Harpactea jijelensis, Kahlessenane & Bouseksou & Kherbouche-Abrous & Moulaï & Bosmans & Beladjal, 2025

Harpactea jijelensis sp. nov. Beladjal, Bouseksou & Kahlessenane

( Fig. 2a–f View FIGURE 2 , Fig. 3a–c View FIGURE 3 )

Type material.

Holotype ♂: Algeria, Jijel, Taza National Park ( 36°42’33”N 05°32’60”E), 100 m a.s.l., pitfalls in cork oak ( CO), 13.III.2023, Kahlessenane leg, deposited in MNHN (AR19192). GoogleMaps

Paratypes 2♂♂ 2♀♀: idem, 13.III.2023, Kahlessenane leg, deposited in MNHN (AR19193) .

Other material examined.

Jijel: El Aouana ( 36°46’37”N – 05°35’55”E), 80 m, pitfalls in mixed matorral ( MM) GoogleMaps , 13.III.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.III.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂, ( CSK) ; Taza National Park ( 36°42’33”N – 05°32’60”E), 100 m, pitfalls in cork oak ( CO) GoogleMaps , 13.III.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 2♀♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.IV.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.V.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 2♂♂ 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.VII.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂, ( CSK) , idem, 13.III.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.IV.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 1♀, ( CSK) ; Guerrouche ( 36°41’41”N – 05°38’29”E), 700 m, pitfalls in zeen oak ( ZO) GoogleMaps , 13.IV.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂, ( CSK) , idem, 13.V.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.XII.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.III.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂, ( CSK) ; idem, 13.IV.2023, hand catching ♂, ( CSK) ; Guerrouche ( 36°41’40”N – 05°38’53”E), 860 m, pitfalls in afares oak ( AO) GoogleMaps , 13.IV.2023 - Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.X.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) , idem, 13.IV.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂, ( CSK) ; Guerrouche ( 36°41’37”N – 05°39’50”E), 960 m, pitfalls in mixed forest ( MF) GoogleMaps , 13.IV.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 1♀, idem, 13.XI.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♂ 1♀, ( CSK) GoogleMaps , idem, 13.XII.2023, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) GoogleMaps , idem 13.I.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 2♂♂, ( CSK) GoogleMaps , idem, 13.I.2024, Kahlessenane leg., 1♀, ( CSK) GoogleMaps .

Etymology

The new species is named after the wilaya of Jijel, where it was sampled.

Diagnosis

Harpactea jijelensis sp. nov. belongs to the corticalis group and the auriga subgroup, and is closely related to Harpactea auriga (Simon, 1911) from the Massif of Edough ( Annaba). The males of both species share a globular tegulum and a very long embolus, approximately 2.5 times the length of the tegulum. In H. auriga , the embolus has a slight basal curvature and a distinct hooked tip. Notably, H. auriga lacks a membranous conductor, whereas in H. jijelensis sp. nov. a membranous conductor is present, attached to the embolus and extending to about four-fifths of its length.

The Female of Harpactea jijelensis sp. nov. differs from the H. auriga one in the morphology of the spermatheca and related structures: H. jijelensis has a robust, triangular spermatheca, whereas H. auriga possesses a broadbased spermatheca rounded towards the spermathecal duct. In H. jijelensis , the transverse bar is wide and strongly sclerotised with obliquely upward wings; the spermathecal keel is large and pointed, and the posterior receptacle is rounded. In contrast, H. auriga exhibits a slightly curved transverse bar with gently outward-curving wings and a seminal receptacle that narrows progressively to a rounded apex.

Description

Male holoytype MNHN (AR19192).

Colour ( Fig. 2a–b View FIGURE 2 ): Cephalothorax smooth, reddish brown, and shiny, contrasting with the light creamy-beige abdomen ( Fig. 2a, b View FIGURE 2 ). Sternum and legs relatively long, slender, and yellowish-brown with darker coxae and femora ( Fig. 2b View FIGURE 2 ). Chelicerae dark brown ( Fig. 2a, b View FIGURE 2 ).

Measurements (mm): Total length 2.76. Carapace 1.20 long, 0.88 wide. Sternum 0.68 long, 0.50 wide. Labium 0.26 long, 0.14 wide. Clypeus 0.02 high. Chelicerae 0.39 long, groove 0.14 mm. Eyes inter-distances: AME-AME 0.03, AME-PME 0.05, AME-PLE 0.01, PLE-PLE 0.11, PME-PLE 0.01, PME-PME 0.01, OR 0.15. Legs:

Chetotaxie

I-II: Fe: 1pl.

III: Fe: 1pl, 2rl; Ti: 2pl, 3rv, 2rl; Mt: 3pl, 2pv, 3rl.

IV: Fe: 2d; Ti: 3 pl, 2pv, 2rl; Mt: 2pl, 3pv, 3rv.

Male palp ( Fig. 2c–e View FIGURE 2 ): Palpal tarsus approximately twice as long as wide. Tegulum (T) yellowish brown and globular. Embolus (E) apical, filiform; straight and exceptionally long, extending to twice the length of the tegulum. The tegulum also bears a membranous conductor, which is almost invariably attached to the embolus and extends to 4/5 of its length, thereby making it difficult to distinguish the two structures.

Female paratype MNHN (AR19193).

Colour ( Fig. 3a View FIGURE 3 ): As in the male

Chetotaxie: As in the male

Epigyne ( Fig. 3b View FIGURE 3 ): The epigynal plate is small and weakly sclerotised, situated centrally and slightly recessed. Its surface is smooth and is surrounded by fine, sparse setae. The spermathecae are not externally visible, suggesting a reduced and internal epigynal structure, which is characteristic of haplogyne species, such as those within the Dysderidae family.

Vulva ( Fig. 3c View FIGURE 3 ): The vulva has a highly sclerotized structure with a distinctive configuration: the spermatheca (S) is robust and triangular. The distal half is rather rounded and wider than the proximal half. The spermathecal keel (SK) is large, convex and ends in a point. The transverse bar (TB) is wide and strongly sclerotized, located below the spermatheca, extends laterally by the anterior arc (AA), forming two well-developed wings directed obliquely upwards. The Receptaculum (R) is rounded and located posteriorly. This pattern indicates a unique combination of characters for the new species, making it possible to distinguish H. jijelensis sp. nov. from closely related taxa.

Variability

Total length, length and width of carapace, sternum, labium, clypeus, chelicerae, and leg length variations: mean (minimum-maximum) are given for both sexes (n = 19♂♂ and 17♀♀).

Males: Total length 2.57 (2.20–3.20); prosoma: carapace 1.11 (0.92–1.24) long, 0.81 (0.66–0.92) wide; sternum 0.72 (0.64–0.80) long, 0.47 (0.40–0.52) wide, labium 0.24 (0.20–0.28) long, 0.12 (0.08–0.16) wide, clypeus 0.02 (0.01–0.03), chelicerae 0.43 (0.36–0.53) long, 0.17 (0.14–0.20) wide. Eyes inter distances: AME-AME 0.02 (0.01– 0.03), AME-PME 0.05 (0.03–0.07), AME-PLE 0.01 (0.01–0.03), PLE-PLE 0.10 (0.09–0.12), PME-PLE 0.01 (0.01–0.01), PME-PME 0.01 (0.01–0.01), OR 0.17 (0.14–0.18). Legs:

Females: Total length 3.07 (2.60–3.80); prosoma: carapace 1.20 (1.00–1.36) long, 0.88 (0.80–1.00) wide, sternum 0.75 (0.64–0.80) long, 0.55 (0.48–0.60) wide, labium 0.26 (0.20–0.32) long, 0.14 (0.12–0.20) wide, clypeus 0.02 (0.01–0.03), chelicerae 0.44 (0.26–0.53) long, 0.20 (0.16–0.24) wide. Opisthosoma 2.02 (1.64–3.00) long, 0.98 (0.80–1.36) wide. Eyes inter distances: AME-AME 0.02 (0.01–0.03), AME-PME 0.05 (0.04–0.07), AME-PLE 0.01 (0.01–0.01), PLE-PLE 0.12 (0.11–0.13), PME-PLE 0.01 (0.01–0.01), PME-PME 0.01 (0.01–0.01) mm, OR 0.19 (0.15–0.21) and legs variations: Distribution

The new species is currently endemic to the Jijel region ( Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ).

Ecology

The species was primarily sampled in the forest habitats within the Guerrouche Forest in the Taza National

Park, typically under woody vegetation that produces slowly decomposing leaf litter, predominantly from Quercus species. The species likely requires slightly humid leaf litter as a microhabitat. Specimens were also collected outside the boundaries of Taza National Park, in coastal matorral habitats (mixed matorral: MM), which further confirms the coastal distribution of the genus Harpactea within the Mediterranean Basin. All specimens were collected at altitudes ranging from 80 to 960 m.

The species was most frequently collected during the spring and autumn months, which correspond to the rainy seasons in eastern Algeria. During the spring, both sexes were sampled together ( Fig. 4 View FIGURE 4 ), suggesting that this period is associated with mating and oviposition. During the dry summer months, individuals are likely to seek refuge in soil crevices, a behaviour particularly evident during this season.