Raveniola alajensis Zonstein, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Zonstein, Sergei L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Nemesiidae
Raveniola
Raveniola alajensis

description: Raveniola alajensis sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2D34C44A-A596-4F8D-9CF2-6B2BDBF3E908
Figs 4, 38, 65, 85, 112, 139, 168, 205, 231, 261, 291, 311, 325–327, 352, 385–387, 491–493, 560–562, 627, 628, 751
Diagnosis
The new species shares with Raveniola afghana sp. nov., R. hirta sp. nov. and R. karategensis sp. nov. the presence of modified long hairs on the female tibia and metatarsus IV (see Figs 310–311, 314–317). Among these species, females of R. alajensis sp. nov. are distinguishable due to their well-developed chevron-like marks on the dorsal abdomen (which are absent or poorly discernible in other noted species; Fig. 38 cf. Figs 37, 42, 44). In females of the new species, the inner spermathecal branch is shorter, narrower and impartible, while in females of the other above-mentioned species, it is longer, wider, multilobate, or serpentine (Figs 491–493 cf. Figs 489–490, 504–508, 510–512). In the structure of the embolus, males of R. alajensis resemble those of R. cucullata sp. nov. and R. insolita sp. nov., but may be distinguished from them in having a noticeably wider basal section of the embulus, additionally provided with a larger embolic keel (Figs 385–387 cf. Figs 389–396 and 409–411).
Etymology
The specific epithet is a toponym referring to the type locality: Alay Valley, Alay and Trans-Alay Mts. The majority of zoologists, who have described species under this name, clearly preferred to use the much more common spelling ‘ alajensis ’ rather than ‘ alayensis ’ (according to the Google search engine, the use frequency ratio between the former and the latter is about 110 to 1). I just follow herein this historical practice.
Material examined
Holotype
KYRGYZSTAN • ♂; Trans-Alay Mts (northern slope), Berksu Gorge; 39°28′ N, 72°01′ E; 2650 m a.s.l.; 11 Jul. 1995; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Paratypes (2 ♂, 27 ♀♀)
KYRGYZSTAN • 1 ♂, 21 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; 2600–3200 m a.s.l.; 9–12 Jul. 1995; S. Zonstein and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 2 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; 9 Jul. 1995; S. Zonstein leg.; ZMUM • 2 ♀♀; Alay Mts (southern slope), Oksu Gorge; 2800 m a.s.l.; 15 Jul. 1998; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; Tekelik Gorge; 39°35′ N, 71°57′ E; 2700 m a.s.l.; 17 Jul. 1998; D.A. Milko leg.; SMNH • 1 ♂; Alay Mts (southern slope), Kaindy Canyon near Kaindy Pass (“Dare-Kaindy”, as labelled); 39°38′ N, 72°03′ E; 3300–3400 m a.s.l.; 11 Jul. 1903; S. Arens leg.; ZISP 82-905.
Additional material
TAJIKISTAN • 1 ♀; Alay Mts, southern slope W of Karamyk Pass; 39°27′ N, 71°46′ E; 2500 m a.s.l.; 25 Jul. 1998; A. Panfilov leg.; SMNH.
Description
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 4.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.85, CL 6.73, CW 5.88, LL 0.45, LW 0.92, SL 3.27, SW 2.98.
COLOUR. Carapace mostly brownish orange; cephalic area, thoracic grooves and chelicerae slightly darker, medium reddish brown, eye tubercle blackened, palps and legs dorsally brownish orange; sternum, labium, maxillae, palps and legs ventrally light yellowish brown; abdomen dorsally medium greyish brown with darker brown pattern consisting of interrupted median strip and five pairs of short oblique lateral chevrons; ventral surface of abdomen light greyish brown, book-lungs and spinnerets pale yellowish brown.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 85. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 139. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.15(0.21), ALE 0.25, PLE 0.15, PME 0.14; AME–AME 0.15(0.09), ALE–AME 0.09(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.13, PLE–PME 0.5, PME–PME 0.40. Chelicerae with weak rastellum of ca 30 spikes located in front of fang base. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 5–6 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 205. Maxillae with 49–51 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 261, 291. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II, entire on tarsi I–II, narrowly divided with setae on tarsus III, widely divided on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8 each on tibiae, 11–13 on metatarsi, 14–15 on tarsi, 10 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 9–10 teeth on outer and 11 teeth on inner margin.
SPINATION. Palpal patella, patellae I–II and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d5(4), pd3, rd2; tibia d5, p3, r2, v6; cymbium d ~ 40 spikes. Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3; tibia p3(2), pv2, r2, rv2+2M; metatarsus vp1. Leg II: femur d4, pd3, rd3; tibia p3, v8(7); metatarsus p1, v4(5). Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2, r2; tibia d1, p3(2), r2, v7; metatarsus pd4, p3, rd3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella r1; tibia d1, pd3, p3(4), r3, v6; metatarsus pd4, p3, r4, v8(7).
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 352. Embolus with long basal portion provided with low keel and short hooked apical part (Figs 385–387).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 560. PMS: length 0.45, diameter 0.20. PLS: maximal diameter 0.53; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.02, 0.65, 0.67; total length 2.34; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp4.55 (4.98)2.47 (2.60)3.95 (3.14)–0.92 (2.27)11.78 (12.99)Leg I6.53 (6.52)3.68 (4.05)5.37 (4.53)5.33 (3.90)2.77 (2.48)23.68 (21.48)Leg II6.07 (5.97)3.20 (3.64)4.53 (3.62)4.45 (3.57)2.72 (2.48)20.97 (19.28)Leg III4.80 (4.95)2.92 (2.93)3.13 (2.85)4.37 (3.85)2.75 (2.44)17.97 (17.02)Leg IV6.13 (7.93)3.53 (3.77)4.55 (5.02)6.12 (6.43)3.08 (3.10)23.41 (26.25)
Female (paratype from Berksu, SMNH)
HABITUS. See Figs 38, 65.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 21.50, CL 8.65, CW 7.22, LL 0.73, LW 1.50, SL 4.60, SW 3.92.
COLOUR. Similar to that of male, but slightly lighter.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 112. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 168. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.20(0.27), ALE 0.34, PLE 0.25, PME 0.22; AME–AME 0.21(0.14), ALE–AME 0.16(0.13), ALE–PLE 0.29, PLE–PME 0.09, PME–PME 0.60. Chelicerae with weak rastellum of ca 35–40 dense spikes located in front of fang base. Each cheliceral furrow with 9–10 promarginal teeth and 4–6 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 231. Maxillae with 44–46 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia, metatarsus and tarsus IV covered with extremely long and dense dorsal hairs, 3–4 times as long as maximal width of corresponding segment (Fig. 311). Scopula: entire on metatarsus I, distal ⅔ of metatarsus II, palpal tarsus and tarsus I, narrowly divided with setae on tarsus II, widely divided on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–11 each on tibiae, ca 20 on metatarsi and tarsi. Trichobothria, their bases and tarsal organ of leg I as shown on Figs 325–327. Palpal claw with 6 teeth. PTC I–IV with 6–7 teeth on each margin.
SPINATION. Palpal femur and femora I–IV with 1 basodorsal spine and 3–5 dorsal bristles; patella I and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; patella pd1; tibia p2(3), v7(5); tarsus v3. Leg I: femur pd1; tibia v2(1); metatarsus v5(4). Leg II: femur pd1; patella p2; tibia p2, v5; metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur pd2, rd3; patella p1(2), r1; tibia d3, p2, r2, v8(7); metatarsus dp4, r3, v8(7). Leg IV: femur rd2; patella r2; tibia d1, r3, v7(8); metatarsus r3, v8(7).
SPERMATHECAE. See Fig. 491. Each paired spermatheca with low and wide conical base carrying two short club-like branches, with closely set proximal parts and widely divergent apices.
SPINNERETS. See Figs 561–562. PMS: length 0.68, diameter 0.35. PLS: maximal diameter 1.13; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.27, 0.75, 0.78; total length 2.80; apical segment triangular.
Variation
Carapace length in males (n= 3) ranges from 6.62 to 8.23, in females (n=9) it varies from 6.57 to 8.93. Spermathecae show a quite insignificant variation (Figs 491–493).
Ecology
The spiders occur in the highland zone of the Alay and Trans-Alay ridges where they inhabit subalpine and alpine grasslands in combination with a low open Juniperus woodland (Figs 627–628). All females were observed hiding inside their unprotected burrows 35–45 cm deep; the conspecific males were found hiding during the daytime under stones.
Distribution
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. See Fig. 751.
description: Published as part of Zonstein, Sergei L., 2024, A revision of the spider genus Raveniola (Araneae, Nemesiidae). II. Species from Central Asia, pp. 1-185 in European Journal of Taxonomy 967 on pages 21-24, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699, http://zenodo.org/record/13990819