Centromerus gatoi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E18DBDAC-6CCE-4598-B092-13D921CCAC0B

Figs 5–6, 10

Diagnosis

Species closely related to Centromerus milleri Deltshev, 1974. Males of the new species can be distinguished from male C. milleri by the different shape of the dorsal hump of the cymbium (DT), shorter and larger in C. gatoi sp. nov. in contrast to the longer and thinner hump in C. milleri, and by the presence of a massive, stocky apophysis in the proximal part of the paracymbium (APC), lacking in C. milleri (see Figs 5A, 6A vs Deltshev 1974: figs 4–5 and Dimitrov & Deltshev 2019: figs 5–6, 15–16). Females of the new species are distinguished from female C. milleri by the more protruding epigyne (shorter in C. milleri), with a proportionally longer basal part of the scapus and lateral lobes of the anterior wall (LAW) (see Figs 5 E–G, 6D–F vs Deltshev 1974: figs 7–9 and Dimitrov & Deltshev 2019: figs 10–12, 20–22).

Etymology

The specific name is a patronym in memory of our friend Federico ‘Gato’ Mazzoleni, a young and promising Italian arachnologist who prematurely passed away. Federico first recognized this new species.

Material examined

Holotype

ITALY • ♂; Calabria Region, Reggio Calabria, Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte, Ponte Sant’Antonio, Valone di Pilima; 38.1876° N, 15.8466° E; 1260 m a.s.l.; Nov. 2013 – Oct. 2014; beechwood, in the litter; pitfall traps; E. Castiglione and F. Manti leg.; MSNB.

Paratypes

ITALY – Calabria Region • 1 ♀; Reggio Calabria, Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte, Gambarie; 1300 m a.s.l.; Jun. 1990 – Jun. 1991; pitfall traps; G. Buttarelli, E. Ghilardi, P. Pantini and M. Valle leg.; MSNB • 1 ♀; Reggio Calabria, Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte, between Gambarie and Montalto; 1500 m a.s.l.; Jun. 1990 – Jun. 1991; pitfall traps; G. Buttarelli, E. Ghilardi, P. Pantini and M. Valle leg.; MSNB • 1 ♀; Reggio Calabria, Santo Stefano d’Aspromonte, Ponte Sant’Antonio, Valone di Pilima; 38.1876° N, 15.8466° E; 1260 m a.s.l.; 13 Nov. 2013; beechwood, in the litter; E. Castiglione, F. Manti and P. Pantini leg.; MSNB • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same locality as for preceding; Nov. 2013 – Oct. 2014; pitfall traps; E. Castiglione and F. Manti leg.; MSNB.

Comparative material

BULGARIA • 1 ♂, holotype of C. milleri Deltshev, 1974, 1 ♀, paratype; Eastern Rhodopes, Kartjali town, Karangil Cave, 2 Apr. 1972; Kolev B. leg.; NMNS.

Description

The available specimens were in a poor condition of preservation; thus, the colouration of the species might be slightly different in life.

Male

HABITUS. See Fig. 5H.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.73–3.01. Carapace 1.14 long, 0.95 wide.

PROSOMA. Carapace uniformly yellowish-brown, chelicerae, labium and gnathocoxae of the same colour. Chelicera with stridulatory ridges on the lateral margin. Three teeth at the anterior margin of the fang groove, posterior margin with 4–5 small denticles. Sternum greyish.

ABDOMEN. Covered with sparse setae, uniformly greyish with lighter marks barely visible on the dorsal side, distal end with a lighter area.

LEGS. Uniformly yellowish-brown. Femur I with 1 prolateral spine. Tibial spine formula:. 2-2-?-? (tibiae III and IV missing). TmI:. 0.46. Leg measurements as follows: I: 1.37 + 0.37 +1.42 +1.31 +0.84 (5.31), II: 1.21 +0.36 +1.25 + 1.19 +0.78 (4.80), III: 1.17 +0.36 +missing, IV: 1.47 + 0.30 +missing.

PALP (Figs 5 A–D, 6A–C). Patella with a single thin spine, tibia bearing 3 trichobothria and 3 robust spines. Cymbium with a massive, elongated dorsal hump facing backward. Paracymbium large, with a stocky apophysis facing backward in the proximal part of the lateral margin. Lateral margin of the paracymbium lacking wrinkles or denticles. Radical apophysis long, thin, thread-like, curved downward and outward. Distal radical apophysis, bearing 2 robust teeth. Distal suprategular apophysis with two robust and curved branches, the second branch shorter than the first branch in some specimens, and the same length as the first branch in others. Antero-proximal part of median membrane lacking any teeth. Terminal apophysis ending with a wide, curved and serrated lobe. Embolus curved, narrow at the base and thickening distally, with sharp tip.

Female

HABITUS. See Fig. 5I.

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.72–3.33. Carapace 1.25 long, 0.76 wide.

PROSOMA AND ABDOMEN. As in male.

LEGS. As in male. Leg measurements as follows: I: 1.28 +0.39 +1.26 +1.16 +0.74 (4.84), II: 1.22 + 0.36 + 1.16 + 1.08 + 0.67 (4.49), III: 1.10 + 0.34 + 0.98 + 1.03 + 0.62 (4.08), IV: 1.48 +0.39 + missing.

EPIGYNE AND VULVA (Figs 5 E–G, 6D–G). Anterior wall wide, with a round border and two elongated lateral lobes. Basal part of scapus long and strongly protruding ventrally. Distal part of scapus wide and curved. Posterior median plate wide, rectangular, longer than wide. Spermathecae elongated and S-shaped. Copulatory grooves first turning posteriorly and outward before returning to the middle part of the vulva and ending in copulatory openings at the distal part of the scapus.

Distribution

Endemic to Italy. Known only from the Aspromonte massif, see Fig. 10.