morphs. C. Z. andalusiacum. D. Z. minutum, paralectotype. E. Z. rubidum. F. Z. timidum, paralectotype. G. Z. viduum, paralectotype. H. Z. atlanticum. I. Z. costablancae. J. Z. costapratae. K. Z. fuscum, syntype. L. Z. machadoi. Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Vulva shape comparison among females of rubidum group in ventral view. A. Z. alacre, paralectotype morphs. B. Z. andalusiacum. C. Z. minutum, paralectotype. D. Z. rubidum. E. Z. timidum, paralectotype. F. Z. viduum, paralectotype. G. Z. atlanticum. H. Z. costablancae. I. Z. costapratae. J. Z. fuscum, syntype. K. Z. machadoi. Scale = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 17. SEM images of epigyne among females of rubidum group (A–J) and styliferum group (K, L) in ventral view. A. Z. alacre. B. Z. atlanticum. C. Z. costablancae. D. Z. costapratae. E. Z. fuscum. F. Z. machadoi. G. Z. minutum. H. Z. rubidum. I. Z. timidum, paralectotype. J. Z. viduum. K. Z. alentejanum. L. Z. merlijni. Arrow colors represent copulatory opening (blue), lamellar shield (green), lateral pit (white), ridge (purple), septum (red), and the connecting groove (yellow). Scale = 40 µm.