Published September 12, 2025 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Gorbiscape amazighus Zamani & Marusik, 2025, sp. nov.

  • 1. Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20500, Finland.
  • 2. Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa. & Altai State University, Lenina Pr., 61, Barnaul, RF- 656049, Russia. & Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Portovaya Str. 18, Magadan 685000, Russia.

Description

Gorbiscape amazighus sp. nov.

Figs 1A–B, 3A–E, 4A–C, 5A–C

Type material. Holotype ♂ (ZMUT) and paratypes 1♂ 2♀ (ZMUT): MOROCCO: Al Haouz Prov.: Oukaïmeden, High Atlas, 31°10'25.1"N, 7°50'40"W, 2900 m, 29.IV–11.V.2024 (leg. C. Reuter).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Amazighs, a diverse grouping of indigenous peoples of North Africa.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species is most similar to G. agelenoides in having large patellar and tibial apophyses and a similar tegular apophysis, but it differs by having a sharply pointed patellar apophysis (vs. rounded), a long basal outgrowth of the tegular apophysis (Ob) (vs. absent), a relatively thinner bulb, a cymbial tip longer than the bulb’s width (vs. shorter), and an embolus directed anteriorly (vs. antero-retrolaterally) (cf. Figs 3A–C, 4A–C, 5A–C and de Blauwe 1980: figs 3–5). Females of the two species also differ clearly: in the new species, the fovea is wider than long and lacks both a septum and a median plate, whereas in G. agelenoides, the fovea is longer than wide and bears a distinct septum and median plate (cf. Fig. 3D and de Blauwe 1980: fig. 6). The epigyne of the new species is similar to that of G. gorbachevi, but it differs by having a small posterior extension and lacking a scapelike structure (vs. extension absent and a small scape present) (cf. Fig. 3D and Zamani & Marusik 2020: fig. 14A).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 1B. Total length 9.3. Carapace 3.95 long, 2.8 wide. Carapace light brown, with wide dark grey submedian bands; chelicerae dark reddish-brown, with 3 pro- and 2 retromarginal teeth; labium, maxillae and sternum light brown. Legs light brown, with faint annulations; coxae, trochanters and femora mottled.Abdomen dark grey. Spinnerets light brown, posterior pair mottled. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 3.9 (1.55, 0.55, 0.35, -, 1.45), I: 17.65+missing tarsus (5.1, 1.75, 5.0, 5.8, missing), II: 18.35 (4.75, 1.55, 4.25, 5.25, 2.55), III: 17.15 (4.35, 1.55, 3.7, 5.15, 2.4), IV: 21.4 (5.35, 1.6, 4.65, 6.85, 2.95).

Palp as in Figs 3A–C, 4A–C, 5A–C; femur long, 4× longer than wide, almost as long as cymbium; patella with wide, sharply pointed apophysis, almost as long as patella; tibia with finger-like retrolateral apophysis; cymbium 2.2× longer than wide, with long tip, ~1/3 of cymbium’s length and wider than bulb’s width; bulb ~1.6× longer than wide; subtegulum distinct; sperm duct (Sd) very wide prolaterally, ~1/3 of tegulum’s width; tegular hump (Th) weakly sclerotized; tegular apophysis (Ta) hook-like, with long, digitiform basal outgrowth (Ob); conductor (Cn) broad, longer than embolus (Em); embolus directed anteriorly with slightly bent tip.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 1A. Total length 12.35. Carapace 5.45 long, 3.7 wide. Coloration generally as in male, except for carapace lacking submedian bands (possibly faded), labium and maxillae darker, and legs lacking annulations or markings. Chelicerae with 3 pro- and 9 retromarginal teeth. Measurements of palp and legs: palp: 7.2 (2.4, 0.9, 1.55, -, 2.35), I: 21.45+missing tarsus (6.85, 2.0, 6.35, 6.25, missing), II: 19.65 (5.4, 1.7, 4.95, 5.3, 2.3), III: 18.95 (5.3, 1.75, 4.1, 5.55, 2.25), IV: 23.2+missing tarsus (7.2, 1.95, 6.15, 7.9, missing).

Epigyne as in Fig. 3D–E; epigynal plate ~1.3× wider than long; fovea ~2× wider than long; posterior part with kind of hood; receptacles long oval, ~2.5× longer than wide, spaced by one diameter, tips slightly bent mesally.

Habitat. Semi-arid rocky mountain with sparse vegetation (Fig. 14A).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Al Haouz Province, Morocco.

Notes

Published as part of Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2025, New taxonomic and faunistic data on Moroccan spiders (Arachnida: Araneae), including the description of five new species, pp. 321-337 in Zootaxa 5692 (2) on pages 322-324, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5692.2.6, http://zenodo.org/record/17322804

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Collection code
ZMUT
Event date
2024-04-29
Verbatim event date
2024-04-29/05-11
Scientific name authorship
Zamani & Marusik
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Araneae
Family
Agelenidae
Genus
Gorbiscape
Species
amazighus
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic status
sp. nov.
Type status
holotype , paratype
Taxonomic concept label
Gorbiscape amazighus Zamani & Marusik, 2025

References

  • de Blauwe, R. (1980) Revision de la famille des Agelenidae (Araneae) habitant la region mediterraneene (3 e partie). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 52 (11), 1-28.
  • Zamani, A. & Marusik, Y. M. (2020) A review of Agelenini (Araneae: Agelenidae: Ageleninae) of Iran and Tajikistan, with descriptions of four new genera. Arachnology, 18 (4), 368-386. https://doi.org/10.13156/arac.2020.18.4.368