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

description: Raveniola vulpina sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C7957862-1670-4A16-AF15-DABDA8453319
Figs 34–35, 61–62, 76–77, 108, 134–135, 164–165, 194–195, 227–228, 254–255, 288–289, 309, 377–378, 459–465, 551–554, 616–618, 735–738, 760
Raveniola mikhailovi – Zonstein 2021: only figs 9–10 (♂; mismatched and erroneously used for the publication; see above).
Diagnosis
Males of Raveniola vulpina sp. nov. differ from the related male congeners by the following characters: from R. michailovi and R. virgata by a gently arcuate (vs slightly twisted) embolus, and from R. nenilini sp. nov. in having a considerably longer and thinner palpal tibia, as well as a narrower copulatory bulb (Figs 377–378, 459–465 cf. Figs 373–374, 376, 447, 458). Females of R. vulpina differ from females of the related species in having the dorsal abdominal pattern lacking a clearly discernible median stripe (vs its presence; see Figs 61–62 cf. Figs 56–58, 60). Additionally, they are distinguishable due to a specific structure of the spermathecae, with broadly spaced, curved and flattened trunks and widely diverging lateral diverticula (vs differently arranged spermathecal structures in other species; Figs 551–554 cf. Figs 538–543, 547–550).
Etymology
The specific epithet ‘ vulpina ’ is the Latin adjective of ‘ vulpes ’ (= fox) meaning ‘vulpine’ and referring to the foxy ground colouration of this species.
Material examined
Holotype
KYRGYZSTAN • ♂; Chatkal Mts. (southern slope), Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, Tumanyak Gorge, Karagailisai; 41°49.4′ N, 71°56.5′ E; 1400–1600 m a.s.l.; 5 Jul. 2000; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Paratypes (18 ♂♂, 30 ♀♀)
KYRGYZSTAN • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNH • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 41°48.7′ N, 71°55.3′ E; 1800 m a.s.l.; SMNH • 1 ♀; Karangitun Gorge; 41°48′ N, 71°57′ E; 1700 m a.s.l.; 26 May 1993; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 9 ♂♂, 15 ♀♀; Talas Mts (southern slope), Uzunahmat Canyon, Birbulak Gorge; 42°01.6′ N, 72°24.6′ E; 1400–1800 m a.s.l.; 14 Aug. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 6 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀; Talas Mts, Tereksai Canyon; 42°10′ N, 72°21′ E; 2450– 2800 m a.s.l.; 16 Aug. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 1 ♂; Talas Mts (northern slope), Beshtash Canyon, Kyrgolot Gorge; 42°18.3′ N, 72°20.4′ E; 2030 m a.s.l.; 18 Aug. 1986; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Additional material (3 juvs)
KYRGYZSTAN • 2 juvs; Talas Mts, Otmek Valley 7 km WNW of Otmek Pass; 42°19′ N, 73°07′ E; 2800 m a.s.l.; 9 Jul. 1987; S. Zonstein and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 1 juv.; Kyrgyz Mts (northern slope), Kara-Balta Canyon, near the confluence of Kara-Balta and Chon-Mazar rivers; 42°24′ N, 73°46′ E; 2100–2200 m a.s.l.; 3 Jul. 1994; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH.
Description
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Figs 34, 76.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 12.90, CL 5.62, CW 4.82, LL 0.43, LW 0.83, SL 2.80, SW 2.38.
COLOUR. Carapace, palps and legs (except for darker brown femora) brownish orange; leg I slightly darker than other legs; eye tubercle blackish brown; chelicerae medium reddish brown; sternum, labium and maxillae light yellowish orange; abdomen yellowish brown, with almost indistinct brownish dorsal chevron-like pattern and a few small brown marks on ventral side; book-lungs and spinnerets pale yellowish brown.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 108. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 264. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.20), ALE 0.27, PLE 0.18, PME 0.16; AME–AME 0.11(0.05), ALE–AME 0.09(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.07, PLE–PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.29. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Intercheliceral tumescence indiscernible. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 1 mesobasal denticle. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 227. Maxillae with 11–12 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 288, 309. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; narrowly divided by setae on tarsus II; widely divided on tarsus III; vestigial on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 13–15 on metatarsi, 11–13 on tarsi, 8 on cymbium. PTC I–II and PTC III–IV with 10–11 and 11–13 teeth on each margin, respectively.
SPINATION. Palp: femur d3, pd3, rd2; patella pd2; tibia d2, p3, r3, v6; cymbium d4. Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p1; tibia p2, pv2, r1, rv2+2M, metatarsus v2. Leg II: femur d4, pd3; patella p1; tibia p3, v8(7); metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3(2), rd3; patella p2; tibia d3, p3, r3, v9; metatarsus p4, r3, v10(9). Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p2; tibia d4, p3, r3, v9; metatarsus p4, r4, v11. Tarsi I–IV aspinose.
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 377. Embolus long, tapering and slightly curved subapically (Figs 459–462).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 616. PMS: length 0.25, diameter 0.11. PLS: maximal diameter 0.51; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.87, 0.58, 0.48; total length 1.93; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.98 (3.25)1.58 (1.63)2.47 (2.30)–0.87 (2.06)7.90 (9.24)Leg I4.78 (4.38)2.73 (2.81)4.02 (3.31)4.27 (2.68)2.28 (1.93)18.08 (15.11)Leg II4.62 (4.25)2.50 (2.56)3.85 (2.79)3.85 (2.45)2.27 (1.84)17.09 (13.89)Leg III3.94 (3.44)2.09 (1.97)3.14 (2.40)4.21 (2.77)2.34 (1.76)15.72 (12.34)Leg IV4.93 (4.59)2.42 (2.46)4.25 (3.33)5.91 (4.21)2.73 (2.34)20.24 (16.93)
Female (paratype)
HABITUS. See Figs 61, 77.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 17.80, CL 6.31, CW 5.72, LL 0.59, LW 1.22, SL 3.22, SW 3.01.
COLOUR. In general as in male, with more intensely shaded dorsal abdomen and chelicerae.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 134. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 194. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.13(0.21), ALE 0.25, PLE 0.20, PME 0.12;AME–AME 0.18(0.10), ALE–AME 0.13(0.09), ALE–PLE 0.08, PLE–PME 0.08, PME–PME 0.43. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 8 promarginal teeth and 1–3 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 254. Maxillae with 13–20 cuspules each.
LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on palpal tarsus and tarsus I; narrowly divided by setae on tarsus II; sparse and widely divided on tarsus III; rudimentary on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–10 each on tibiae, 14–15 on metatarsi, 12–15 on tarsi, 10 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 3 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 6–7 and 6 teeth on each margin, respectively.
SPINATION. Femora I–IV with one basodorsal spine and 3 dorsal bristles; palpal femur dorsally with 4 bristles; tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; patella p1(0); tibia p2, v8; tarsus v7. Leg I: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p1(0), v7; metatarsus v7(6). Leg II: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p2, v7; metatarsus v7. Leg III: femur pd2, rd2; patella p2, r1; tibia d1, p2, r2, v7(5); metatarsus d2, p4, r4, v12(9). Leg IV: femur pd1, rd1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p3, r2, v7; metatarsus d1, p4, r4, v12(11).
SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae Y-shaped with relatively long and narrow base carrying two unevenly conformed branches: inner branch longer, wider, flattened and subapically dilated; outer branch shorter, club-like, with long, narrow and strictly sclerotised proximal neck, and with short, more or less rounded subapical section (Fig. 552).
SPINNERETS. See Figs 617–618. PMS: length 0.38, diameter 0.17. PLS: maximal diameter 0.69; length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.08, 0.64, 0.63; total length 2.35; apical segment triangular.
Variation
Carapace length in males (n =11) varies from 4.37 to 5.83, in females (n=14) from 4.28 to 7.29. The colouration and other key somatic characters of males and females from Talas Mts as shown in Figs 35, 77, 135, 165, 195, 228, 255, 289, 378. Variation in the structure of the spermathecae as shown in Figs 463–465, 551, 553–554.
Ecology
The species occurs in midland and highland montane belts, mostly in fragmentary woodlands composed of the spruce Picea schrenkiana Fisch. & C.A. Mey. and/or the fir Abies semenovii B. Fedtsch., or in the mixed forest, with the participation of these coniferous trees and the walnut Juglans regia (Figs 735– 738). The spiders were found exclusively in their retreats under stones and logs. Along the river valleys, this species can penetrate into the subalpine and alpine zones.
Distribution
Known only from the type locality. See Fig. 760.
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 81-83, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699, http://zenodo.org/record/13990819