Palliduphantes curvus Tanasevitch 2019, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Tanasevitch, Andrei V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Linyphiidae
Palliduphantes
Palliduphantes curvus

description: Palliduphantes curvus sp. nov.
Figs 1-7
Holotype: Male [7135]; SPAIN, Valencia, La Albufera; 16.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.
Paratype: 3 males, 1 female; collected together with the holotype. – 1 male [7141]; Valencia, Montroy (= Montroi), 22. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male [7142]; Requena-Chera, 23. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male, 1 female [7137]; Alicante, Elda; 19. VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet. – 1 male [6978]; PORTUGAL, Vila Real, Cortico, Montalegre; 30. VIII.1969; leg. A. Senglet.
Diagnosis: The new species clearly differs from all known congeners by the distinctive shape of the lamella characteristica which has a specifically bent lower branch (Figs 1, 3-4). The epigyne resembles that of many congeners, particularly P. cadiziensis (Wunderlich, 1980), P. kalaensis (Bosmans, 1985) and P. yakourensis Bosmans, 2006, but it can be distinguished by the very short distal part of the scape and by the oval posterior median plate (Figs 5, 7). The epigyne is also similar to that of P. corfuensis comb. nov. (see below), but is clearly distinguished by the absence of a bald swelling on the lateral walls, as well as by the reduced median and distal parts of the scape (Figs 5-7 cf. Figs 13-16).
Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latin adjective referring to the bent lower branch of the lamella characteristica.
Description: Male holotype. Total length 2.00. Carapace unmodified, 0.93 long, 0.75 wide, yellow. Chelicerae 0.38 long. Legs yellow. Leg I 4.56 long (1.20+0.28+1.23+1.10+0.75), IV 4.29 long (1.13+0.28+1.15+1.10+0.63). Chaetotaxy. FeI: 0-1-0-0, II-IV: 0-0-0-0; TiI: 2-1-1-0, TiII: 2-0-1-0, TiIII-IV: 2-0- 0-0; MtI-III: 1-0-0-0, MtIV spineless. Length of tibial spines 3-4 diameters of corresponding leg segment. TmI 0.18. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp (Figs 1-4): Patella small, rounded, with a long, strong spine dorsally. Tibia slightly widened dorso-ventrally. Paracymbium relatively large, its posterior and anterior pockets (sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996: 167) tooth-shaped, dark. Lamella characteristica large, gently curved, distally tapering, its apex obliquely truncate, its short and pointed branch mesally bent by 90°. Embolus small, with elongated main body; embolus proper bifid, thumb present. Terminal apophysis composed of two long, slender, almost transparent branches. Abdomen 1.13 long, 0.65 wide, pale grey.
Female paratype from La Albufera. Total length 2.38.
Carapace 1.00 long, 0.80 wide. Chelicerae 0.40 long. Leg I 4.78 long (1.28+0.30+1.25+1.25+0.70), IV 4.63 long (1.25+0.28+1.20+1.20+0.70). TmI 0.18. Abdomen 1.50 long, 1.03 wide. Epigyne (Figs 5-7) distinctly protruded, proscape long and thin. Distal part of scape very small, stretcher and lateral lobes reduced. Posterior median plate oval. Receptacles small, beanlike. Body coloration and chaetotaxy as in male.
Variability: The total length in male specimens examined ranges from 1.95 to 2.03, in female specimens from 2.25 to 2.28. Dark-colored specimens have an indistinct dorsal abdominal pattern composed of narrow, pale transverse stripes on a grey background. No noteworthy variation in the genitalia of both sexes was found.
Distribution: Known only from four localities in Spain and from one locality in Portugal.
description: Published as part of Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2019, Notes on some Palliduphantes Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 2001, with the description of a new species from the Iberian Peninsula (Araneae: Linyphiidae), pp. 203-208 in Revue suisse de Zoologie 126 (2) on pages 204-207, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3463449