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

description: Canariphantes trichofer sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 43FEAA9B-FD8C-4B66-A9A9-13A7DFE5D5E6
Figs 1–2
Diagnosis
The species described below could be assigned to Canariphantes based on the similarity with other congeners by showing poor leg spination, basically same conformation of the embolic division, a compact epigyne with a relatively short proscape and a reduced median part of the scape. The new species differs from all known congeners by the presence of a trichobothrium on metatarsi IV, a modified palpal tibia, as well as the shape of the distal part of the lamella characteristica in the male. The male seems to be especially similar to the East Mediterranean C. nanus (Kulczyński, 1898), but differs by a simple, unmodified paracymbium; the female is distinguished by a shorter and wider proscape. The shape of the epigyne is most similar to that of C. relictus Crespo & Bosmans, 2014, from the Azores (Crespo et al. 2014), but differs by the proscape base not being narrowed, as well as by the shape of the posterior median plate which shows a small invagination anteriorly, vs divided into two lobes in C. relictus.
Etymology
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to the presence of a trichobothrium on metatarsi IV, this not being typical of this genus. The name derived from both Latin ‘ trichobothrium ’ and ‘ fero ’, meaning ‘bearing’.
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 L., Eucalyptus L’Her., palm trees, bushes, sifting litter and humus; [Eth005]; ZMMU.
Paratypes
ETHIOPIA • 9 ♀♀, together with holotype; same data as for holotype; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 20 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 11 Oct.–14 Nov. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; ZMMU • 3 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 9.03593° N, 38.78579° E; 2478 m a.s.l.; 7 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Juniperus L., Acacia Mill., Eucalyptus L’Her., bushes, sifting litter and humus; [Eth002]; ZMMU • 5 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 9.03638° N, 38.78541° E; 2470 m a.s.l.; 8 Oct.–3 Nov. 2022; Eucalyptus grove with Juniperus, bushes, sifting litter and humus; A. Tanasevitch leg.; [Eth003]; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 9.0350476° N, 38.7836601° E; 2467 m a.s.l.; 10 Oct. and 4 Nov. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Eucalyptus grove with Juniperus, Acacia, bushes, sifting litter and humus; [Eth004]; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; 9.03519° N, 38.78506° E; 2453 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; grove with Acacia, palm trees, Eucalyptus, Juniperus, bushes, sifting litter; [Eth007]; ZMMU • 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; 9.03541° N, 38.7854° E; 2457 m a.s.l.; 7 and 13 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Eucalyptus grove with Juniperus, palm trees, bushes, tall grass, sifting litter and humus; [Eth022]; ZMMU • 5 ♀♀; Oromia Region, 67 air-km E of Addis-Ababa, 5 air-km NE of Ginchi, Chilimo State Forest; 9.07061° N, 38.15804° E; 2584 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; spring valley near road; [Eth008]; ZMMU • 4 ♀♀; Asela Zone, ca 7–8 air-km SE of Asela, Chilalo-Terara Volcano, Chilalo Mt, canyon, steep northern slope; 3070–3075 m a.s.l.; 7.935124° N, 39.19392° E; 24 and 29 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Hypericum revolutum Vahl bushes with sporadic Schefflera abyssinica (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Harms, grass, green mosses, sifting litter and mosses; Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) C.N. Page forest with Juniperus procera Hochst ex. Endl., Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman, Olea europaea L., Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel., Apodytes dimidiata E.Mey ex. Arn., Ficus spp., Erythrina brucei Schweinf., grass, sifting litter and humus; [Eth016]; ZMMU • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; Asela Zone, ca 30 air-km SE of Asela, Arsi Mountains N.P., road from Digelu to Ticho; 3500– 3505 m a.s.l.; 7.81944° N, 39.35429° E; 30–31 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Erica arborea L. bushes, grass, green mosses, sifting mosses; [Eth018]; MNHG • 3 ♀♀; Arsi Mountains N.P., road from Digelu to Ticho, top of mountains; 3755–3770 m a.s.l.; 7.82377° N, 39.41713° E; 21 Oct. 2022; A. Tanasevitch leg.; Erica arborea L. bushes, Alchemilla sp., green mosses mostly Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus (Hedw.) Warnst., sifting mosses in beds of Erica; [Eth019]; ZMMU.
Description
Male (paratype, Eth005)
Total length 1.95, habitus as in Fig. 1A. Carapace slightly modified, with shallow depression behind ocular area, as in Fig. 1B–C, 0.83 long, 0.70 wide, darkish-brown, with dark radial stripes. Eyes not enlarged. Chelicerae 0.28 long. Legs yellow to pale brown. Leg I 3.91 long (1.03+0.25 +0.95 + 0.95 +0.73), IV 3.87 long (1.03+ 0.23 +1.03 +0.93 +0.65). Chaetotaxy. Femora unarmed, TiI–II: 2-0-1-0; TiIII-IV: 2-0-0-0, metatarsi spineless. Length of tibial spines 1.5–3 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. All metatarsi with trichobothrium. TmI 0.24, IV 0.38. Palp (Fig. 2A–I): patella with long spine dorsally. Tibia with dorsal invagination, dorsolateral side somewhat elongated and carrying long spine. Paracymbium relatively large, toothless. Distal suprategular apophysis short and wide, pit-hook stout. Lamella characteristica well sclerotized, with several small, short and sharp teeth distally, claw-shaped apically. Terminal apophysis relatively small, membranized, vague in shape. Embolus with narrow stem, thumb well developed, bent distally, embolus proper bifid. Abdomen 1.25 long, 0.90 wide, grey to dark grey or black, dorsal pattern absent (Fig. 1A).
Female (paratype, Eth005)
Total length 2.00, habitus as in Fig. 1D. Carapace 0.83 long, 0.70 wide. Chelicerae 0.25 long. Leg I 4.16 long (0.80+0.25 + 1.78 +0.73 +0.60), IV 3.28 long (0.88 +0.25 +0.85 + 0.75 +0.55). Length of tibial spines 1.5–2 × diameter of corresponding leg segment. TmI 0.28, IV 0.40. Abdomen as in Fig. 1D–G, 1.25 long, 0.90 wide. Epigyne (Figs 1E–G, 2J–M): proscape rounded to oval, its distal notch of varying in size (Figs 1E–G, 2J–K). Middle part of scape (Saaristo & Tanasevitch 1996) compact, its distal part broadened, lateral lobes reduced; stretcher short, its terminal part relatively large, pit present. Posterior median plate elongated, broadening anteriad, somewhat invaginated apically. Body and leg coloration, chaetotaxy as in male.
Distribution
Known from the Oromia Region, Ethiopia, altitude ranging from 2450 to 3770 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 258-261, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2025.976.2795, http://zenodo.org/record/14937582