Zodarion tunetiacum Strand, 1906

Zodarion tunetiacum Strand, 1906 View in CoL

Figs 97–98 View Fig View Fig , 106 View Fig

Zodarium tunetiacum Strand, 1906: 669 .

Zodarium tunetiacum – Strand 1908: 86.

Zodarion tunetiacum View in CoL – Denis 1937: 17, pl. 3 fig. 21.

Diagnosis

This species can be separated from Z. cyrenaicum by the presence of a horizontally curly brace-shaped protuberance in the middle of epigyne (vs absent in Z. cyrenaicum ; cf. Fig. 98A–B View Fig and Fig. 46D View Fig ).

Type material examined

Neotype (here designated)

EGYPT • ♀; Alexandria; MNHN-AR2854.

Remarks

Examination of material from the Simon collection (MNHN-AR2854) led to the identification of a female specimen belonging to Z. tunetiacum . Although this species has not been listed as a nomen dubium by Nentwig et al. (2020) or World Spider Catalog (2025), our investigation revealed that the original type material was destroyed during World War II (J. Holstein pers. comm.). Therefore, we designate this specimen as the neotype and provide a redescription below to stabilize the taxonomic status of the species.

Redescription

Female

HABITUS ( Fig. 97A–B View Fig ). Carapace dark brown laterally and reddish-brown medially; chelicerae reddish-brown; gnathocoxae greyish basally and yellowish apically, labium greyish, with reddish basal part; sternum greyish, with dark brown marginal part. Cx and Pa of all legs pale except for black Cx I. Fe I and II entirely black, Fe III and IV black on their second half. Ti dark brown, with a pair of longitudinal light stripes. Abdomen dorsum black, venter greyish laterally and slightly lighter medially; PVS present. Spinnerets greyish, with a pale median part.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.2; carapace 2.25 long, 1.6 wide. Clypeus 0.25 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.1, ALE 0.06, PME 0.05, PLE 0.04, AME–AME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE– ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.14, PME–PME 0.57, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.25. Legs: I 8.48 (1.93, 0.9, 1.59, 2.46, 1.6), II 8.78 (1.9, 0.95, 1.65, 2.53, 1.75), III 9.24 (2, 1, 1.6, 2.81, 1.83), IV 9.91 (2.11, 1.2, 1.63, 3, 1.97). Palp: 2.4 (0.86, 0.58, 0.46, 0.77).

EPIGYNE ( Fig. 98A–D View Fig ). Epigyne comprising a traversed plate, proximally surrounded by undulating, highly sclerotized margins, attached in the middle and covering a horizontal curly brace-shaped protuberance in the middle and a series of membranous folds beneath. Vulva comprising a pair of black, globular bodies situated outwards, attached to medium-sized, lighter bodies, and ending at a pair of rather elongated and voluminous bodies, inclined medially.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Tunisia was the sole location for the occurrence of Z. tunetiacum . This is the first report of this species from Egypt and represents the easternmost occurrence of this species across its distribution range.