Zodarion valentii Bosmans, Loverre and Addante, 2019

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 : 1842-1843

Zodarion valentii Bosmans, Loverre and Addante

( Figures 13 , 20D–F , 25B , 26B , 27B )

Enyo algerica Simon, 1870: 98 .

Enyo algerica – Simon 1873: 65, 172, pl. 2; fig. 12 (♂ ♀).

Enyo algiricum – Denis 1935c: 67, 69; figs 5–6 (♂ ♀).

Zodarion cfr. affine – Bosman, 1994: 126 (♀).

Zodarion valentii – Bosmans et al. 2019: 10; figs 4a–f, 5a–e (♂ ♀). – Benhalima and Bosmans 2020: 98; figs 23–24, 29–33, 44–48 (♂ ♀).

Examined type material

Syntype of Z. algiricum Denis, 1935 (♂ subadult): ALGERIA: no further data on the label; MNHN-AR9938.

Diagnosis

Males of Z. valentii can be distinguished from the closely related species Z. affine by a smaller tibial apophysis with an extended, recurved tip in retrolateral view (vs a larger tibial apophysis with a retrolateral tooth; compare Figure 20F and Figure 20C ). Females are distinguished by the epigyne, which lacks a median septum (vs with a median septum; compare Figures 25B , 27B and Figures 25A , 27A ), and by the presence of posterior borders of the copulatory openings (vs copulatory openings without posterior borders; compare Figure 27B and Figure 27A ).

Description

For a detailed description of the habitus and male palp, refer to Bosmans et al. (2019). Epigyne. ( Figure 27B ) Epigyne similar to that of Z. affine , but without a median septum ( Figure 27B vs Figure 27A ). Epigyne comprising paired copulatory openings, medially merged; posterior borders of the copulatory openings extended like bending fingers.

Molecular data

No molecular data from Iberian populations is available.

Distribution

Algeria, Italy, Morocco, Spain.

Figures

Figure 13. Habitus of Z. valentii Bosmans, Loverre and Addante, 2019. A–B, male (CMU). C–D, female (CMU). A, C, dorsal view. B, D, ventral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

Figure 20. Comparison of palp shape among males of the elegans group. A–C, Z. affine (MNHN- AR1521). D–F, Z.valentii (CMU). G–I, Z. marginiceps (MNHN-AR9900, 22549). J–L, Z. mallorca (CJFM- 4583, G7572.2929). M–O, Z. pseudoelegans (MNHN-AR9910). A, D, G, J, M, prolateral view. B, E, H, K, N, ventral view. C, F, I, L, O, retrolateral view. Scale bar = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: C = conductor; Em = embolus; Es = subterminal tooth of embolus; MA = median apophysis; Rt = retrolateral tooth of the tibial apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; T = tegulum.

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.