Cataleptoneta lingulata sp. nov.

Figs 1–4, 9

Type material. Holotype: male (RMNH), Manita Peċ cave, coastal National Park [44°51'53.60ʺN, 15°16'18.74ʺE], Stari grad-Paklenica, Velebit Mountain, Dalmatia Province, Croatia, 14 April 1975, P.R. & C.L. Deeleman-Reinhold leg. Paratypes: 7 males 5 females, same data as holotype; 2 males 2 females, same but on 14 April 1971; 2 males 2 females, same but on 13 April 1977; 3 males 3 females, same but on 4 May 1978; 1 male 2 females, same but on 26 October 1978.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from Latin “lingua”, meaning “tongue”, and refers to the tongueshaped conductor of the male palpal bulb; adjective.

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to C. sbordonii (Brignoli, 1968), but can be distinguished by the palpal tibia armed with three digitiform apophyses prolaterally (Figs 1 C, 3B) and eight strong spines rerolaterally (Figs 1 D, 3A), and the palpal bulb with two weakly sclerotized median apophyses: one hook-shaped, one earthwormshaped (Figs 1 B–C, 3B, 4D) in the male.

Description. male (holotype): total length 1.66 (Fig. 1 A). Prosoma 0.70 long, 0.65 wide. Opisthosoma 1.04 long, 0.60 wide. Sternum 0.45 long, 0.46 wide. Prosoma yellow. Six eyes. Eye measurements: ALE 0.05, PLE 0.09, PME 0.05; ALE-PME 0.05, PLE-PLE 0.05, PLE-PME 0.08; AER 0.10, PER 0.21. Median groove indistinct, cervical grooves and radial furrows distinct, pale brown. Clypeus 0.10 high, slightly sloped anteriorly. Chelicerae (Fig. 4 C) stubby, yellow, with eight promarginal teeth, and four small retromarginal teeth. Endites and labium yellow. Sternum and legs yellowish. Leg measurements: I 6.35 (2.00, 0.2, 1.85, 1.40, 0.90); II 5.08 (1.50, 0.20, 1.42, 1.25, 0.71); III 4.10 (1.25, 0.20, 1.05, 1.00, 0.60); IV 5.37 (1.62, 0.20, 1.50 1.30, 0.75). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Male palp (Figs 1 C–D, 3A–B): femur armed with four strong spines prolaterally and ten strong spines retrolaterally, which arise from small tubercles; patella with one short spine dorsodistally; tibia with three digitiform apophyses prolaterally, which decorated with one seta distally and eight strong spines retrolaterally, with the strongest 0.8 the length of tibia; tarsus with one podgy spine retrolaterally. Tip of bulb (Figs 2 C, 4B): median apophyses sclerotized, one hook-shaped and one earthworm-shaped; conductor translucent and tongue-shaped; embolus pointed, weakly sclerotized.

Female (one of the paratypes): similar to male in coloration and general features, but with a larger body size and shorter legs (Figs 2 A–B). Total length 1.74. Prosoma 0.71 long, 0.60 wide. Opisthosoma 1.00 long, 0.75 wide. Sternum 0.44 long, 0.45 wide. Clypeus 0.08 high. Leg measurements: I 6.06 (1.87, 0.15, 1.65, 1.47, 0.92); II 4.36 (1.37, 0.20, 1.12, 1.00, 0.67); III 3.64 (1.12, 0.15, 0.90, 0.87, 0.60); IV 5.02 (1.60, 0.20, 1.37, 1.15, 0.70). Leg formula: I-IV-II-III. Genital area (Fig. 4 A) covered with hairs. Internal genitalia (Figs 2 C, 4B) with a pair of spermathecae and distinctly twisted and weakly sclerotized sperm ducts.

Variation. Total length: males 1.63–1.70 (n = 16); females (1.72–1.76) (n = 14).

Distribution. Croatia (Dalmatia) (Fig. 9).