Acantholycosa sergeevi Fomichev 2021, sp. n.

Acantholycosa sergeevi sp. n.

Figs 6–7, 10–11, 38–43, 44–45, 74–76

Type. RUSSIA: Krasnoyarsk Krai: holotype ♂ (ISEA, 001.8660), Borus Mt. Range, Malyi Borus and Bol’shoi Borus (=Poilova) Mountains, 52°47–48’N, 91°31–33’E, scree, 1500–2300 m, 16.07.2020, A.A. Fomichev.

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym given in honor of my friend, Vasiliy V. Sergeev (Novosibirsk, Russia), who helped in spider collection and in organization of the field trip to Borus Mt. Range, where the holotype of this new species was collected.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to the Siberian species A. sterneri as well as A. solituda, from the Rocky Mountains (USA). All three species share the following features: palea (Pl) with a prominent extension (Pe) in the terminal part and the triangle shaped projection (Ts) on its posterior edge, strong terminal apophysis (Ta) with bifurcate tip and thick, cotton-like pubescence on legs I and II. Acantholycosa sergeevi sp. n. differs from the both aforementioned species by the more developed and pointed triangle shaped projection on the posterior edge of the palea (cf. Figs 41–42 and fig 3, 7 in Kronestedt & Marusik 2002). The new species can be differed from A. sterneri by the terminal part of the palea less extended, the embolus (Em) directed at 2:30 o’clock (vs. 3:30 o’clock) and by the almost straight anterior edge of the tegular apophysis (Tg) (vs. triangular, cf. Figs 38, 41, 44 and fig. 7 in Kronestedt & Marusik 2002). Acantholycosa sergeevi sp. n. can be distinguished from A. solituda by thinner embolus (in anterior view) and by a straight basal arm (Ba) of the tegular apophysis (vs. bent posteriorly, cf. Figs 42, 44 and fig. 4–5 in Kronestedt & Marusik 2002).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 10.3. Carapace: 5.1 long, 4.25 wide. General appearance as in Fig. 6. Coloration. Carapace and chelicerae black. Sternum and labium dark-brown. Endites yellow-gray. Palps black. Coxae yellow-gray with yellow spots. Legs dark brown, almost black. Legs I–III have a thick cotton-like pubescence of curled hairs. Abdomen dark gray dorsally, almost black. Cardiac mark dark brown. Venter of the abdomen yellow-gray. Spinnerets black. Spination of leg I: Fe d1-1-1 p0-0-3 r0-1-1; Pa p1 r1; Ti d1-0-1 p1-0-0 v2- 2-2-2-2-2-2-2; Mt p1-1-0 r1-1-0 v2-2-0. Leg measurements: I 4.6, 2.2, 4.35, 4.15, 1.85 (17.15); II 4.55, 2.15, 4.2, 4.25, 1.95 (17.1); III 4.6, 2.0, 3.85, 5.45, 2.05 (17.95); IV 5.35, 2.05, 4.8, 7.85, 2.55 (22.6).

Palp as in Figs 10–11, 38–43, 44–45. Tegular apophysis hammer-shaped, with reduced apical arm. Palea with abrupt retrolateral margin. Triangle-shaped projection straight and sharply pointed, bearing conical tubercle on the retrolateral edge. Terminal apophysis massive, subdivided into two lobes. Embolus completely straight. Distal part of the embolus bears a rectangular laminar outgrowth on the anterior edge.

Female unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Western Sayan Mountains (Figs 74–76).

Comments. This species was found in the same locality and in the same scree patches as Acantholycosa sayanensis (see above). Interestingly, A. sergeevi sp. n. is much rarer than A. sayanensis. The holotype male was collected together with 30 specimens of A. sayanensis.