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

description: Raveniola hirta sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A86FF08F-F3AD-4AB3-B399-7ACC509D3548
Figs 8, 42, 67–68, 90, 117, 144, 173–174, 209, 236, 266, 296, 313–314, 357, 400–402, 504–508, 571–572, 651–658, 752
Diagnosis
Within the concolor species group of Raveniola, the holotype male of R. hirta sp. nov. is well distinguishable, because it possesses the shortest embolus, compared to other species (Figs 400–402 cf. Figs 385–399, 403–428); it also has long modified hairs on the tibia and metatarsus IV, as shown in Fig. 313 (vs their presence in those species, where these hairs are known, only in females).Considering the last character, this new species shares with R. afghana sp. nov., R. alajensis sp. nov. and R. karategensis sp. nov. the presence of long modified hairs on the female tibia and metatarsus IV. Females of R. hirta can be distinguished from those of R. alajensis and R. karategensis by having a uniformly coloured (vs fairly ornamented) abdomen (Figs 42, 67–68 cf. Figs 38, 44, 65), and from those of R. afghana sp. nov. in possessing much shorter spermathecae provided with clearly wider inner branches (Figs 504–508 cf. Figs 489–490).
Etymology
The specific epithet is an adjective referring to a hirsute (Latin: ‘ hirt-us/-a/-um ’) leg IV in this species, densely covered with elongated fine hairs in females and to a lesser extent in males; the gender is feminine.
Material examined
Holotype
TAJIKISTAN • ♂; Darvaz Mts (northern slope), upper part of Zidadara Canyon, 2.5 km NNE of Haburabot Pass; 38°38.8′ N, 70°43.6′ E; 2900 m a.s.l.; 13 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Paratypes (28 ♀♀)
TAJIKISTAN • 7 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 2900–3300 m a.s.l.; SMNH • 6 ♀♀; same locality as for holotype; 2850 m a.s.l.; 11 Jul. 2019; S. Zonstein and A. Hakimov leg.; SMNH • 7 ♀♀; Darvaz Mts (top watershed zone), Haburabot Pass; 38°37.229′ N, 70°43.135′ E; 3300 m a.s.l.; subalpine meadow-steppe; 26–27 Jul. 2023; A.A. Fomichev leg.; ISEA • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZMMU • 2 ♀♀; Darvaz Mts (southern slope), Obiviskharvi Canyon; 38°34′ N, 71°03′ E; 3000–3300 m a.s.l.; 14 Jul. 1988; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH.
Description
Male (holotype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 8.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 17.40, CL 6.83, CW 6.27, LL 0.55, LW 1.00, SL 3.57, SW 2.97.
COLOUR. Carapace laterally and posteriorly, palpal femur, entire leg I and femora II–IV cherry red, chelicerae, most part of cephalic portion, thoracic fovea and radial grooves of carapace darker reddish brown; other segments of palp and legs II–IV dark yellowish orange; clypeus and eye tubercle blackish brown; sternum, labium, maxillae and ventral surface of abdomen including spinnerets yellowish brown; abdomen dorsally uniformly brown.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 90. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 144. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.16(0.20), ALE 0.27, PLE 0.25, PME 0.16; AME–AME 0.17(0.13), ALE–AME 0.14(0.12), ALE–PLE 0.13, PLE–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.55. Chelicerae with weak rastellum composed in each basal segment of 35–40 thickened spikes in front of fang base. Each cheliceral furrow with 8 promarginal teeth and 4–5 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 209. Maxillae with 30–35 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 266, 296. Tibia and metatarsus IV covered with modified hairs (Fig. 313). Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsi I–II; entire but mixed with setae on tarsus III; sparse and widely divided on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–11each on tibiae, 16–19 on metatarsi, 12–17 on tarsi, 10–11 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 7–8 teeth on each margin.
SPINATION. Metatarsus I and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d4, pd1, rd1; patella p2; tibia d6, p3, r3, v5; cymbium d4–5 normal + 10–15 small. Leg I: femur d4; patella p1; tibia p3, pv3, r2, rv2+ 2M. Leg II: femur d4, pd3(2), rd2; patella p3(2); tibia p3, v8(7); metatarsus p3, v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3; patella p2(1), r1; tibia d3, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus p5, pd3, r3, v6. Leg IV: femur d4(3), pd3, rd3(2); patella p1, r1; tibia p3, r 3, v 8(7); metatarsus p3, pd3, r5, v8.
PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 357. Embolus short with basal portion provided with low keel and with hooked apical part (Figs 400–404).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 571. PMS: length 0.39, diameter 0.16. PLS: maximal diameter 0.67; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.77, 0.42, 0.41; total length 1.60; apical segment triangular.
LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀)
FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp3.83 (3.69)1.85 (1.81)3.04 (2.38)–1.08 (2.37)9.80 (10.25)Leg I6.25 (5.32)3.43 (2.95)4.72 (3.62)4.97 (3.24)2.80 (2.29)22.17 (17.42)Leg II5.76 (4.79)3.04 (2.58)4.10 (2.97)4.68 (2.99)2.64 (2.26)20.22 (15.59)Leg III4.69 (3.99)2.41 (2.18)3.30 (2.48)4.41 (3.15)2.27 (1.96)17.08 (13.76)Leg IV6.34 (5.75)3.11 (3.21)5.16 (4.49)6.83 (5.23)3.12 (2.97)24.56 (21.65)
Female (paratype)
HABITUS. See Fig. 42.
MEASUREMENTS. TBL 16.40, CL 6.41, CW 5.56, LL 0.66, LW 1.30, SL 3.49, SW 3.10.
COLOUR. Carapace, palpal femur and femora I–IV dark brownish orange; other segments of palp and legs I–IV lighter brownish orange; chelicerae dark cherry red; eye tubercle with wide and partially fused blackish brown rings around eyes; sternum, labium, maxillae and ventral surface of abdomen including spinnerets yellowish brown; abdomen dorsally uniformly brown as in male.
CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 117. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 173. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.15(0.21), ALE 0.31, PLE 0.25, PME 0.17; AME–AME 0.16(0.10), ALE–AME 0.13(0.10), ALE–PLE 0.14, PLE–PME 0.07, PME–PME 0.47. Chelicerae with weak rastellum composed of 25–30 thickened spikes in front of fang base. Each cheliceral furrow with 8 promarginal teeth and 3–4 mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 236. Maxillae with 29–34 cuspules each.
LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus IV covered by dense modified hairs as in Fig. 314. Scopula: distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II; widely divided by setae on tarsus III; vestigial on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–11 each on tibiae, 16–18 on metatarsi, 14–15 on tarsi, 11 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 4 promarginal teeth. PTC I–IV with 8–9 teeth on each margin.
SPINATION. Palpal femur with 3–4 dorsal bristles instead of spines, femora I–IV with one basodorsal spine and 3–4 median and/or apical bristles; palpal patella and patellae I, II and IV, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia v7(6); tarsus v2. Leg I: femur pd2; tibia v4; metatarsus v5. Leg II: femur pd3; tibia v4(3); metatarsus v6. Leg III: femur pd2(1), rd3(2); patella p2, r1; tibia p2(1), r2, v6(5); metatarsus p3, pd2, rd3, v7. Leg IV: femur rd1; tibia v6; metatarsus r1, v9.
SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae asymmetrical with relatively short and wide base carrying two diverging branches: massive trapezoidal inner branch and thin spindle-like outer one (Fig. 508).
SPINNERETS. See Fig. 572. PMS: length 0.58, diameter 0.28. PLS: length of basal, medial and apical segments 1.31, 0.67, 0.66; total length 2.64; apical segment triangular.
Variation
Carapace length in females (n=11) varies from 5.18 to 7.07. For female paratypes, the variations in their colouration, structure of the eye group and conformation of the spermathecae are shown in Figs 67–68, 174, 504–507.
Ecology
The species inhabits short-grass meadows and meadow-steppes in the subalpine and alpine zones. All spiders, including the holotype male, were collected from their relatively deep (of 35–45 cm depth) burrows. See Figs 651–658.
Distribution
Known from two highland localities in Darvaz Mts, Tajikistan (Fig. 752).
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 31-34, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.967.2699, http://zenodo.org/record/13990819