Zodarion cesari Pekár, 2011

Shafaie, Sepideh, Pekár, Stano & Ortiz, David, 2025, Zodarion spiders (Araneae: Zodariidae): morphology, molecular characterisation and reassessment of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups from Iberia and the Canary Islands, Journal of Natural History 59 (25 - 28), pp. 1825-1875 : 1861-1864

Zodarion cesari Pekár

( Figures 19 , 24N–O , 25P , 26P , 27L )

Zodarion cesari Pekár et al., 2011: 23 ; figs 3–6 (♂ ♀).

Zodarion cesari – Déjean 2016: 14; figs 1A–D, 2 A–C, 3 B, 4 (♂ ♀).

Material examined

SPAIN: 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Moncada , València; 5 April 2007; C . Monzo leg .; CMU. 5 ♀, 1 juv . ; idem; April 2008; C . Monzo leg .; CMU. 3 ♂; València, València; 7 September 2008; C . Monzo leg .; CMU. 1 ♂; 600 m West of the Valencian Institute of Agriculture Research , Moncada, València; 28 November 2021; D . Ortiz , A . Avila leg.; CMU.

Diagnosis

The only pusio member in Iberia, Z. cesari , can be easily distinguished by a recurved tibial apophysis with a small tooth at the base ( Figure 24O ), and the transversely concave epigynal plate, accompanied by paired antero-lateral copulatory openings ( Figures 25P , 27L ).

Description

For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Pekár et al. (2011). Epigyne. ( Figure 27L ) Epigynal plate transversely concave, with a pair of shallow, antero-lateral copulatory openings. Pits located on postero-lateral sides of the epigyne.

Molecular data

COI mitochondrial barcodes (GenBank accession): JF816705 .

Minimum interspecific divergence (to Z. machadoi ): 9.2%. Consensus COI distance to the closest species ( Z. styliferum ): 8.3%.

Distribution

France ( Corsica), Spain.

Figures

Figure 19. Habitus of Z. cesari Pekár, A–B, male (CMU). C–D, female (CMU). A, C, dorsal view. B, D, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 24. Comparison of palp shape among males belonging to the italicum and pusio groups. A–O, italicum group members. A–C, Z. isabellinum (MNHN-AR1522). D–F, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). G–I, Z. modestum (MNHN-AR1519). J–L, Z. nesiotes (CMU). M–O, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). 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 bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviation: B = base of embolus. Arrow indicates the tooth at the base of the tibial apophysis.

Figure 25. Comparison of epigyne shape among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups in ventral view. A–K elegans group members. A, Z. affine (MNHN-AR1523). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (MNHN-AR9900, 22549). D, Z. mallorca (CJFM-4583, G7572.2929). E, Z. pseudoelegans (MNHN-AR9910). F, Z. beticum (MNHN-AR9950). G, Z. diatretum (MNHN-AR1513). H, Z. maculatum (MNHN-AR1512). I, Z. murphyorum (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). J, Z. vanimpei (CJFM-18557, G7572.15251). K, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). L–O italicum group members. L, Z. isabellinum (MNHN- AR1522). M, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). N, Z. modestum (CMU). O, Z. nesiotes (MNHN-AR9949, 22556). P, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Ep = Epigynal plate; Ms = median septum.

Figure 26. Comparison of endogyne shape among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups in ventral view. A–K elegans group members. A, Z. affine (MNHN-AR1523). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (MNHN-AR9900, 22549). D, Z. mallorca (CJFM-4583, G7572.2929). E, Z. pseudoelegans (MNHN-AR9910). F, Z. beticum (MNHN-AR9950). G, Z. diatretum (MNHN-AR1513). H, Z. maculatum (MNHN-AR1512). I, Z. murphyorum (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). J, Z. vanimpei (CJFM-18557, G7572.15251). K, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). L–O italicum group members. L, Z. isabellinum (MNHN- AR1522). M, Z. italicum (MNHN-AR2866). N, Z. modestum (CMU). O, Z. nesiotes (MNHN-AR9949, 22556). P, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: A = atrium; Sp = spermatheca.

Figure 27. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the epigyne among females of the elegans, italicum, and pusio groups, in ventral view. A–H elegans group members. A, Z. affine (CMU). B, Z. valentii (CMU). C, Z. marginiceps (CMU).D, Z. pseudoelegans (CMU).E, Z. beticum (CMU).F, Z.maculatum (CMU). G, Z. murphyorum (CMU). H, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). I–K italicum group members. I, Z. isabellinum (CMU). J, Z. italicum (CMU). K, Z. modestum (CMU). L, pusio group member, Z. cesari (CMU). Scale bar = 40 µm. Abbreviations: CO = copulatory opening; Ei = incision of the epigynal plate; Ep = epigynal plate; Ml = midline suture of the septum; P = pit; Pb = posterior borders of the copulatory openings; Se = septum; Si = incision of the septum.