Zodarion murphyorum Bosmans, 1994

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 : 1839-1840

Zodarion murphyorum Bosmans

( Figures 10 , 21J–L , 25I , 26I , 27G )

Zodarion murphyorum Bosmans 1994: 129 ; figs 42–44, 105–106 (♂ ♀).

Zodarion murphyorum – Barrientos et al. 2017: 117; figs 12a–c (♂ ♀).

Examined type material

Paratypes (♂, ♀): SPAIN: labelled as ‘Almería, El Playazo’, 0 m a .s.l.; 27 March 1990, J . Murphy and F . Murphy leg; stones, low plants; CJFM-18452, G7572.14697.

Other material examined

SPAIN: 1 ♀, 1 juv .; labelled as ‘Almería, Los Escullos’; 0 m a.s.l.; 23 March 1990; J . Murphy and F . Murphy leg.; CJFM-18361, G7572.14585. 1 ♂; labelled as ‘Almería, Cabo de Gata’ ; 0 m a .s.l.; 30 March 1990; J . Murphy and F . Murphy leg.; stones, low plants; CJFM-18511, G7572.14763. 1 ♀; labelled as ‘Almería, Los Genoveses’; 0 m a.s.l.; 31 March 1990; J . Murphy and F . Murphy leg.; beach, stones; CJFM-18517, G7572.14768. 1 ♂, 1 ♀; no further data; 5 June 2005; M . Cárdenas leg .; CMU. 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Níjar, Rambla de las Yeguas, Almería; 24 May 2012; S . Pekár and S . Korenko leg.; CMU. 13 ♂, 18 ♀, 1 juv.; Camping Los Escullos, Almería; 24 May 2012; S . Pekár and S . Korenko leg.; CMU.

Diagnosis

Males of Z. murphyorum can be distinguished from the closely related Z. beticum by a larger tibial apophysis with a ventral hump visible in retrolateral view (vs a smaller tibial apophysis with a terminal incision; compare Figure 21L and Figure 21C ), and a median apophysis with a baso-lateral incision (vs without an incision; compare Figure 21K and Figure 21B ). Females can be distinguished from the closely related Z. elegans by a small, M-shaped septum (vs relatively larger septum; compare Figures 25I , 27 Gand Figures 25K , 27H ).

Description

For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Bosmans (1994). Epigyne. ( Figure 27G ) Epigyne comprising a short, M-shaped septum with rounded corners broadened medially, and narrowed posteriorly. Epigyne with a large antero-median copulatory opening placed behind the septum.

Molecular data

COI mitochondrial barcodes (GenBank accession): MT370081, MW760707 , PQ119985, PQ119981, PQ119982, PQ119983, PQ119984.

Maximum intraspecific COI divergence (4): 3.2%. Minimum interspecific divergence (to Z. beticum ): 2.0%. Consensus COI distance to the closest species ( Z. beticum ): 1.1%.

Figures

Figure 10. Habitus of Z. murphyorum Bosmans, 1994. A–B, paratype, male (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). C–D, paratype, female (CJFM-18452, G7572.14697). 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.