Crossopriza kittan Huber 2022, sp. nov.

Crossopriza kittan sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 46030F38-742D-4B37-ADC2-D52F5B91570A

Figs 352, 479–480, 509–525

Diagnosis

Easily distinguished from similar congeners (C. moqal sp. nov., C. ghul sp. nov.) by longer epigynum (Fig. 522); also by details of procursus (Fig. 513; distinctive retrolateral apophysis), bulbal sclerite (Fig. 516; two prolateral apophyses connected by sclerotized ridge), slightly stronger male cheliceral apophyses (Figs 514–515), and by elongate pore plates converging and narrowing anteriorly (Fig. 520).

Etymology

The species name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Type material

Holotype OMAN – Ad Dhahira • ♂; Ibri, Al Kittan Cave; 23.298° N, 56.511° E; 410 m a.s.l.; 25 Mar. 2017; B.A. Huber leg.; in cave; ZFMK Ar 22423.

Other material examined

OMAN – Ad Dhahira • 4 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 2 juvs; same collection data as for holotype; ZFMK Ar 22424, Ar 22425 • 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. (in pure ethanol); same collection data as for holotype; ZFMK Om 34 • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, 1 juv. (4 vials); same locality as for holotype; 13 Jul. 2009; H. Steiner leg.; SMF • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Ibri, near Al Kittan Cave; 23.310° N, 56.517° E; 390 m a.s.l.; 25 Mar. 2017; B.A. Huber leg.; under rock overhang; ZFMK Ar 22426 • 1 juv. (in pure ethanol); same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK Om 35.

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.6, carapace width 1.4. Distance PME–PME 90 µm; diameter PME 90 × 100 µm; distance PME–ALE 20 µm; diameter AME 65 µm; distance AME–AME 30 µm. Leg 1: 45.5 (12.9 + 0.6 + 12.5 + 16.8 + 2.7), tibia 2: 8.4, tibia 3: 6.0, tibia 4: 6.7; tibia 1 L/d: 83; femora 1–4 diameters: 0.20, 0.19, 0.17, 0.18.

COLOR (in ethanol). In general paler than epigean congeners (i.e., slightly troglomorphic). Carapace ochre-yellow, anteriorly in median pit light brown; sternum with star-shaped dark median mark and slightly darker margins; legs ochre-yellow, without darker rings, with black lines on femora and (few) on tibiae; abdomen pale gray, with some indistinct dark marks above spinnerets; ventrally mostly monochromous, few darker specks near pedicel and near spinnerets.

BODY. Habitus as in Fig. 479. Ocular area slightly raised. Deep thoracic pit and pair of furrows diverging from pit toward posterior margin. Clypeus unmodified but rim slightly more sclerotized than in female. Sternum wider than long (1.05/0.75), unmodified. Abdomen oval, dorso-posteriorly rounded, tapering at spinnerets.

CHELICERAE. As in Figs 514–515, with pair of latero-distal apophyses provided with one large modified cone-shaped hair each; distance between tips of modified hairs: 390 µm; lateral stridulatory ridges indistinct but visible in dissecting microscope.

PALPS. As in Figs 509–511; coxa with rounded retrolateral hump; trochanter barely modified; femur distally strongly widened, with rounded ventral protrusion, proximally with prolateral stridulatory pick, with indistinct retrolateral transversal line, without retrolateral proximal process; femur-patella joints shifted toward prolateral side; tibia-tarsus joints slightly shifted toward retrolateral side; tarsus without macrotrichia; procursus straight, proximal prolateral hump set with numerous long hairs, long dorsal hairs not or only weakly curved, procursus tip (Figs 512–513) with strong ventral sclerite and further distinctive membranous and sclerotized elements; genital bulb (Figs 516–518) with simple basal sclerite connected to distal (main) sclerite, sperm duct opening at basis of distal sclerite; distal sclerite with retrolateral ridge and two distinctive prolateral apophyses connected by sclerotized ridge.

LEGS. Femur 1 with single row of ~28 ventral spines; without curved hairs; few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1, present on other leg tibiae; tarsi without regular pseudosegments but with indistinct platelets.

Male (variation)

Tibia 1 in seven males (incl. holotype): 10.0–12.9 (mean 11.7). Smaller males with fewer spines on femur 1 (~5–10). Abdomen often also with white marks.

Female

In general similar to male (Fig. 480) but without spines on legs, apparently without stridulatory files on chelicerae, and with stridulatory organ consisting of pair of weakly sclerotized but distinct processes posteriorly on carapace and pair of distinct light brown plates anteriorly on abdomen. Tibia 1 in ten females: 8.9–11.5 (mean 10.5). Epigynum as in Figs 521–522, main epigynal plate semicircular to triangular, weakly protruding, only posteriorly laterally heavily sclerotized; with pair of shallow pockets 450 µm apart; internal sclerotized arcs clearly visible in untreated specimens; posterior plate very short but wide. Internal genitalia (Figs 519–520, 523–525) with large pore plates converging and narrowing anteriorly, dorsal arc weak and simple, ventral arc with round median modification of unknown function.

Natural history

This species was abundant in Al Kittan Cave, were it lived in exposed and relatively large webs (diameter 30–50 cm) close to the floor, while the ceiling was occupied by Artema bahla Huber, 2019; barely any other macroscopic life was observed in the dry cave. None of the two pholcids was found in the deeper parts of the cave, beyond approximately 10– 15 m. The species was also found near the cave under a large overhang (or rock shelter), suggesting it is probably more widespread in the area and not bound to caves.

Distribution

Known from two neighboring localities in north-eastern Oman (Ad Dhahira Province) (Fig. 352).