Zodarion levyi Shafaie & Pekár, 2025

Zodarion levyi Shafaie & Pekár sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:

Figs 67–69 View Fig View Fig View Fig , 106 View Fig

Diagnosis

This new species is most similar to Z. beroni by the small body size and asymmetrically bi-concave embolar tip ( Fig. 68G View Fig vs Fig. 37F View Fig ) but can be distinguished by the following characters: (1) a more extended prolateral process of median apophysis (vs elongated, cf. Fig. 68B, E View Fig and Fig. 37B View Fig ); and (2) slightly convergent embolar arms (vs divergent arms, cf. Fig. 68G View Fig and Fig. 37F View Fig ). Females of Z. levyi sp. nov. can be recognized from the other members of the thoni -group by an extended median septum ( Fig. 69A–B View Fig ), whereas it is less extended in Z. beroni ( Fig. 37D View Fig ), Z. granulatum ( Fig. 53D View Fig ), Z. namrun ( Fig. 82A–B View Fig ), Z. reticulatum ( Fig. 90D View Fig ), Z. rhodiense ( Fig. 92D View Fig ), and Z. thoni ( Fig. 96D View Fig ).

Etymology

This species is named after the late Gershom Levy, an Israeli arachnologist.

Type material

Holotype

ISRAEL • ♂; Odem Forest, Golan Heights ; 1 May 1996; J. Levy leg.; HUJINV-Ar 21303.

Paratype

ISRAEL • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; HUJINV-Ar 21304 .

Other material examined

ISRAEL • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; CMU • 3 ♀♀; Odem Forest ; 33.206° N, 35.736° E; 29 Mar. 2023; S. Pekár and V. Opatová leg.; CMU GoogleMaps • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 4 May 2023; M. Řezáč leg.; CMU GoogleMaps • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Har Hermon ; 33.288° N, 35.764° E; 5 May 2023; M. Řezáč leg.; CMU GoogleMaps .

SYRIA • 1 ♂; W Homs, Al-Zarah ; 28 Mar. 2001; O. Řezáč leg.; CMU .

Description

Male ( holotype HUJINV-Ar 21303)

HABITUS ( Fig. 67A–B View Fig ). Carapace and chelicerae light brown; mouthparts basally light brown and apically pale; sternum yellow. All legs yellow. Palpal segments yellow. Abdomen dorsally black, with a shiny, black scutum, venter of abdomen and spinnerets slightly dirty yellow; PVS present.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.44; carapace 1.25 long, 0.89 wide. Clypeus 0.14 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE=PME 0.09, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.29, AME–PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.33, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.1. Legs: I 3.55 (0.99, 0.39, 0.72, 0.89, 0.56), II 2.97 (0.82, 0.36, 0.52, 0.75, 0.52), III 2.89 (0.79, 0.33, 0.56, 0.75, 0.46), IV 4.31 (1.15, 0.36, 0.92, 1.22, 0.66). Palp: 0.89 (0.29, 0.13, 0.05, 0.42).

PALP ( Fig. 68A–G View Fig ). RTA broad, with a claw-shaped extension. Median apophysis broad, rectangular, with an oval leaf-shaped PMA. Embolus short, with a bifurcated tip including two convergent arms. Female ( paratype HUJINV-Ar 21304)

HABITUS ( Fig. 67C–D View Fig ). Carapace, chelicerae and palp yellow; mouthparts, sternum, spinnerets, legs and abdomen ventrally pale. Abdomen dorsum brownish without scutum; PVS present.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.9; carapace 1.25 long, 0.89 wide. Clypeus 0.14 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE= PME 0.1, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.36, AME–PME 0.09, PME–PME 0.39, PME–PLE 0.09, PLE–PLE 0.23, ALE–PLE 0.15. Legs: I 3.25 (0.89, 0.36, 0.62, 0.79, 0.59), II 2.85 (0.75, 0.29, 0.59, 0.66, 0.56), III 2.98 (0.79, 0.39, 0.52, 0.79, 0.49), IV 4.28 (1.32, 0.46, 0.66, 1.25, 0.59). Palp: 0.98 (0.31, 0.14, 0.07, 0.46).

EPIGYNE ( Fig. 69A–D View Fig ). Epigyne comprising a clearly distinctive, transverse brace-shaped median septum, with deep copulatory openings, anteriorly covered by a hooded, emarginated arch and laterally surrounded by coiled spermathecae running divergently, visible by transparency. Vulva comprises divergent spermathecal ducts terminally expanded inward.

Size variation

Total body length 2.44–3.06, carapace length/width 1.25–1.53/ 0.89–1.06 in males (N =2). Total body length 2.8–2.9, carapace length/width 1.25–1.33/ 0.86–0.89 in females (N=2).

Distribution

Israel and Syria.