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

description: Raveniola nenilini sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 0AF92C5C-1013-4448-8948-0447994ACDAC
Figs 25, 58, 105, 131, 160, 190, 224, 251, 283, 307, 374, 448–449, 541–543, 609–611, 723–730, 758
Raveniola virgata – Zonstein 1987: 1018 (part).
Diagnosis
Males of Raveniola nenilini 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. vulpina sp. nov. in having a considelably shorter and stouter palpal tibia, as well as a broader copulatory bulb (Figs 374, 448–449 cf. Figs 377–378, 445–447, 454–465). Females of R. nenilini are distinguishable due to a specific structure of the spermathecae, with long strap-shaped trunks, and long and thin lateral diverticula, where each diverticulum starts with a long and narrow neck and ends with a short subglobular fundus (vs differently arranged spermathecal structures in other species). See Figs 541–543 cf. Figs 538–540, 544–550).
Etymology
The specific epithet is given in honour and memory of Andrei Nenilin (1960–1986), noting his role in the modern research of the Central Asian spider fauna.
Material examined
Holotype
UZBEKISTAN • ♂; Ugam Mts (southern slope), Kainarsai Gorge; 41°42.3′ N, 70°00.5′ E; 1300 m a.s.l.; 24 Apr. 1983; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Paratypes (2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀)
UZBEKISTAN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 1300–1400 m a.s.l.; SMNH • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 1150–1250 m a.s.l.; 19–20 Oct. 1985; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype, Sijaksai Gorge; 41°43′ N, 70°03′ E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 31 Mar. 1983; A.B. Nenilin and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 1 ♀; Chimgan Mts (northern slope), Mazarsai Canyon; 41º33′ N, 70º05′ E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 16 Jun. 1995; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding, Gulikamsai Canyon; 41º33′ N, 70º04′ E; 1300 m a.s.l.; 8 May 2023; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Additional material (4 ♀♀, 3 juvs)
UZBEKISTAN • 1 juv.; Chatkal Mts (western slope), Aksakata Canyon, northwestern slope of Mt Syurenata; 41°24′ N, 69°51′ E; 1600–1800 m a.s.l.; 3 May 2018; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 1 juv.; Ugam Mts, Urumgachsai Gorge; 41°55′ N, 70°20′ E; 1300 m a.s.l.; 24 Jun. 1997; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 1 juv.; Karzhantau Mts, Kansai Canyon, 2 km W of Khumsan Town; 41°41′ N, 69°55′ E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 6 May 2022; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 4 ♀♀; Qurama Mts, Kamchik Pass; 41°06′ N, 70°31′ E; 2200 m a.s.l.; 8 Apr. 1986; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH.
Description
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 25.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 8.55, CL 4.26, CW 3.77, LL 0.34, LW 0.71, SL 2.04, SW 1.71.
COLOUR. Carapace and chelicerae uniformly brownish orange; eye tubercle blackish brown; palps and legs yellowish orange (leg I slightly darker than other legs); sternum, labium and maxillae light yellowish orange; abdomen dorsally with reticulate pattern consisting of numerous dense and irregular light yellow spots on medium chestnut brown background, and ventrally light greyish brown, with pale yellowish brown book-lungs and spinnerets.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 105. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 160. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10(0.14), ALE 0.19, PLE 0.14, PME 0.11; AME–AME 0.12(0.08), ALE–AME 0.06(0.04), ALE–PLE 0.05, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.25. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 2 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 224. Maxillae with 17–18 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 283, 307. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; narrowly divided with setae on tarsus II; sparse and widely divided on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 10–11 on metatarsi, 11–12 on tarsi, 9–10 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 9–10 teeth on each margin.
SPINATION. Palpal patella, patella I, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d3, pd2; tibia d1, p3, r1, v3; cymbium d4(5). Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3; tibia p2, pv2, r1, rv2(1)+2M; metatarsus v2. Leg II: femur d4, pd3; patella p1; tibia p3, v7; metatarsus p1, v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2; tibia d2, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d2, p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p1, r1; tibia d2, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d3(2), p3, r4, v8.
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 374. Embolus long, tapering and slightly curved subapically (Figs 448–449).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 609. PMS: length 0.16, diameter 0.06. PLS: maximal diameter 0.31; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.64, 0.28, 0.29; total length 1.21; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.41 (3.53)1.24 (1.98)1.81 (2.31)–0.64 (2.06)6.10 (9.88)Leg I4.04 (4.52)1.96 (2.76)3.11 (3.29)2.99 (2.24)1.98 (1.69)14.08 (14.50)Leg II3.87 (4.45)1.82 (2.57)2.80 (2.87)2.82 (2.21)1.87 (1.58)13.18 (13.68)Leg III3.34 (3.36)1.26 (2.08)2.31 (2.37)3.22 (2.98)1.91 (1.99)12.04 (12.78)Leg IV4.06 (5.04)1.75 (2.41)3.19 (3.18)4.29 (4.11)2.20 (2.17)15.49 (16.91)
Female (paratype from Kainarsai)
HABITUS. See Fig. 58.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 16.50, CL 6.62, CW 5.87, LL 0.53, LW 1.11, SL 3.26, SW 2.80.
COLOUR. As in male.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 131. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 190. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.19), ALE 0.27, PLE 0.20, PME 0.14;AME–AME 0.21(0.16), ALE–AME 0.16(0.14), ALE–PLE 0.12, PLE–PME 0.10, PME–PME 0.48. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9–10 promarginal teeth and 2 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 251. Maxillae with 15–17 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, 13–19 on metatarsi, 12–14 on tarsi, 9 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 3 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 4–5 and 5–6 teeth on each margin, respectively.
SPINATION. Femora I–IV with 1–2 basodorsal spines and 2–3 dorsal spikes (underdeveloped spines); palpal femur dorsally with 3 spikes; palpal patella, patella I, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia p2, v4; tarsus v2. Leg I: femur pd2; tibia p2, v3; metatarsus v4. Leg II: femur pd2; patella p1; tibia p2, v5; metatarsus v7. Leg III: femur pd3, rd2; patella p3(2), r1; tibia d1, p2, r2(1), v7; metatarsus d3(2), p3, r3, v8(7). Leg IV: femur pd1, rd1; patella r1; tibia p2, r2, v7; metatarsus p3, r2, v8(7).
SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae Y-shaped with relatively short and wide base carrying two equally thin, long and weakly diverging branches (Fig. 542).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 610. PMS: length 0.28, diameter 0.15. PLS: maximal diameter 0.65; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.84, 0.45, 0.37; total length 1.66; apical segment triangular.
Variation
Carapace length in male paratypes (n =2) varies from 3.84 to 4.73, in females (n= 8) from 3.67 to 6.62. Variation in the structure of the spermathecae and female spinnerets as shown in Figs 541, 543 and 611.
Ecology
All spiders were found hiding in leaf litter or in soil cavities under stones in the montane woods, composed of Acer spp., Juglans regia and Juniperus spp. (Figs 723–730).
Distribution
Known from the westernmost part of the Tieng-Shan mountain system: Ugam Mts and adjoining part of Chimgan Mts. Most likely, a few conspecific specimens, represented chiefly by juveniles, were found also in midlands and highlands of the neighboring Chatkal, Karzhantau and Qurama Mts. See Fig. 758.
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 71-73, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699, http://zenodo.org/record/13990819