Pisaura novicia (L. Koch, 1878)

Pisaura novicia (L. Koch, 1878) View in CoL ( Figs 1–9)

Pisaura novicia View in CoL : Kovblyuk et al., 2011:38, Figs 37–38, 41, 43 (♀); Nadolny et al., 2012:260, Figs 2, 4, 6, 8, 12–14, 17– 18, 20–21, 24–25, 28–30, 33–34, 36–38, 40–45 (♂ ♀); Fedoriak & Moscaliuc, 2013:152, Figs 4A, 5A (♂ ♀); Kovblyuk, 2014:47, Figs 31-32 (♂ ♀); Fedoriak, 2015:106, Figs 2.6.7A, 2.6.8A (♂ ♀); Esyunin & Sozontov, 2015:327, Figs 5–8, 13– 16, 19 (♂ ♀). For the full list of taxonomic entries, see World Spider Catalog (2023).

Material examined. 2 ♀♀, WILD-21-ARA-1617, WILD-21-ARA-1618; 1 ♂, WILD-21-ARA-1619. India: Gushaini (31°38'7.69"N, 77°26'0.87"E), 1598 m, GHNPCA, Himachal Pradesh. 30 March 2021, coll. Irina Das Sarkar GoogleMaps .

Distribution. Mediterranean to Central Asia, India (new record).

Diagnosis. Female of P. novicia resembles those of P. acoreensis Wunderlich, 1992 , P. consocia (O. Pickard- Cambridge, 1872) , and P. quadrilineata (Lucas, 1838) . While it can be differentiated from P. consocia by the absence of septal ridge, it is difficult to distinguish from the other two species ( Nadolny et al., 2012). Female of P. novicia can also be differentiated from P. mirabilis (Clerck, 1757) by broader funnel-shaped septum (vs. visibly narrow in P. mirabilis ), broader and trapezoidal spermathecal base formed by shorter posterior extension of septum, coils of copulatory ducts parallel to each other and not laterally and anteriorly extended (vs. anterior arch of ducts extended till base of AEP with wider lateral curves), and club-shaped spermathecal heads (vs. ovoid). Male of P. novicia is similar to that of P. mirabilis , but can be differentiated by the dorsally curved tibial apophysis with small projection on anterior side (vs. no curvature or anterior projection), smaller diameter of embolic division (vs. 1.3 times larger embolic division), comparatively shorter median apophysis and conductor and differently shaped distal apophysis ( Nadolny et al., 2012).

Description Female ( Figs 1–4). Total length 7.04, carapace 3.15 long, 2.55 wide, brown-yellow, tapering anteriorly, with distinct longitudinal white band running entire carapace length and two lateral white bands running from lateral margins of ocular field till posterior margin. Fovea distinct red with radiating striae towards lateral bands. Eight eyes in two recurved rows with distinct black rims that are smaller for anterior median eyes; MOA 0.51 long, 0.50 wide, MOQ 0.71 long, 0.72 anterior width, 0.94 posterior width. Eye measurements: AME 0.09, ALE 0.10, PME 0.11, PLE 0.12. Inter-eye distances: AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.02, PME–PLE 0.10, PME–PME 0.13, ALE–PLE 0.26.

Chelicerae yellow-brown 1.41 long, 0.66 wide, with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Labium pale brown with white distal end; 0.43 long, 0.58 wide. Endites pale brown with white distal ends; 0.81 long, 0.53 wide. Sternum ovoid, bluntly tapering posteriorly, brown with thick yellow longitudinal band running entire length, interspersed with white setae along lateral margin; 1.28 long, 1.40 wide. Legs brown. Leg measurements: I: fe 3.47 pa 1.22 ti 3.51 mt 3.01 ta 1.56 (12.77), II: fe 3.61 pa 1.26 ti 3.48 mt 2.80 ta 1.53 (12.68), III: fe 3.15 pa 1.04 ti 2.69 mt 2.58 ta 1.17 (10.63), IV: fe 3.81 pa 1.12 ti 2.49 mt 3.61 ta 1.48 (12.51). Leg formula 1243. Abdomen 4.23 long, 2.04 wide, with red medial band running entire length and two lateral brown bands. Epigyne ( Figs 3–4) with funnel-shaped septum, droplet-shaped anterior epigynal pocket and prominent lateral folds; copulatory ducts looping twice dorsally from base of septum and joining spermathecal base forming trapezoidal cavity; broad lateral lobes with anterior portion close to each other, diverge posteriorly, forming triangular notch; fertilization ducts ovoid; club-shaped spermathecal heads.

Male ( Figs 5–9). Total length 7.69, carapace long 3.40, wide 2.72, brown-yellow, tapering anteriorly, with distinct longitudinal white band running entire carapace length. Fovea distinct red with radiating striae towards lateral margins. Eight eyes in two recurved rows with distinct black rims that are smaller for the anterior median eyes; MOA long 0.50, wide 0.52, MOQ long 0.70, anterior width 0.73, posterior width 0.96. Eye measurements: AME 0.10, ALE 0.13, PME 0.11, PLE 0.16. Inter-eye distance: AME-AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PLE 0.14, PME–PME 0.14, ALE–PLE 0.19. Chelicerae yellow-brown length 1.30, width 0.73, with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Labium pale brown with white distal end. Endites pale brown with white distal ends. Sternum 1.43 long, 1.52 wide, brown with white medial band running entire length, interspersed with black setae. Legs strong, brown. Leg measurements: I: fe 3.56 pa 1.3 ti 3.58 mt 3.33 ta 1.72 (13.49); II: fe 3.88 pa 1.31 ti 3.45 mt 3.62 ta 1.83 (14.09); III: fe 3.25 pa 1.22 ti 2.89 mt 2.75 ta 1.20 (11.31); IV: fe 3.97 pa 1.27 ti 3.57 mt 4.31 ta 1.66 (14.78). Leg formula 4213. Abdomen 4.59 long, 2.11 wide, with distinct medial and wavy lateral bands running entire length, laterally silver-white.

Palps ( Figs 7–9). Palp with hooked RTA, broader at base; distal apophysis large with wavy retrolateral margin with bluntly curved distal tip; central depression of DA prominent; median apophysis small, transparent, with blunt distal tip prolaterally curved; embolus short and located in the conductor fold.

Habitat. Rocky riparian habitat with nest located among medium–large sized rocks with sparse vegetation.