Segestria pamirica, Fomichev, 2024

Segestria pamirica sp. n.

Figs 10–23 View FIGURES 10–18 View FIGURES 19–23 .

Types. Holotype ♀ ( ISEA, 001.9103), TAJIKISTAN, Gorno-Badakhshan Region, Rushan Mountain Range, 25 km E from Rushon Village ( 37°58’37.0”N 71°50’20.6”E), rocky-clayey cliff, 2200–2300 m, 7–8 July 2023 ( A.A. Fomichev & Y. V. Dyachkov); GoogleMaps 3♀ ( ISEA, 001.9104), together with the holotype; 3♀ ( ZMMU), same region, Ishkoshim Mountain Range , 8 km NNW from Ishkoshim Village ( 36°47’43.6”N 71°34’11.5”E), rocks in the river canyon, 2500 m, 11–12 July 2023 ( A.A. Fomichev & Y. V. Dyachkov). GoogleMaps

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Pamir Mountains.

Diagnosis. The female of the new species differs from all other Central Asian species of Segestria , namely S. nekhaevae Fomichev & Marusik, 2020 , S. shtoppelae Fomichev & Marusik, 2020 and S. turkestanica Dunin, 1986 , in having the discoid ventral lobe of the anterior diverticulum ( VL) situated on the same line with transverse bar of posterior diverticulum ( TB) (vs. spherical ventral lobe of the anterior diverticulum located in front of transverse bar of posterior diverticulum) (cf. Figs 13–16 View FIGURES 10–18 and figs 8B–E, G–J in Fomichev & Marusik (2020)). Additionally, S. pamirica sp. n. has the strongly developed pillar-shaped glands ( PG) of the ventral lobe of the anterior diverticulum, which are poorly developed in S. shtoppelae and S. turkestanica . The new species can be further distinguished from S. nekhaevae by the absence of abdominal speckles (cf. Figs 10–11 View FIGURES 10–18 and figs 3E, 4E in Fomichev & Marusik (2020)).

Description. Female ( holotype). Total length 8.7. Carapace: 3.75 long, 2.35 wide. Colouration. Carapace light brown. Chelicerae and labium dark brown. Sternum and endites brown. Coxae and palps light brown. Legs: I–II yellow-brown, darker distally, III–IV yellow. Abdomen beige, dorsally with grey longitudinal stripe anteriorly and with 7 pairs of grey spots medially and posteriorly. Spinnerets beige. Leg measurements: I: 3.6, 1.35, 3.6, 2.95, 0.9 (12.4); II: 3.4, 1.35, 3.55, 2.9, 0.9 (12.1); III: 3.0, 1.25, 3.1, 2.75, 0.85 (10.95); IV: 3.3, 1.35, 3.6, 2.75, 1.0 (12.0). For leg spination see Table 1 View TABLE 1 .

Endogyne as in Figs 12–18 View FIGURES 10–18 . Anterior diverticulum ( AD) consists of two lobes: dorsal ( DL) and ventral ( VL). Dorsal lobe cylindrical, with widened tip. Ventral lobe discoid, wider than long, covered with pillar-shaped glands ( PG). Transverse bar of posterior diverticulum ( TB) bow-shaped, 2.7 times wider than ventral lobe of anterior diverticulum. Posterior diverticulum ( PD) sac-like.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from two localities in West Pamir.

Biology. Specimens were collected from cracks in rocky-clayey cliffs and rocks at night. Spiders were sitting in tube-webs embedded in cracks ( Figs 19–20 View FIGURES 19–23 ). Specimens from Ishkoshim Mt Range were collected from the vertical rocks in a narrow river canyon. The river running directly at the base of the rocks provides relatively wet and cold conditions ( Fig. 21 View FIGURES 19–23 ).

Comments. Segestria pamirica sp. n. collected at 36°N is the southernmost representative of the genus and family found in Central Asia. The new species extends the known range of the Segestriidae in Central Asia by about 3° to the south. In the past, S. nekhaevae was considered the southernmost species, being collected at 39°N in Hissar Mt Range in west Tajikistan ( Fomichev & Marusik 2020). The northernmost representative of the family in Central Asia is S. shtoppelae known from Dzhungarian Alatau Mts ( 44°N) in south-east Kazakhstan. In fact, Segestriidae are distributed even further north. In 2019, the author took part in a field trip to eastern Kazakhstan and collected several specimens from Kyzybel’tau Mts ( 47°N). Unfortunately, these specimens turned out to be juveniles. Thus, the latitudinal range of Segestriidae in Central Asia reaches 11° and covers almost the entire region from the north to the south.