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

description: Raveniola pallens sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4F2510F5-833E-42C4-9C5D-C17B434FFF9B
Figs 17, 52, 99, 126, 154, 184, 218, 245, 276, 367, 434–435, 530–531, 593–594, 755
Diagnosis
Raveniola pallens sp. nov. differs from other members of the same species group in possessing a wider eye group with relatively smaller and noticeably broadly spaced anterior median eyes (Figs 154, 184 cf. 151–153, 155, 182–183, 185). Unlike males of R. diluta sp. nov. and R. fedotovi, possessing an embolic keel, the holotype male of R. pallens lacks this structure; it differs from males of R. zyuzini sp. nov. in having a noticeably lesser curved metatarsus I and by a sparser scopula on metatarsi and tarsi I–II (Fig. 276 cf. Fig. 277). Females of R. pallens sp. nov. are distinguishable due to having a widely divided ventral scopula on the palpal tarsus (vs entire one in females of the related species), as well as owing to their low, mound-like and widely spaced spermathecal trunks (vs the higher cone-shaped ones in other species of the group; Figs 530–531 cf. Figs 526–529, 532–533).
Etymology
The specific epithet is a Latin adjective (of any gender) meaning ‘light’ or ‘pallid’ and referring to the pale ground color of the specimens belonging to this species.
Material examined
Holotype
UZBEKISTAN • ♂; Zeravshan Mts (southwestern slope), foothills below Amankutan Pass; 39°13.5′ N, 66°53.5′ E; 1000–1300 m a.s.l.; 9 Apr. 1991; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Paratype
UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 900 m a.s.l.; 7 Apr. 1989; SMNH.
Additional material (1 ♀ subad., 1 juv.)
UZBEKISTAN • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; 850 m a.s.l.; 9 Apr. 1991; SMNH • 1 ♀ subad.; northern foothills of Turkestan Mts, Beshbuloq Canyon, vicinity of Turkmen Village; 39°57′ N, 68°30′ E; 600–700 m a.s.l.; 27 Jun. 1980; A.B. Nenilin leg.; SMNH.
Description
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 17.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 9.05, CL 3.65, CW 2.99, LL 0.25, LW 0.63, SL 1.82, SW 1.57.
COLOUR. Carapace, palps and legs light brownish orange; eye tubercle blackish brown; chelicerae light reddish brown; sternum, labium and maxillae yellow; abdomen uniformly greyish white without distinct dorsal pattern.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 99. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 154. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10(0.14), ALE 0.19, PLE 0.12, PME 0.08; AME–AME 0.10(0.06), ALE–AME 0.05(0.03), ALE–PLE 0.03, PLE–PME 0.03, PME–PME 0.28. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 7 promarginal teeth and 7–8 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 218. Maxillae with 9–11 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Fig. 276. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; narrowly divided with setae on tarsus II; widely divided on tarsus III; rudimentary on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 13–14 on metatarsi, 10–12 on tarsi, 8 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 6–8 teeth on each margin.
SPINATION. Patella I and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d3, pd1; tibia p3, r1, v5; cymbium d4+5 smaller. Leg I: femur d3, pd2; tibia p2, pv1, rv2+2M; metatarsus v1. Leg II: femur d3, pd2; patella p1; tibia p3, v7(6); metatarsus p1, v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d2, p2, r2, v7; metatarsus d3, p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p1, r1; tibia d2, p3, r3, v8(7); metatarsus d2, p4, r3, v8(7).
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 367. Embolus lacking keel, corkscrew-shaped, thin and gradually tapering to its tip (Figs 434–435).
SPINNERETS. See Fig 593. PLS: maximal diameter 0.31; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.49, 0.30, 0.27; total length 1.06; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp1.93 (2.53)1.01 (1.43)1.53 (1.86)–0.64 (1.54)5.11 (7.36)Leg I3.18 (3.54)1.89 (2.17)2.58 (2.74)2.57 (2.07)1.63 (1.49)11.85 (12.01)Leg II2.79 (3.38)1.62 (1.90)2.30 (2.28)2.39 (2.14)1.58 (1.47)10.68 (11.17)Leg III2.54 (2.97)1.31 (1.68)1.84 (2.15)2.51 (2.53)1.54 (1.54)9.74 (10.87)Leg IV3.15 (3.99)1.64 (1.97)2.67 (3.23)3.56 (3.94)1.83 (1.76)12.85 (14.89)
Female (paratype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 52.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 13.20, CL 5.07, CW 4.43, LL 0.43, LW 1.04, SL 2.62, SW 2.31.
COLOUR. As in male, with body even paler; legs I–IV uniformly very light yellowish tan and noticeably paler than yellowish orange carapace.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 126. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 184. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.12(0.17), ALE 0.23, PLE 0.12, PME 0.06; AME–AME 0.23(0.18), ALE–AME 0.10(0.08), ALE–PLE 0.03, PLE–PME 0.03, PME–PME 0.63. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 2–3 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 245. Maxillae with 10–11 pointed (not rounded or blunt) cuspules each.
LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; narrowly divided on tarsus I; widely divided on palpal tarsus and tarsus II; absent on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–10 each on tibiae, 14–15 on metatarsi, 12–14 on tarsi, 9 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 3 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 5 and 4–5 teeth on each margin, respectively.
SPINATION. Femora I–IV dorsally along midline with 2–3 spines and 2–3 bristles; palpal patella, patella I, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d4, pd1; tibia p4(2), v8(7); tarsus v2. Leg I: femur pd1; tibia p2, v6; metatarsus v7(4). Leg II: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p2(1), v6(5); metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur pd3, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d1, p2, r2, v7; metatarsus d5, p3, r2, v7. Leg IV: femur pd2, rd3(2); patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p2(3), r3(2), v7; metatarsus d2, p2, r3, v7.
SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae small and low mound-like, with short and wide trunk that carries small and short outer branch diverging from spermathecal trunk close to its apex (Figs 530–531).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 594. PLS: maximal diameter 0.51; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.91, 0.66, 0.42; total length 1.99; apical segment triangular.
Ecology
Raveniola pallens sp. nov. inhabits rocky slopes in foothills and the low-mountain zone between 600 and 1300 m a.s.l., covered by steppe grasslands and sparse shrubland with Pistacea vera L., Cercis griffithii, species of Acer, Prunus (sect. Amygdalus (L.) Benth. & Hook.f.), etc. By their nature, these biotopes resemble the landscape which is shown in Fig. 707.All spiders were found hiding under stones.
Distribution
Southeastern Uzbekistan. See Fig. 755.
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 55-57, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699, http://zenodo.org/record/13990819