Bolyphantes subtiliseta Tanasevitch 2019, sp. nov.

Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov.

Figs 1-9

Holotype: Male; FRANCE, Corsica, Haut Asco, 1500- 1700 m a.s.l.; 3.VI.1971; leg. A. Senglet.

Paratype: 1 female; collected together with the holotype.

Diagnosis: Bolyphantes subtiliseta sp. nov. clearly differs from all known congeners by the unarmed paracymbium and the reduced thumb on the embolus. The new species can be easily distinguished from the European representatives of the genus by a thin special seta (sensu Saaristo & Tanasevitch, 1996) on the palpal patella (vs. thick and serrate), by the narrow and relatively long lamella characteristica in the male, by the widely open epigynal cavity, as well as by the shape of the relatively large proscape.

Etymology: The specific epithet, a noun in apposition, is a combination of two words: “subtilis” and “seta”, referring to the shape of the special seta on the male palpal patella.

Description

Male holotype: Total length 2.30. Carapace unmodified, 1.10 long, 0.85 wide, pale brown. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Legs (most of them lost) pale brown. Leg I 6.58 long (1.75+0.35+1.78+1.70+1.00), IV: most segments lost, Fe 1.70 long. Chaetotaxy: most spines lost, see below, under description of female. TmI 0.18. Palp (Figs 1-6): Patella with a thin, slightly curved special seta raised on a small tubercle. Tibia short, unmodified. Cymbium with almost transparent, small, posterodorsal outgrowth and claw-shaped posteroventral outgrowth with a denticle at its base. Paracymbium relatively large, toothless; all pockets strongly reduced. Lamella characteristica narrow, gradually narrowing towards tip, with a small denticle apically. Terminal apophysis complex, massive, strongly sclerotized. Embolus narrow, elongated, slightly curved; embolus proper very short, bifid; its thumb reduced. Abdomen 1.25 long, 0.90 wide, dorsal colour pattern faded, indistinct.

Female paratype: Total length 2.70. Carapace 1.00 long, 0.75 wide. Chelicerae 0.45 long. Spines of legs mostly lost, but based on spine pores chaetotaxy formula probably TiI: 2-1-1-0, TiII: 2-0-1-0. Mt I-II: 1-0-0-0. Leg I 6.01 long (1.63+0.38+1.60+1.50+0.90), IV: most segments lost, Fe 1.63 long. TmI 0.14. Abdomen 1.88 long, 0.63 wide, dorsal colour pattern faded, indistinct. Epigyne (Figs 7-9): Lateral walls each with a hook. Proscape slightly narrowed at base, its length almost equal to its maximal width. Distal part of scape massive, lateral lobes short and wide. Stretcher strongly reduced. Posterior median plate narrow, V-shaped in ventral view. Body and leg colouration as in male.

Distribution: Known from the type locality in Corsica only.

Range: Central Mediterranean, probably endemic to the island.