Lepthyphantes legatus Tanasevitch, 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Tanasevitch, Andrei V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Linyphiidae
Lepthyphantes
Lepthyphantes legatus

description: Lepthyphantes legatus sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6DD4498C-EE94-44CE-AC8F-E91111A2AEB4
Figs 8–9
Etymology
The species name is the Latin noun meaning ‘ambassador’, referring to the place of origin, the Russian Embassy Area in Addis-Ababa.
Diagnosis
The species belongs to the tropicalis species-group, being especially similar to Lepthyphantes chilalo sp. nov. (see above).
Type material
Holotype
ETHIOPIA • ♂; Addis-Ababa, Russian Embassy Area; 9.03617° N, 38.78549° E; 2467 m a.s.l.; 11 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; grove with Juniperus, Eucalyptus, palm trees, bushes, sifting litter and humus; [Eth005]; ZMMU.
Paratypes
ETHIOPIA • 1 ♂, together with holotype; same data as for holotype; [Eth005]; ZMMU • 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; 3–6 Nov. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; [Eth005]; ZMMU.
Description
Male (paratype, Eth005)
Total length 2.71, habitus as in Fig. 8A. Carapace unmodified, 1.15 long, 0.90 wide, pale yellow to pale brown, with grey median stripe and darkened margins. Eyes not enlarged. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Stridulatory ridges well developed, as in Fig. 8D. Legs pale yellow to pale brown. Leg I 7.21 long (1.83+0.35 +1.80 +2.03 + 1.20), IV 5.74 long (1.55+0.28 + 1.40 +1.63 +0.88). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI–II: 2-1-1-4(3), III–IV: 2-1-1-2(1); Me: I–II:1-1-1-0, III–IV: 2(1)-1-0-0. Length of tibial spines 1.5–3 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.19. Palp (Fig. 9A–I): patella with long spine dorsally. Tibia unmodified. Cymbium with short and bent posterodorsal outgrowth ending in three small, pointed teeth. Paracymbium relatively large, its apical pocket large, black, tooth-shaped. Distal suprategular apophysis short, abruptly truncate, with well developed ventral hook. Pit-hook claw-shaped, upright, pale, poorly sclerotized. Lamella characteristica large, well sclerotized, with few sharp branches varying in length. Terminal apophysis as long stripe. Embolus with slender stem, thumb well developed, bent distally, embolus proper bifid. Abdomen 1.58 long, 0.83 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 8A–C.
Female (paratype, Eth005)
Total length 3.15. Carapace unmodified, 1.25 long, 1.00 wide (Fig. 8E). Chelicerae 0.65 long. Carapace and leg coloration as in male. Leg I 7.19 long (1.88+0.43 +1.75 + 2.00 +1.13), IV 5.91 long (1.68 +0.35 +1.38 +1.60 +0.90). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, FeII–IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI–II: 2-1-1-4(3), III–IV: 2-1-1-2(1); MeI–II: 2-1-1-0, III–IV: 2(1)-1-0-0. Length of tibial spines 1.5–2.5 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–III each with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.19. Abdomen 2.00 long, 1.25 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 8E. Epigyne (Figs 8F–G, 9J–K). Scape oval, its median and distal parts merged. Bursa copulatrix opening near middle of internal surface of scape. Stretcher rudimentary, short, without pit. Posterior median plate large, wide, its lateral branches covering entire aperture of epigyne.
Distribution
Known only from the territory of the Russian Embassy, Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, at 2467 m a.s.l.
description: Published as part of Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2025, Survey of the Ethiopian linyphiid spider fauna. II. Subfamily Micronetinae Hull, 1920 (Arachnida: Araneae: Linyphiidae), pp. 255-282 in European Journal of Taxonomy 976 on pages 270-273, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2795, http://zenodo.org/record/14937582