Talanites gilgamesh Al-Khazali, 2024

Al-Khazali, Azhar Mohammed, 2024, New species and records of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Iraq, Ecologica Montenegrina 77, pp. 12-23 : 18-19

Talanites gilgamesh Al-Khazali , sp. n. ( Figs 6 , 7 A-E)

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:42961820-2C2A-422A-820F-5F3E8C59D049

Type Material. Holotype ♀ ( CBEUS), IRAQ: Thi Qar Province , Al-Nassr City Center, 31.534582 °N, 46.120739 °E, 6. December. 2023. Leg. A.M. Al-Khazali . Paratype: 1♀, same data as the holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the famous King Gilgamesh, who ruled the Sumerian state of Uruk for the period between 2800 and 2500 BC.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to T. sumericus Zamani & Marusik, 2022 known from central Iraq, and T. farsensis Zamani & Marusik, 2024 known from Iran. It can be differentiated from both of them, as well as all other species of Talanites by the form of the receptacles: anterior receptacle (Ar) is spherical, posterior receptacle (Pr) is vertically elongated oval. In T. sumericus they are oval and spherical, respectively, while in T. farsensis they are tubular and spherical, respectively. The anterior hood (Ah) is semicircular in the new species, subtriangular in T. sumericus ( Figs. 1B, C ) and nearly crescent-shaped in T. farsensis ( Figs. 7E, F ).

Description. Female (Holotype). Overall length 7.84. Carapace: 3.76 long, 3.18 wide. Abdomen: long, 4.08 wide 2.73. Carapace yellowish orange. Sternum reddish-orange with dark reddish edges. Labium, maxillae and chelicerae uniform reddish-orange. Coxae, legs and palps yellowish-orange, ventrally paler with rather long setae, especially on sides. Spinnerets yellowish-orange. Abdomen pale yellowish, dorsally with three pairs of opposite sigilla, light brown; ventrally yellowish white without pattern, covered with relatively long brown hairs, especially on sides ( Figs 7 A-E). Measurements of legs: I: 2.24, 0.92, 1.89, 1.78, 1.08 (7.91). II: 1.91, 0.77, 1.98, 1.78, 1.20 (7.64). III: 3.17, 0.98, 3.62, 3.06, 1.39 (12.22). IV: 4.23, 1.05, 3.95, 3.02, 1.85 (14.1). Leg spination: I: Fe d1-1-1 p0-1-1-1 r1-1-0-0; Ti v1-1-1; Mt v2-0-0. II: Fe d1-1-1 p0-1-1-1 r0-1-1-0; Ti v1-1-1; Mt v2-1-0. III: Fe d1-1-1 p1-1-1 r1-1-1; Pa p0-1-0-1 r0-1-0; Ti d1-1-0 p1-0-1 r0-1-1 v2-2-2; Mt d2-2-0 p1-1-1 r1-1-1 v2- 2-2. IV: Fe d1-1-1 p1-1-1 r0-1-1; Pa r0-1-0; Ti d1-0-1 p1-1-1 r1-1-1 v2-2-2; Mt d2-2-0 p1-1-1 r1-1-1 v2-2-2.

Epigyne as in Figs 6 C-E; epigynal plate slightly longer than wide, covered on sides and posterior area with long, sparse brown hairs; anterior hood (Ah) crescent-shaped, with thickened outer edge, dark brown; anterior receptacle (Ar) spherical, posterior receptacle (Pr) elongated oval, set at an obtuse angle.

Male. Unknown.

Comments. This species was found near piles of dirt about 30 meters from freshly moved soil transported from open lands outside the city to bury some yards in residential neighbourhoods within Al-Nasr City. Likely, this species was inadvertently transported to the city through these soil transport operations. Despite my efforts to search for additional specimens, I was unable to collect any males.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Thi Qar Province, southern Iraq.

Figures

Figure 1. Map of Iraq, showing the collecting locality in Thi Qar province (red).

Figure 6. Talanites gilgamesh Al-Khazali, sp. n., holotype female. A. habitus in dorsal view; B. habitus in ventral view; C-E, epigyne. C. intact, ventral view; D. macerated ventral view; E. vulva, dorsal view.

Figure 7. Talanites gilgamesh Al-Khazali, sp. n., female. A. carapace; B. prosoma, ventral; C. eyes; D. sigilla; E. Spinnerets.