Cybaeodes magnus Ribera & De Mas, 2015

Ribera, Carles, Ortuño, Vicente M., Jiménez-Valverde, Alberto & Domènech, Marc, 2025, Two new species of Cybaeodes Simon, 1878 (Araneae, Liocranidae) and description of the male of C. magnus Ribera & De Mas, 2015 from the MSS in the eastern Prebaetic Mountain Range (eastern Spain), European Journal of Taxonomy 1004, pp. 39-57 : 51-53

Cybaeodes magnus Ribera & De Mas, 2015

Fig. 6

non Cybaeodes liocraninus (Simon, 1913) – Fage 1931: 209 (misidentification) (see Bosselaers 2009).

Diagnosis

Males of C. magnus differ from those of other species of the genus, especially from those of C. bernia sp. nov. ( Fig. 3 ), C. dosaguas , C. indalo and C. gallinera sp. nov. ( Fig. 5 ), which are the most morphologically similar and geographically closest species, by the shape and size of the tibial apophysis and the copulatory bulb, the median apophysis, the embolar base and the embolus itself. Cybaeodes magnus shows a median apophysis similar to those of C. bernia and C. gallinera , whereas in C. dosaguas and C. indalo , the median apophysis is longer and thinner, and its apical hook is less developed. Tegulum taller than in the other species, occupying almost half of the alveolus; its apical extension longer than in C. gallinera and wider than in C. bernia . Embolar base elongated and similar to those of C. bernia and C. indalo . Laminar embolus reaches the apical area of the alveolus, and its end is shorter and clearly thinner than in C. bernia and C. gallinera , and it is lodged behind the median apophysis. For diagnosis of the female see Ribera & De Mas (2015).

Material examined

SPAIN – Alacant • 1 ♂; Serrella , Quatretondeta, La Serrella , SSD-3; 38°38.324′ N, 0°21.447′ W; 1000 m a.s.l.; Oct. 2012; V.M. Ortuño et al. leg.; SSD 100 cm long, colluvial MSS; CRBA 5311B-199 • 1 ♂; same data as for preceding; CRBA 5311-199 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CRBA 5311A-199 • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; CRBA 5308-199 • 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; Jul. 2012; CRBA 5307-199 • 4 ♀♀; same data as for preceding, SSD-4; SSD 100 cm long; CRBA 5312-199 • 1 ♀; Barranc del Xarquet, Tárbena ; 38°38.165′ N, 0°14.561′ W; 537 m a.s.l.; Sep. 2012; V.M. Ortuño et al. leg.; SSD 50 cm long (SSD-Alu6), alluvial MSS; CRBA 5306-199 .

Description of the male ( CRBA-UB 5311-B-199)

MSS and cave-dwelling species with evident features of underground adaptation: very pale pigmentation and reduced, depigmented eyes.

COLORATION. Prosoma yellowish brown, fovea brownish. Chelicera the same colour as the carapace but slightly darker. Appendages pale yellowish brown, the apical segments slightly darker. Opisthosoma yellowish.

PROSOMA. Longer (2.16) than wide (1.52) in dorsal view. Fovea clearly visible, radial grooves scarcely marked ( Fig. 6E ). Cephalic region slightly higher than the rest of the prosoma. Eyes greatly reduced to small unpigmented lenses, except the AME, which retain a slight pigmentation. Eye size (diameter): AME 0.05, ALE 0.09, PME 0.05, PLE 0.08.

OPISTHOSOMA. With a slight pubescence on the dorsal part, and in its anterior end it has some long, black hairs located above the pedicel. Spinnerets show the typical sexual dimorphism of the genus: elongate and sclerotized anterior lateral spinnerets bearing five enlarged spigots; posterior spinnerets also cylindrical but are shorter and thinner; the medium ones smaller.

APPENDAGES. Robust chelicerae with pilosity along promarginal rim. Long and robust fangs. Promargin with 3 teeth in basal position, middle tooth largest. Retromargin with 2 small teeth on apical position. Labium slightly longer than wide. Endites subrectangular, slightly convergent, with an oblique depression and a small apical hair tuft located at the internal side of the apical margin, along with a long serrula of tiny teeth (difficult to see) on its apical margin. Long legs with deeply notched trochanters. Tarsal claws with 5 teeth and 5 pairs of tenent hairs on the tarsal tips. Leg formula 4123.

MALE PALP ( Fig. 6A–D ). Tibia with long, robust setae on the prolateral side and armed with 6 spines: one dorsal, 2 retrolateral and 3 prolateral. Retrolateral tibial apophysis long and triangular, 1.5 times as long (0.12) as wide (0.08) at its base and distally pointed. Tegulum wide and tall, occupying almost the basal half of the alveolus, and its apical extension longer and wider than in other nearby species. Robust and elongated median apophysis, rounded at its apical end with a conspicuous tooth located near the center, directed backwards. Embolar base elongated similar to that of C. bernia sp. nov. and C. indalo . Embolus laminar, curved inwards and reaching the apical area of the alveolus; its end is short, thin, and it is lodged behind the median apophysis ( Fig. 6B ).

MEASUREMENTS. PL 2.16; PW 1.52; OL 2.10; OW 1.16; total body length 4.74. Leg and palp measurements in Table 4 .

Habitat and distribution

Cybaeodes magnus is a colluvial and alluvial MSS cave-dwelling species showing adaptations to the underground environment, including very pale pigmentation and reduced, depigmented eyes.

Females of this species were described from two caves: Cova del Somo in the municipality of Castell de Castells (1 ♀) and Cova de la Punta de Benimaquia in the municipality of Denia, Alcoi (2 ♀♀). The capture of this species in Tárbena (10 km from the type locality, 1 ♀) and Serrella (20 km from the type locality, 10 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂) significantly expands its distribution area. Given that the caves of this large karst area are well studied, it is probable that C. magnus is a typical MSS species that only occasionally colonizes the caves. It should be noted that in Tárbena, only C. magnus was caught (1 ♀), while in Serrella, located 10 km from Tárbena, two species were captured: C. magnus (2 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀) and C. dosaguas (5 ♂♂, 1 ♀). Serrella is the only locality where two different species appeared. Cybaeodes magnus was caught in two localities: Serrella, colluvial MSS at 1000 m a.s.l. and with a 100 cm long SSD (8 ♀♀, in July 2012, and 2 ♂♂ and 2 ♀♀, in October 2012), and Tárbena, alluvial MSS at 704 m a.s.l. and with a 50 cm long SSD (1 ♀, September 2012).

Figures

Fig. 6. Cybaeodes magnus Ribera & De Mas, 2015, described ♂ (CRBA-UB 5311-B-199), palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Retrolateral view. E. Habitus.

Fig. 3. Cybaeodes bernia Ribera & Domènech sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (CRBA-UB 199-5305B), palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Retrolateral view. Abbreviations: aet = apical extension of the tegulum; e = embolus; eb = embolus base; ma = median apophysis; rta = retrolateral tiblial apophysis; t = tegulum.

Fig. 5. Cybaeodes gallinera Ribera & Domènech sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (CRBA-UB 5337-200). A–D. Palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view. C. Dorsal view. D. Retrolateral view. E. Habitus.