Porrhomma altaica Růžička 2018, new species

Porrhomma altaica new species

Figs. 6A–F, 7.

Porrhomma pallidum — Tanasevitch (2013b), misidentification, examined. Material examined. Holotype: Ƌ, KAZAKHSTAN: East Kazakhstan Area, SW Altai Mts., Azutau Ridge, 10 km SE of Matobai, 2200–2300 m a.s.l., 48°35'N, 85°44'E, 10 Jul 1997, leg. R. Dudko & V. Zinchenko (ISEA); labelled as P. pallidum by Tanasevitch (2013b), misidentification.

Paratypes. ♀, with same data as for holotype; 2 ♀, East Kazakhstan Area, SW Altai Mts., near Markakol Lake, 10 km ESE of Urunkhayka, 2220–2400 m a.s.l., 48°45'N, 86°08'E, 19–20 Jun 1997, leg. R. Dudko & V. Zinchenko (ISEA); labelled as P. pallidum by Tanasevitch (2013b), misidentification; 1 ♂ 2 ♀, East Kazakhstan Area, Kurchyumskiy Mt. Ridge, upper reaches of Topolyovka River, subalpine, 2100–2200 m a.s.l., 4 –5 Jul 1997; 1 ♀, upper reaches of Kurchyum River, mountain tundra, 2450 m a.s.l., 48°55.5'N, 85°47'E, 3 Jul 1997, leg. R. Dudko & V. Zinchenko (ZMMU). 1 Ƌ 1 ♀, RUSSIA: Altai Mts., Altaisky Kray, Charyshsky Distr., upper reaches of Sentelek River, Gor’ky Belok Mt. Ridge, 1850–1950 m a.s.l., 51°04.5'N, 83°35'E, 26 Jun 2011, leg. R. Dudko (ISEA).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Altai Mountains.

Diagnosis. This new species shares the following characters with the species P. egeria, P. campbelli and P. terrestre: embolus is short (reaching to the tip of AP) and vulva is of the most simple type (spermathecae start at the midway of the ascending part of the copulatory ducts). It can be distinguished from P. egeria and P. campbelli by absence of femoral spines and the form of AP, and from P. terrestre by size (CW> 0.60).

Description. Male holotype (from Altai Mts., Azutau Ridge, 10 Jul 1997). Carapace yellow-brown, 1.03 mm long, 0.74 mm wide, eyes somewhat reduced, PME–PME = 1.4 (Fig. 6A). Abdomen greyish-brown. Fe without dorsal spines, Fe I with one prolateral spine. Ti I with one prolateral and one retrolateral spine, Ti II with one retrolateral spine. Mt I/CW = 1.04.

Embolus short with a narrow velum, AP indicates the form of a bird head (Fig. 6B).

Male paratype (from Altai Mts., Gor ̓ ky Belok Mt. Ridge, 26 Jun 2011): A palp (Fig. 7).

Female paratype (together with holotype): Carapace width 0.63 mm, Fe without dorsal spines, Fe I with one prolateral spine. Ti I with one prolateral and one retrolateral spine, Ti II with one retrolateral spine. Mt I/CW =1.11, Tm Mt I = 0.46. Spermathecae start at the midway of the ascending part of copulatory ducts. Main sacks are in contact and directed to the abdomen. They end at the base of appendices in the caudal view. Appendices are oriented towards the abdominal wall (Figs. 6C–F).

Variation. Ƌ ♀. Carapace width 0.63–0.74 mm. One dorsal spine on Fe I sometimes on one side only. Mt I/CW = 1.01–1.13, Tm Mt I = 0.40–0.46 (n = 3).

Ecology. Collected at an altitude of 2200–2400 m a.s.l.

Note. All records of P. pallidum in Altai Mountains are misidentification and actually refer to P. altaica new species.

Global distribution. Known only from the Altai Mountains, Asia (Fig. 8).