Zodarion bicoloripes (Denis)

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 : 1903-1904

Zodarion bicoloripes (Denis)

( Figures 1 (C), 2 (C), 3 (C), (I), 4 (B), 5 (B), 6 (D–F), 10(A))

Acanthinozodium bicoloripes Denis 1959: 240 , fig. 7 (♀).

Zodarion bicoloripes : Jocqué 1991: 130 (♀).

Type material examined

Holotype ♀, ALGERIA: labelled as ‘ Aïn Sefra , Béni-Abbès, Palm Grove, 5 April 1952 ( MNHN-AR1516 )’.

Other material examined

1♂, 1♀, 1 juvenile, ALGERIA: M’Sila, Djebel Messaâd Town , 35.0149°N, 4.1188°W, 21 April 2023 (J. Korba) ( CMU) .

Comment

The male of Z. bicoloripes is described here for the first time. Additionally, we redescribe the female of this species, as it was previously described only in French.

Diagnosis

Zodarion bicoloripes can be differentiated from its congeners by its distinctive carapace pattern ( Figures 1 (C), 4(B)), an elongated tibial apophysis that culminates in a short anterior tooth and a broad posterior tooth that extends distally and curves sharply inward ( Figure 6 (E), (F)), and a trapezoidal median plate extending anterolaterally alongside the sclerotised anteromedian process ( Figure 3 (C)).

Description

Male. Total length 2.99, carapace 1.6 long, 1.1 wide. Habitus ( Figures 4 (B), 5(B)): Prosoma. Carapace black, with whitish triangular mark at posterior. Clypeus and chelicerae black; mouthparts light yellow with grey spots. Eyes. AME 0.1, ALE 0.08, PME = PLE 0.07. Abdomen dorsum black with white mark at posterior, venter and spinnerets light yellow. Legs. Femur I entirely, femora II–IV distally black; tibiae grey laterally; other segments yellow. Leg lengths: I 5.43 (1.52, 0.57, 1.23, 1.42, 0.69), II 5.12 (1.41, 0.52, 0.93, 1.4, 0.86), III 5.09 (1.33, 0.58, 0.89, 1.39, 0.9), IV 7.22 (1.73, 0.79, 2.1, 1.58, 1.02). Palp ( Figure 6 (D–F)): Tibial apophysis elongated, recurved dorsolaterally, gently narrowed in middle and extended distally. In lateral view, tibial apophysis terminates in two teeth: thumb-shaped anterior tooth and posterior tooth extending distally, sharply curving inward. Median apophysis flattened with an anterior notch, distal part nearly as large as basal part. Embolus with two teeth: ventral tooth with pointed tip and dorsal tooth with less pointed tip.

Redescription

Female (from Djebel Messaâd). Total length 4.66, carapace 1.83 long, 1.26 wide. Habitus ( Figures 1 (C), 2(C)): Prosoma, abdomen and legs: same as those in males but legs slightly darker.Eyes: AME 0.11, ALE 0.09, PME = PLE 0.08. Leg lengths: I 4.37 (1.21, 0.46, 0.98, 1.15,0.57), II 4.44 (1.18,0.44,0.91, 1.17,0.74),III 4.39 (1.12, 0.49,0.87,1.21,0.7),IV 5.62 (1.53,0.49,1.32,1.52, 0.76). Copulatory organ ( Figures 3 (C), (I), 10(A)): Median plate trapezoidal, with a posteromedian incision and a heavily sclerotised anteromedian process (Ap). Median plate extends anterolaterally alongside anteromedian process,margins merge with abdomen.Epigyne with a large cavity posterior to median plate. Anteromedian process expanding dorsally, forming a lamellar plate transitioning ectally into small, crater-like depressions; spermathecae small, widely separated (>4.5 times their diameter), each connected to small membranous copulatory duct (Cd).

Figures

Figure 1. Female habitus in dorsal view (A–F). (A) Acanthinozodium cirrisulcatum; (B) Zodarion algiricum; (C) Z. bicoloripes; (D) Z. dispar; (E) Z. kabylianum; (F) Z. mesranense. Abbreviations: Lb – lateral band; Mb – median band. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figure 3. Female copulatory organs in ventral view (A–L). Epigyne (A–F), vulva (G–L). (A) G Acanthinozodium cirrisulcatum; (B) H Zodarion algiricum; (C) I Z. bicoloripes; (D) J Z. dispar; (E) K Z. kabylianum; (F) L Z. mesranense. Abbreviations: A – atrium; Ap – antero-median process of the median plate; B – bladder-like structure; Cd – copulatory duct; Ep – epigynal pedestal; L – lateral extension of the median plate; Mp – median plate; W – epigynal wing; S – median septum; Sp – spermathecae. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

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 6. Male copulatory organs (A–O). (A–C) Zodarion algiricum; (D–F) Z. bicoloripes; (G–I) Z. dispar; (J–L) Z. kabylianum; (M–O) Z. mesranense. A, D, G, J, M prolateral view; B, E, H, K, N ventral view; C, F, I, L, O retrolateral view. Abbreviations: At – anterior tooth of tibial apophysis; Bu – bulge; Ed – dorsal tooth of embolus; Ev–ventral tooth of embolus; MA – median apophysis; Pt – posterior tooth of tibial apophysis; RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.