Zodarion elegans (Simon)

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 : 1832

Zodarion elegans (Simon)

( Figures 5 , 21P–R , 25K , 26K , 27H )

Enyo elegans Simon, 1873: 56 , pl. 2; figs 13–14 (♂ ♀).

Enyo elegans – Simon 1875: 352, pl. 4; fig. 4 (♀).

Zodarion elegans – Simon 1893: 435 (♂ ♀). – Chyzer and Kulczyński 1897: 149, pl. 6; fig. 1 (♂ ♀). – Denis 1935c: 66, 69; figs 1–2 (♂ ♀). – Drensky 1940: 173; figs 1a, 2a (♂ ♀). – Bosmans 1997: 267; figs 1–3, 77–78 (♂ ♀). – Bouragba et al. 2012: 75; figs 1H–L (♂ ♀). – Rehfeldt and Cassar 2024: 36; figs 36a–e (♂ ♀).

Zodarion elegans simplicior – Simon 1914: 227, 234 (♀). – Denis 1937: 8, pl. 1;fig. 2 (♂).

Zodarion elegans maculisternum – Caporiacco 1950: 227, 68 (♀).

Examined type material

‘Type series’ ( 199 ♂, 71 ♀, 38 juv.): FRANCE: Corse; MNHN-AR2853. Holotype (♀) and paratypes (13 juv.) of Z. elegans simplicior Simon, 1914 : FRANCE: Monte Lubéron; MNHN-AR9906 (25212).

Diagnosis

Zodarion elegans males can be distinguished from other members of the elegans group by their elongated tibial apophysis, which is accompanied by an internal tooth ( Figure 21Q ), and a hook-shaped median apophysis with a broad basal part ( Figure 21Q ). Females can be identified by a relatively large, M-shaped septum ( Figures 25K , 27H ).

Description

For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Bosmans (1997). Epigyne. ( Figure 27H ) Epigyne comprising an M-shaped septum with rounded corners; septum gradually broadened posteriorly. Epigyne with a large, antero-median copulatory opening located behind the septum.

Molecular data

No molecular data from Iberian populations is available.

Distribution

Southern Europe, North Africa.

Figures

Figure 5. Habitus of Z. elegans (Simon, 1873). A–B, specimen from type series, male (MNHN-AR2853). C–D, specimen from type series, female (MNHN-AR2853). A, C, dorsal view. B, D, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 21. Comparison of palp shape among males of the elegans group. A–C, Z. beticum (CMU). D–F, Z. diatretum (MNHN-AR1513). G–I, Z. maculatum (CMU). J–L, Z. murphyorum (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). M–O, Z. vanimpei (CJFM-18593, G7572.15281). P–R, Z. elegans (MNHN-AR2853). 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. Abbreviations: Bi = baso-lateral incision of the median apophysis; It = internal tooth of the tibial apophysis; TA = terminal 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.