Hellamalthonica kazdagensis Gündüz & Kaya, 2025

Gündüz, Gökhan & Kaya, Rahşen S., 2025, First record of the spider genus Hellamalthonica Bosmans, 2023 (Araneae, Agelenidae) from Turkiye, with the description of a new species, Biodiversity Data Journal 13, pp. e 157512-e 157512 : e157512-

Hellamalthonica kazdagensis Gündüz & Kaya sp. nov.

Materials

Type status: Holotype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 5 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 1; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: 0D75A6E9-6420-54B0-B152-410F75DBFB5C; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 6 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 2; individualCount: 1; sex: female; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: A3854B12-DED5-5AB2-AAC0-20F6C8EDA506; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 7 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 3; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: EA2171EF-FE8D-5F4A-9D96-BFB4415B9691; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 8 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 4; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: B167FA78-7B98-5265-A87A-D4A945BBEA97; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 9 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 5; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: C7418D59-2C34-55B0-931B-CAC6C347A726; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 10 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 6; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: 581989B1-CEE6-5878-836F-BA4BC9BB9E55; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 11 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 7; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: AF465643-1635-5B51-910F-4BE4FC170515; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 12 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 8; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: 1F9B3C7A-8366-56A4-9FD6-71B713CD8BF3; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 13 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 9; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: B1E27E2A-52D0-5AB1-8F41-469C9399A470; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 14 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 10; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: 989F235F-93F1-50BF-B979-6EEE1E216278; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUU

Type status: Paratype. Occurrence: catalogNumber: G 15 ; recordNumber: Hellkazd 2025 _ 11; individualCount: 1; sex: male; lifeStage: adult; preparations: 70 % Ethanol Solution; occurrenceID: B25369AA-4BF6-506C-9133-0931A4FF9EC0; Taxon: scientificName: Hellamalthonica kazdagensis ; Location: country: Turkiye; stateProvince: Balıkesir; locality: Ayazma District, Mount Kaz Dağı ; verbatimElevation: 491 m; verbatimLatitude: 39°44'46"N; verbatimLongitude: 26°50'27"E; georeferenceProtocol: GPS; Identification: identifiedBy: Gökhan Gündüz, Rahşen S. Kaya; Event: samplingProtocol: Pitfall Trap; eventDate: 07. 10.2016 - 25.07. 2017; Record Level: language: en; institutionID: ZMUT

Description

Male (holotype, ZMUU). Habitus as in Fig. 1 A. Total length 5.20. Carapace 2.50 long, 1.90 wide. Carapace light brown, with two indistinct longitudinal bands, lighter in posterior and with radial dark lines, margins narrowly darkened, cephalic region darker; Eye sizes: AME: 0.06, ALE: 0.12, PME: 0.11, PLE: 0.12. Distance of PME – PME: 0.11; PME – AME: 0.07. Eye rows: AER 0.50 wide, PER 0.65 wide. AER slightly recurved, PER straight in dorsal view. Chelicerae: 1.70 long; 0.50 wide. Chelicerae light brown, with 3 promarginal and 3-4 retromarginal teeth. Sternum 1.50 long, 1.20 wide. Sternum, labium and maxillae brown. Sternum heart-shaped, pointed backwards, with a light median band and three pairs of lateral dots (Fig. 1 C). Legs yellowish-brown, with annulations. Number of dorsal tarsal trichobothria on tarsi I- IV: 6 (in some of the male specimens the number of dorsal tarsal trichobothria on tarsi I- IV: 6-7). Measurements of legs: I: (3.0, 1.1, -, -, -), II: 8.3 (2.3, 0.9, 1.8, 2.2, 1.1), III: 7.3 (2.2, 0.8, 1.5, 1.9, 0.9), IV: 10.0 (2.6, 0.9, 2.4, 2.9, 1.2). Spination as given in Table 1 . Abdomen 2.70 long; 1.50 wide. Abdomen dorsally greyish with yellowish-grey pattern, light greyish ventrally with dark spots. Spinnerets light greyish, darker basally.

Palp (Figs 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ). Femur (1.2 long) approximately 5.5 times longer than wide, approximately 2.2 times longer than tibia; patella 1.5 times longer than wide; tibia 2.5 times longer than wide, approximately 1.6 times shorter than cymbium; tibia with three apophyses: retrolateral (Rl), retroventral (Rv) and retrodorsal (Rd); retrolateral apophysis located at the mid-point of the tibia, rounded and tuberculated retrolaterally and triangular-shaped dorsally; retrodorsal apophysis located at the apical part of tibia, strongly sclerotised, more or less rectangular-shaped and distally V-truncated in dorsal view; retroventral apophysis as a ventral fold. Tibia with a distinct deep V-shaped prolateral notch. Cymbium as long as tibia + patella. Tegulum wide and broadly rounded. Tegular apophysis (Ta) originates at 3-4 o’clock position, plate-shaped and connected to the tegulum by a membranous structure; tip of the tegular apophysis partially split, with thickened edges. Conductor (C) curved C-shaped, roundly bent and transversal to cymbium; distal part conspicuously narrow and the proximal part gradually widens, rounding and folding, terminates at approximately ~ 2-3 o’clock position with simple and pointed or moderately truncated tip; the terminal end of the conductor is bifid, with the ventral branch forming a distinctively twisted structure, while the dorsal branch is separated by a thin, nearly transparent section and terminates in a sharply pointed tip; the base of the conductor not clearly detectable. Embolus (E) short, originates at 8-9 o’clock position with the tip at 1 o’clock position, thin basally, roundly bent and covered by the curling of conductor at approximately 11 o'clock position.

Female

Habitus as in Fig. 1 B. Colouration as in male. Total length 4.30. Carapace 1.90 long, 1.30 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.05, ALE: 0.08, PME: 0.08, PLE: 0.08. Distance of PME – PME: 0.08; PME – AME: 0.07. Eye rows: AER 0.42 wide, PER 0.52 wide. AER slightly recurved, PER straight in dorsal view. Chelicerae 0.90 long, 0.35 wide. Sternum 1.20 long, 0.90 wide. Abdomen 2.40 long, 1.10 wide. Number of dorsal tarsal trichobothria on tarsi I: 6. Measurements of legs: I: 6.2 (1.6, 0.6, 1.6, 1.5, 0.9), II: (2.0, -, -, -, -), III: (1.5, -, -, -, -), IV: (2.1, -, -, -, -). Spination as given in Table 1 .

Epigyne (Fig. 8 ). Epigynal plate approximately 1.7 times wider than long, with straight and heavily sclerotised posterior margin, anterior part of the plate with a pair of concavities. Median plate with a pair of epigynal teeth (not well sclerotised), turning downwards; copulatory openings (Co) laterally positioned to epigynal teeth, copulatory ducts (Cd) wide, two pairs of receptacles (Pr and Sr) rounded, fertilisation duct (Fd) short and clearly visible.

Diagnosis

The male of the new species can be distinguished from all other Hellamalthonica species by the shape of the retrolateral tibial apophyses and the conductor. Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. is closely related to H. spinipalpis and differs from the latter by the absence of short spines on tibia (vs. present) and square-shaped retrodorsal apophysis (Rd) (vs. spine-like). Females of the new species resemble those of H. taigetos in general appearance, but differ by the shape of the epigynal plate and the copulatory ducts (Cd). Additionally, the diameter of the secondary receptacles (Sr) is distinctly shorter: approximately one-third the diameter of the primary receptacle (Pr) in the new species, compared to about half in H. taigetos .

Etymology

The specific epithet “ kazdagensis ” refers to Mount Kaz Dağı, located in Balıkesir Province, north-western Turkiye, which constitutes the type locality of the species.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Balıkesir Province, north-western Turkiye (Figs 10 , 11 ).

Ecology

The specimens were collected from Mount Kaz Dağı which is situated in the south-western part of the Marmara Region of Turkiye. The area has the characteristics of a transition zone between the typical Mediterranean and the Black Sea climates (Fig. 10 ).

Remarks

According to the diagnosis provided by Bosmans (2023), Hellamalthonica differs from both Tegenaria and Malthonica by the presence of a pair of tibial apophyses, the plate-like shape of the tegular apophysis (Ta) and the anterior position of the conductor (C) (see figs. 2 A-O, 4 A-B, 4 E-F and 5 A-B in Bosmans (2023)). In females, it is distinguished by the presence of a pair of epigynal teeth (Et) and two pairs of receptacles (see figs. 3 A-H, 4 C-D, 4 G-H and 5 C-D in Bosmans (2023)). However, based on the currently recognised Tegenaria species, the specimens examined in this study and the illustrations and descriptions provided by Bosmans (2023), we propose a revised diagnosis for the genus Hellamalthonica .

Hellamalthonica closely resembles Tegenaria in both somatic and copulatory organ characteristics. Shared features include relatively straight eye rows in both frontal and dorsal views, straight or slightly curved trochanters, patellae bearing only dorsal spines, tarsi without ventral spines, chelicerae with three promarginal and three to four subequal retromarginal teeth and a male palp with a complex retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) typically divided into two or three branches. However, it differs from Tegenaria by the following characteristics:

Somatic characters: One of the most distinctive somatic characteristics of the genus is the length of the chelicerae in males. Compared to Tegenaria species, the chelicerae of Hellamalthonica species, including the newly-described species Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov., are significantly longer in males (its length is approximately 3.4 times its width for Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov.).

Male palp: We propose that the number of retrolateral tibial apophyses should not be considered as a definitive taxonomic character, as this feature demonstrates variability (amongst Tegenaria species, which may possess either two or three such apophyses). Notably, H. kazdagensis sp. nov. is characterised by the presence of three retrolateral tibial apophyses, a trait that sets it apart from all currently recognised species within the genus Hellamalthonica . More significantly, the morphology of the retroventral apophysis (Rv) appears to offer greater taxonomic value. In both previously described Hellamalthonica species and H. kazdagensis sp. nov., the retroventral apophysis extends prolaterally as an almost two-dimensional fold, which may represent a key diagnostic feature. Furthermore, we concur with Bosmans (2023) in recognising the presence of short, stout spines on the retrolateral side as an important character for understanding interspecific relationships within Hellamalthonica . The tegular region in this genus is notably broad and distinctly oval. The tegular apophysis (Ta) is plate-like in form, typically bearing a notched tip. The conductor (C) is connected to the tegular region via a membranous section, broadens anteriorly and is displaying a transverse orientation. Embolus (E) is filiform and tapers gradually towards the tip.

Epigyne: In females of Hellamalthonica , the epigynal plate is roughly anchor-shaped with the exception of H. paraschiae (Fig. 9 ). A pair of epigynal teeth (Et) is located approximately at the middle of the plate. The copulatory openings (Co) are located at the lateral edges of the posterior margin and slightly directed upwards. The copulatory ducts (Cd) are curved and relatively broad. Before reaching the primary receptacle (Pr), the ducts first lead to a smaller, secondary receptacle (Sr). This secondary receptacle opens into the primary receptacle via a short transitional region.

Figures

Figure 1. Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A Male habitus, dorsal; B Female habitus, dorsal; C Male, sternum and trochanters. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 2. Male palp of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A – B retrolateral view; C prolateral view; D dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 3. Male palp of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A – C ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: C – conductor, E – embolus, Eb – base of the embolus, Ta – tegular apophysis.

Figure 4. Male palpal tibia of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A – B retrolateral view; C ventral view; D dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

Figure 5. SEM micrographs of the male palp of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A – B ventral view; C tibia, ventral view.

Figure 6. SEM micrographs of the male palp of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A, C retrolateral view; B palpal tibia, retrolateral view.

Figure 7. Paratype male palp and expanded bulb of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A – B full palp, retrolateral view; C – D expanded bulbus, postero-ventral view; E expanded bulbus, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 8. Epigyne of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. A intact epigyne, ventral view; B macerated epigyne, ventral view; C vulva, anterior view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: Cd – copulatory duct, Co – copulatory opening, Et – epigynal teeth, Fd – fertilisation duct, Pr – primary receptacle, Sr – secondary receptacle.

Figure 9. Epigyne of Hellamalthonica paraschiae (Brignoli, 1984) (holotype). A macerated epigyne, ventral view; B macerated epigyne, ventral view; C vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 10. Habitats of Hellamalthonica kazdagensis sp. nov. in Mount Kaz Dağı, Balıkesir Province, Turkiye (Photo by E. A. Yağmur).

Figure 11. Distribution map of Hellamalthonica species.