Dysderella caspica (Dunin, 1990)

Dysderella caspica (Dunin, 1990) View in CoL

Figs 1A-F View Figure 1 , 2A-C View Figure 2 , 3A-F View Figure 3

Dysdera kollari : Dunin 1984: 53 (as per Dunin 1992: 71).

Dysdera caspica Dunin, 1990: 143, figs 4.1-4 (♂♀).

Dysderella caspica : Dunin 1992: 67, fig. 12 (♂♀); Ponomarev and Alieva 2010: 12.

Material.

Azerbaijan: Baku Region: 1♂ (ZMMU), environs of Baku, Dyubendy , ( 40°29'N, 50°13'E), 18.05, 8.06.2003 ( Y.M. Marusik); 1♂ 1♀ 2j. (ZMMU) GoogleMaps , Gobustan, ( 40°07'N, 49°23'E), 17- 31.05.2003 ( Y.M. Marusik) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Male palp of D. caspica is most similar to that of D. transcaspica , but differs by the relatively shorter psembolus ( Ps) (i.e. length/width ratio ca. 5, vs. 5.4) and the presence of a membranous outgrowth ( Mo). Female of D. caspica differs from that of D. transcaspica by the relatively wider anterior diverticulum ( Ad) (i.e. almost twice broader than long, vs. 1.5 times broader than long). Males of the two species differ also in spination (i.e. 1 spine on metatarsus III and 2 spines on leg IV in D. caspica , vs. 2 spines on metatarsus III and 3 spines on leg IV).

Description.

Male. Habitus as in Fig. 1A-C View Figure 1 . Total length 3.91. Carapace 1.62 long, 1.26 wide. Eye sizes: AME 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.08. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium and maxillae light reddish. Legs yellowish orange. Abdomen light beige, without any pattern. Spinnerets uniformly beige. Measurements of legs: I: 4.14 (1.23, 0.76, 0.89, 0.84, 0.42), II: 3.68 (1.10, 0.67, 0.78, 0.76, 0.37), III: 2.89 (0.81, 0.51, 0.53, 0.76, 0.28), IV: 3.90 (1.10, 0.61, 0.86, 0.97, 0.36). Spination: III: Ti: 1pl, 1v; Mt: 1pl. IV: Ti: 1pl; Mt: 1pl.

Palp as in Fig. 2A-C View Figure 2 ; tibia twice longer than wide, slightly shorter than cymbium; bulb ca. 3 times longer than wide, tegular part ca. 2 times longer than wide; psembolus ca. as long as tegular part, margins almost parallel, stylus short, shorter than width of psembolus; middle part of bulb with triangular membranous outgrowth ( Mo).

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 1D-F View Figure 1 . Total length 5.44. Carapace 1.83 long, 1.36 wide. Eye sizes: AME 0.11, PME 0.06, PLE 0.05. Colouration and spination as in male. Measurements of legs: I: 6.88 (1.96, 1.07, 1.53, 1.73, 0.59), II: 6.05 (1.69, 1.13, 1.34, 1.37, 0.52), III: 4.83 (1.38, 0.84, 0.84, 1.27, 0.50), IV: 6.69 (1.81, 1.29, 1.48, 1.53, 0.58).

Endogyne as in Fig. 3A-F View Figure 3 ; dumbbell-shaped ‘spermatheca’ well visible through integument; anterior diverticulum ( Ad) almost 2 times broader than long, heads of spermatheca ( Hs) globular, spaced by ca. 2.5 diameters.

Habitats.

A xerophilous species that inhabits wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium L.) and ephemeroid semi-deserts and can be found under stones, in soil cracks and within rodent burrows ( Dunin 1992).

Distribution.

Azerbaijan (Baku, Ganja and Goygol), North Caucasus (Dagestan) (Fig. 8 View Figure 8 ).