Published August 23, 2004 | Version v1

Zimiris diffusa PLATNICK & PENNEY 2004, new species

Description

Zimiris diffusa, new species Figures 20–24

TYPE: Holotype female from Birddown Point, St. Helena (Jan. 4, 1995; N. Ashmole), deposited in AMNH.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name refers to the widespread, presumably synanthropic (inferred) distribution of the species.

DIAGNOSIS: Males and females have not yet been collected together, but there is so far no evidence that more than two species exist within the genus. Males differ from those of Z. doriai by the straight, triangular retrolateral tibial apophysis (figs. 21, 22) and by the relatively wide, retrolaterally straight conductor (fig. 21); females differ from those of Z. doriai by the triangular rather than omegashaped epigynal midpiece (fig. 23) and by the shorter, wider paramedian epigynal ducts (figs. 23, 24).

MALE (Socotra): Total length 2.3. Carapace 0.95 long, 0.76 wide, abdomen 1.17 long, 0.78 wide. Carapace and legs pale yellow, abdomen pale white. Legs less elongate than in Z. doriai (femora, tibiae I 0.98, 0.75; II 0.86, 0.58; III 0.70, 0.48; IV 0.97, 0.92). Leg spination: tibiae III p0–1–1, v1p–2–2, r0–0–1; IV p0–1–1, v2–1p–2, r1–0–1; metatarsi: III v0–0–1p, r0–0–1; IV p1–0–1, v2– 0–1p, r1–0–1. Retrolateral tibial apophysis straight, triangular (figs. 21, 22), embolus proapical, spiniform, accompanied by wide, triangular conductor (figs. 20, 21).

FEMALE (holotype): Total length 3.8. Carapace 1.58 long, 1.31 wide, abdomen 2.27 long, 1.61 wide. Coloration as in male. Legs relatively longer than in male (femora, tibiae I 1.80, 1.64; II 1.58, 1.40; III 1.53, 1.29; IV 2.13, 2.05). Leg spination: tibiae III p0–0–1, v1p–1p–1p; IV p0–0–1, v2–1p–2, r0–0–1; metatarsi: III v0–0–1r; IV v1p–0–2. Epigynal midpiece triangular (fig. 23), paramedian ducts short, wide (figs. 23, 24).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: India: Kerala: Calicut, 1946, in house (W. Davis, MCZ), 1♀. Yemen: Socotra Is.: Hadibo Plain, Nov. 1, 2000 (A. van Harten, RMNH), 13.

DISTRIBUTION: If the sexes are correctly matched here, the species is widespread in the Old World, from St. Helena east to Socotra and India.

Notes

Published as part of PLATNICK, NORMAN I. & PENNEY, DAVID, 2004, A Revision of the Widespread Spider Genus Zimiris (Araneae, Prodidomidae), pp. 1-12 in American Museum Novitates 3450 on pages 9-11, DOI: 10.1206/0003-0082(2004)450<0001:AROTWS>2.0.CO;2, http://zenodo.org/record/5382451

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Collection code
AMNH , MCZ , RMNH
Event date
1995-01-04 , 2000-11-01
Verbatim event date
1995-01-04 , 2000-11-01
Scientific name authorship
PLATNICK & PENNEY
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Araneae
Family
Gnaphosidae
Genus
Zimiris
Species
diffusa
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic status
sp. nov.
Type status
holotype
Taxonomic concept label
Zimiris diffusa PLATNICK & PENNEY, 2004