A survey of East Mediterranean Dasumia (Araneae, Dysderidae) with description of new species
Author
Kunt, Kadir Bogac
Author
Oezkuetuek, Recep Sulhi
Author
Elverici, Mert
text
ZooKeys
2011
137
89
101
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.137.1783
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.137.1783
1313-2970-137-89
Dasumia crassipalpis (Simon, 1882)
Harpactes crassipalpis
: Simon, 1882: 224, f. 7-8 (D ♂).
Harpactocrates crassipalpis
: Reimoser, 1919: 11.
Dasumia crassipalpis
: Alicata, 1974: 40, f. 1-4 (T ♂ from
Harpactocrates
, D ♀).
Material examined.
1 ♂ (AUZM), ISRAEL, Mount Meron, 17.XII.2010, leg. C. Drees
Detailed comparison of
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n. and
Dasumia crassipalpis
.
Unfortunately, due to lack of material, we were unable to compare females of the two species. Here we
comment
on general similarities and differences observed from comparison of male specimens from both species; and from the description of female
Dasumia crassipalpis
given by
Alicata (1974)
with the female of
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n., as follows:
Body coloration and general appearance similar in both species.
Arrangement of cheliceral teeth on cheliceral groove similar, but in
Dasumia crassipalpis
, distance between teeth on promargin and retromargin relatively wider.
In the original description of
Dasumia crassipalpis
, carapace width for males was given as 3.2 mm (see
Simon 1882
, page 224). Our
Dasumia crassipalpis
specimen from Israel has a carapace width of 3.26 mm. Based on the body measurements of
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n., there are no significant differences between the two species. However, the legs of
Dasumia crassipalpis
from Israel are relatively shorter than
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n. (see Table 3).
Leg spination similar in both species. Legs III and IV of female
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n. and leg IV of male
Dasumia crassipalpis
exhibit trochanteric retrolateral spines, which is an interesting observation (see Table 2 and 4).
Linear postpedicelar and trapezoid epigastric scutum present in males of both species, in
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n. pale; in
Dasumia crassipalpis
even paler.
Table 2. Leg spination of
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n.
(Holotype) |
Leg I |
Leg II |
Leg III |
Leg IV |
C |
Tr |
Fe |
Pa |
Ti |
Me |
(Paratype) |
C |
Tr |
Fe |
Pa |
Ti |
Me |
Table 3. Leg measurements of
Dasumia crassipalpis
Fe |
Pa |
Ti |
Me |
Ta |
Leg I |
Leg II |
Leg III |
Leg IV |
In
Dasumia crassipalpis
, morphology of the distal appendages distinctive on male palp. Apophysisb longer and wider. Also, in
Dasumia gasparoi
sp. n., Apophysisa1 shorter and projecting downwards; while in
Dasumia crassipalpis
it is well developed, apparent and projected upwards. In
Dasumia crassipalpis
palp when viewed ventrally, except for Apophysisa1, the remaining apophyses are located at the right corner of Apophysisa, close to Apophysisa1 (Figs 21, 22, 23).
Figures 21-23. Male palp of
Dasumia crassipalpis
. Abbreviations: ApaApophysisa Apb ApophysisbE embolus. Scale line (21, 22): 0.25 mm.
Even though there are structural differences apparent, the vulvae of both species are similar and generally well sclerotized (see
Alicata 1974
).
A short assessment on the distribution of
Dasumia crassipalpis
.First described as
Harpactes crassipalpis
by
Simon (1882)
on the basis of male specimens collected from
Syria
, females were subsequently described by
Alicata (1974)
; and based on the previously unknown female genitalia, the species was transferred to the genus
Dasumia
. Simon reported the terra typica of
Dasumia crassipalpis
as "Syria", without giving any further detail (see
Simon 1882
). Moreover, Syria was the land of the Ottoman Empire in those days, and some provinces today known as Turkish were included with the rest of the region then known as Syria. For this reason, it is hard to draw a northern border line for the distribution of the species. However, considering that the only male specimen examined for the purpose of this study was collected in Israel, it may be assumed that
Dasumia crassipalpis
is distributed along the line of Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Although we have not yet collected this species during our extensive arachnological field studies at the Turkey-Syria border, it is possible that this species reaches Turkey at the north and Jordan at the south of its range.