Zodarion bifidum Shafaie and Pekár, 2025

Shafaie, Sepideh, Pekár, Stano, Korba, Jan, Doumandji, Salaheddine & Berretima, Wahiba, 2025, Contribution to the zodariid spider fauna (Araneae: Zodariidae) of Algeria, Journal of Natural History 59 (25 - 28), pp. 1895-1916 : 1904-1905

Zodarion bifidum Shafaie and Pekár , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9AEC68EE-6809-4E4F-972B-AE51A8471524

( Figures 4 (C), 5 (C), 8(A–C))

Type material examined

Holotype ♂, ALGERIA: Biskra, Station Régionale de la protection des végétaux ( SRPV), June 2014 (W. Berretima) . Paratypes: 1♂ ( NMP), collected together with the holotype.

Other material examined

1♂, Biskra Province, Serraoui Private Palm Grove , October 2014 (W. Berretima) ( CMU) .

Etymology

The specific name is derived from ‘ bifidus ’, a Latin term meaning ‘split into two’, referring to the bifid shape of the male tibial apophysis.

Diagnosis

In Z. bifidum sp. n., the palp resembles that of Z. cyrenaicum Denis, 1935 ( Denis 1935b), as both have a short median apophysis and a bifid tibial apophysis with distinct dorsal and ventral branches ( Figure 8 (A–C) in Z. bifidum sp. n. and Figure 8 (D–F) in Z. cyrenaicum ).

However, they differ in that the dorsal branch of the tibial apophysis in Z. bifidum sp. n. is considerably longer than that of Z. cyrenaicum ( Figure 8 (C,F)).

Description

Male (holotype). Total length 3.85, carapace 2.07 long, 1.46 wide. Habitus ( Figures 4 (C), 5 (C)): Prosoma. Carapace, clypeus, chelicerae dark brown; mouthparts and sternum light brown. Eyes. AME 0.12, ALE 0.09, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08. Abdomen dorsum uniformly black, venter dark and light brown. Spinnerets yellow. Leg segments yellow except for the grey femur I. Leg lengths: I 6.07 (1.57, 0.55, 1.05, 1.78, 1.12), II 5.96 (1.6, 0.64, 1.35, 1.59, 0.78), III 5.49 (1.43, 0.44, 1.25, 1.59, 0.78),IV 6.21 (2.35, 0.75, 2.02, 2.33, 1.16). Palp ( Figure 8 (A–C)):Tibia with a ventral bulge and bifid tibial apophysis. Ventral branch of the tibial apophysis (V) elongated, slightly curved at base, ending in tapering tip, ectally connected to shorter dorsal branch (D), with a tapering tip. Median apophysis short, resembling a rounded trapezoid, with medial folding. Embolus short and straight.

Female. Unknown.

Variation

Total length: males (n = 3) 3.69–3.85.

Distribution

Currently known only from the type locality in Algeria .

Figures

Figure 4. Male habitus in dorsal view (A–I). (A) Zodarion algiricum; (B) Z. bicoloripes; (C) Z. bifidum, sp. n.; (D) Z. cesari; (E) Z. dispar; (F) Z. kabylianum; (G) Z. ludibundum; (H) Z. mesranense; (I) Z. pusio. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figure 8. Male copulatory organs (A–F). (A–C) Zodarion bifidum, sp. n.; (D–F) Z. cyrenaicum. A, D prolateral view; B, E ventral view; C, F retrolateral view. Abbreviations: D – dorsal branch of tibial apophysis; V – ventral branch of tibial apophysis. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.