Dysdera mordax L. Koch 1882

Dysdera mordax L. Koch, 1882 (Fig. 17)

Dysdera mordax L. Koch, 1882: 640, pl. 20, fig. 20.

Type material

Holotype male of Dysdera mordax from Spain, Baleares, Mallorca, Palma, beginning of May, Schaufuss leg. (ZMB 7905); examined, but both palps are absent.

Comments

In absence of the palps, a complete new diagnosis of this species cannot be given. In Mallorca, Dysdera crocata C. L. Koch, 1838 is the commonest Dysdera species (authors’ personal observations) and the holotype of Dysdera mordax was compared with this species. In D. mordax, the rugosity of the prosoma and the sternum is different and the colour is more burgundy red. Spination of the holotype may be incomplete, but no spines are observed on legs I and II (probably lost), leg IV has 2 basal spines on the femora, legs III–IV have 2 pairs of lateral spines and 1 pair of ventral spines on the tibia, and several spines on the metatarsi. In D. crocota tibiae III–IV have fewer spines. For the male palp we must rely on the figure of KOCH (1882; see Fig. 1). The bulb is similar to that of Dysdera crocota, but more slender, narrowing terminally and more pointed. We consider it a valid species, but topotypic material is needed for a complete redescription.

Distribution

So far, the species is an endemic to Mallorca.