Raveniola niedermeyeri
Creators: name: Zonstein, Sergei
name: Kunt, Kadir B.
name: Yağmur, Ersen A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Nemesiidae
Raveniola
Raveniola niedermeyeri

description: Raveniola niedermeyeri (Brignoli, 1972)
Figs 57–58, 83, 95, 116, 128, 144, 164, 197, 211–212, 222, 249–253
Brachythele niedermeyeri Brignoli, 1972: 412, figs 1–2 (♂♀).
Brachythele niedermeyeri – Brignoli 1983: 123. — Zonstein 1985: 159.
Raveniola niedermeyeri – Zonstein 1987: 1015. — Platnick 1989: 90. — Mozaffarian & Marusik 2001: 70. — Ghavami 2006: 1843. — Ghahari & Marusik 2009: 4. — Zonstein & Marusik 2010: 52, figs 1–9 (♂♀).
Diagnosis
This species differs from all other members of the same group by having a gradually tapering and subapically curved embolus (Fig. 197) and by the unusually narrow, laterally inclined spermathecae with small and sessile lateral receptacles (Figs 211–212). In the structure of the embolus, Raveniola niedermeyeri also shows some similarities with a few other congeners, such as R. bellula (Li & Zonstein, 2015), R. ferghanensis (Zonstein, 1984), R. hebeinica Zhu, Zhang & Zhang, 1999 and R. virgata (Simon, 1891). However, it can be distinguished from them by having a sharply curved subapical part of the embolus (vs the more gently curved embolus in those Eastern and Central Asian species, Fig. 197; cf. Figs 165–166; Zonstein & Marusik 2012: fig. 39; Li & Zonstein 2015: figs 3A–C, 5A–C).
Material examined
Holotype IRAN: ♂, Golestan Province, Alborz Mts, surroundings of Gorgan, 36°50′ N, 54°26′ E, 1913, O.R. Niedermeyer leg. (MHNG).
Paratypes IRAN: 3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, collection data as for holotype (MHNG).
Additional material (3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 ♀ subad., 15 juvs)
IRAN: 1 ♂, Golestan Province, surroundings of Gorgan, Sep. 2004, H. Ghahari leg. (TAU); 1 ♀, 7 juv., same province, Aliabad, 36°53′ N, 54°57′ E, 30 Jul. 1974, A. Senglet leg. (MHNG), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mazandaran Province, Alborz Mts, oak forest, Jun. 2004, H. Ghahari leg. (ZMMU); 1 ♀, 1 ♀ subad., 3 juvs, same province, 11 km E of Alasht, 36°04′ N, 52°51′ E, 1400 m, 27–29 Jun. 1978, J. Martens and H. Pieper leg. (SMF); 1 ♀, 1 juv., same province, Noor Reserve, 36°35′ N, 52°03’ E, near seashore, 29 Jun. 1978, J. Martens and H. Pieper leg. (SMF); 1 juv., same province, Klard, 20 km S of Amol, 36°28′ N, 52°21′ E, 500 m, 24 May 1978, J. Martens and H. Pieper leg. (SMF); 3 juv., same province, Heraz, 25 km S of Amol, 490–560 m, 29 Jun. 1978, J. Martens and H. Pieper leg. (SMF); 1 ♀, Razavi Khorasan Province, surroundings of Mashhad, 36°17′ N, 59°36′ E, Sep. 2005, H. Ghahari leg. (TAU); 1 ♂, Esfahan Province, surroundings of Esfahan, 32°40′ N, 51°40′ E, Nov. 2005, H. Ghahari leg. (ZMMU).
Redescription
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 57.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.80, CL 5.32, CW 4.55, LL 0.42, LW 0.87, SL 2.45, SW 2.28.
COLOUR. Carapace, chelicerae, palps and first pair of legs dorsally intensive rufous-brown; eye tubercle with darker spots surrounding AMEs and lateral eyes; sternum, labium, maxillae and legs II–IV light brownish rufous; abdomen dorsally light greyish brown; dorsal pattern poorly visible, consisting of longitudinal median spot crossed by few transverse fasciae, ventral abdominal surface and spinnerets pale greyish brown.
PROSOMA. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 83. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 116. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.18), ALE 0.26, PLE 0.18, PME 0.16, AME–AME 0.12(0.08), ALE–AME 0.07(0.05), ALE–PLE 0.07, PLE–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.33. Chelicerae: each furrow with 9–10 promarginal teeth and 7–8 mesobasal denticles. Maxillae with 6–7 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as shown in Fig. 144. Scopula: distal on metatarsus I, entire on tarsus I, divided on tarsus II; elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–11 each on tibiae, 10–13 on metatarsi, 10–12 on tarsi, 8 on cymbium. Paired tarsal claws: inner and outer margins with 8–10 teeth each.
SPINATION. Palp: femur d1–1–0, pd1, rd1; patella p1–1; tibia d1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–1–1–1; cymbium d4(5). Leg I: femur d1–1–0–0, pd1–1–1, rd 1(0)–1–1(0); tibia p1–1–0, v3–2–m–m; metatarsus v1(0)–1. Leg II: femur d1–1–0–0, pd1–1; tibia p1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus p1, v1–2–2–2. Leg III: femur d1–1– 0–0, pd0–1–1, rd0–1–1; patella p1–1, r1; tibia d1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–2(3); metatarsus d1–1–2, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2(3)–2–3. Leg IV: femur d1–1–0–0, pd0–1–1, rd0–1–1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1–1–2, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–2(3); metatarsus pd1–1–2, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–1–2–1(0)–3. Patella I aspinose.
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and palpal organ as shown in Fig. 164. Bulb with long, gently tapering embolus curved subapically and lacking embolic keel (Fig. 197).
SPINNERETS. PMS: length 0.25; diameter 0.15. PLS: maximal diameter 0.35; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.67, 0.55, 0.37; total length 1.59; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀) Female (paratype)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.75 (2.25)1.68 (1.50)2.23 (1.72)–0.98 (2.01)7.64 (7.48)Leg I4.17 (3.47)2.68 (2.30)3.27 (2.57)3.00 (2.02)1.77 (1.45)14.89 (11.81)Leg II3.70 (3.05)2.32 (2.02)2.70 (2.15)2.67 (1.93)1.75 (1.47)13.14 (10.62)Leg III3.27 (2.77)1.78 (1.77)2.25 (1.80)3.15 (2.45)1.63 (1.52)11.98 (10.31)Leg IV4.25 (3.63)2.13 (2.23)3.32 (2.92)4.53 (3.85)2.02 (1.90)16.25 (14.53)
HABITUS. See Fig. 58.
MEASUREMENTS. TL 15.90, CL 5.35, CW 4.23, LL 0.54, LW 1.06, SL 2.38, SW 2.30.
COLOUR. As in male, but better preserved dorsal abdominal pattern, consisting of numerous and irregularly located small yellowish brown spots on darker brown background.
PROSOMA. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 95. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 128. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.12(0.15), ALE 0.26, PLE 0.20, PME 0.13, AME–AME 0.13(0.10), ALE–AME 0.09(0.07), ALE–PLE 0.08, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.38. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 5 mesobasal denticles. Maxillae with 10–11 cuspules each.
LEGS. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II, narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsus I, widely divided on tarsus II, elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 7–9 each on tibiae, 11–14 on metatarsi, 11–14 on tarsi, 9 on palpal tarsus. Paired tarsal claws: outer and inner margins with 5–7 teeth each. Palpal claw with 4 teeth on inner margin.
SPINATION. All femora with one basodorsal bristle-like spine and few stiff bristles (weak spines) located medially and distally; palpal patella and patella I aspinose. Palp: femur d1, pd1; tibia v2–1–2; tarsus v5(6). Leg I: femur d1, pd1; tibia v2–1–2; metatarsus v2–2–2. Leg II: femur d1, pd1; patella p1; tibia p1–1, v2–1–3; metatarsus v2–2–2. Leg III: femur d1, pd 1–1, rd 1–1; patella p1–1, r1; tibia d1, p1–1, r1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus pd1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–2, v2–1–3–3. Leg IV: femur d1, rd1; patella p1, r1; tibia p1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus d1–1–1, p1–1–1–1, r1–1–1–1, v2–1(2)–2(3)–3.
SPERMATHECAE. Narrow; lateral receptacles sessile and vestigial (Fig. 211).
SPINNERETS. PMS: length 0.42; diameter 0.20. PLS: maximal diameter 0.55; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.65, 0.48, 0.40; total length 1.53; apical segment triangular.
Variation
Carapace length in males varies from 4.34 to 5.45; in females from 4.67 to 7.05. In all examined males the embolus has a practically identical shape. The shape of the spermathecae and the dorsal pattern of the abdomen show some variation (cf. Figs 211–212, 252–253).
Distribution
Iran: Alborz, Khorasan and Zagros Mts (Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Razavi Khorasan and Isfahan Provinces). See Fig. 222.
Ecology
In the Alborz Mts the spiders were collected predominantly in dense montane broad-leaved forests of the hyrcan type as shown in Figs 236–237, dominated by Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey. Like in most Western Asian congeners, females use cavities under rocks to build short and very simple retreats almost without any silk lining (Figs 248–251). Wandering males were recorded between June and November.
description: Published as part of Zonstein, Sergei, Kunt, Kadir B. & Yağmur, Ersen A., 2018, A revision of the spider genus Raveniola (Araneae, Nemesiidae). I. Species from Western Asia, pp. 1-93 in European Journal of Taxonomy 399 on pages 40-43, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2018.399, http://zenodo.org/record/1163422