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ZooKeys 119: 11–27, doi: 10.3897/ZooKeys.119.1706
A survey of the East Palaearctic Lycosidae (Araneae). 9. Genus Xerolycosa Dahl, 1908 (Evippinae)
Yuri M. Marusik1, Mykola M. Kovblyuk2, Seppo Koponen3
1 Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Portovaya Str. 18, Magadan 685000 Russia
2 Zoological Department, V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University, Yaltinskaya Str. 4, Simferopol 95007, Crimea, Ukraine
3 Zoological Museum, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku Finland

Corresponding author: Yuri M. Marusik (yurmar@mail.ru).

Academic editor: Dmitry Logunov

received 13 June 2011 | accepted 1 July 2011 | Published 15 July 2011


(C) 2011 Yuri M. Marusik. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


For reference, use of the paginated PDF or printed version of this article is recommended.

Abstract

Three species of Xerolycosa: Xerolycosa nemoralis (Westring, 1861), Xerolycosa miniata (C.L. Koch, 1834) and Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963), occurring in the Palaearctic Region are surveyed, illustrated and redescribed. Arctosa mongolica Schenkel, 1963 is removed from synonymy with Xerolycosa nemoralis and transferred to Xerolycosa, and the new combination Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963) comb. n. is established. One new synonymy, Xerolycosa undulata Chen, Song et Kim, 1998 syn. n. from Heilongjiang = Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963), is proposed. In addition, one more new combination is established, Trochosa pelengena (Roewer, 1960) comb. n., ex Xerolycosa.

Keywords

Wolf spider, Asia, new combination, new synonymy

Introduction

This paper is the first in a series of reviews of the Palaearctic Evippinae Zyuzin 1985. Evippinae is a relatively small subfamily of wolf spiders restricted to Africa and the Palaearctic Region. Only four species belonging to two genera have been recorded from Europe, Xerolycosa nemoralis (Westring, 1861) and Xerolycosa miniata (C.L. Koch, 1834) (both occur throughout Europe), Evippa eltonica Dunin, 1994 (easternmost Europe, only a few dozen kms from Asia) (Helsdingen 2010) and “Evippa” apsheronica Marusik, Guseinov & Koponen, 2003 (Ponomarjov and Tsvetkov 2004; Kovblyuk 2007). Most Evippinae species in the Palaearctic Region have been reported and described from Central Asia and China (cf. Platnick 2011). Xerolycosa Dahl, 1908 was assigned to the Evippinae by Zyuzin (1985). It is the most widespread genus in the subfamily, ranging from the Iberian Peninsula to Kamchatka. The genus currently includes five species (Platnick 2011), three of which are restricted to the Palaearctic Region and two occur in the Afrotropical Region. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of this small genus.

Material and methods

Specimens were photographed using either a JEOL JSM-5200 scanning electron microscope or an Olympus Camedia E-520 camera attached to an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope at the Zoological Museum, University of Turku. Digital images were montaged using a “CombineZM” image stacking software. Photographs were taken in dishes of different sizes with paraffin at the bottom. Different sized holes were made in the bottom to keep the specimens in the correct position. Figures had been made previously and in some cases we were unable to generate scale bars for the digital photographs. All measurements are given in mm. Drawings we made either by using a grid method with a MBS-9 stereomicroscope or a Leitz stereomicroscope with a camera lucida. The bleached epigyne of the holotype female was temporarily coloured with Chlorazol Black. Epigynes were macerated using KOH solution. In the tables of leg spination, apical and dorsal spine data are omitted.

Terminology of the copulatory organs follows (Zyuzin (1985, 1993).

Abbreviations used in the text: AME, ALE, PME, PLE – anterior median, anterior lateral, posterior median and posterior lateral eyes respectively; pv – proventral; rv – retroventral; v – ventral; p – prolateral; r – retrolateral.

Acronyms:

IBPN Institute for Biological Problems of the North, Magadan, Russia

MNHN Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France

SMFM Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

SZMN Siberian Zoological Museum RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

TNU Zoology Department, Taurida National University, Simferopol, Ukraine

ZISP Zoological Institute, St.-Petersburg, Russia

ZMMU Zoological Museum of the Moscow State University, Russia

ZMUT Zoological Museum, University of Turku, Finland

Taxonomic survey
Xerolycosa Dahl, 1908

http://species-id.net/wiki/Xerolycosa

Xerolycosa Dahl, 1908: 361. Type species: Lycosa nemoralis Westring, 1861.
Saitocosa Roewer, 1960: 889. Type species: Tarentula flavitibia Saito, 1934.
Diagnosis.

Members of this genus can be easily separated from otherEvippinae genera by the fewer number of ventral tibial spines on leg I (3pv & 2rv, or 2–2v), carapace lacking transverse depression (present in Evippa Simon, 1882) and lack of pseudo-articulation of tarsi (Fig. 13). Xerolycosa can be differentiated by the shape of their copulatory organs. Females have a short droplet-shaped septum (about as long as wide), while in Evippa the septum is long and has a well developed septal stem. The male palp in Xerolycosa has a shorter course of the seminal duct and a shorter embolus, which is only partly hidden by the tegulum.

Description.

Medium-sized (5.5–7.5) dark coloured or spotty lycosids. Carapace spotty or dark coloured with lighter median band and two lateral stripes. Cephalic region not elevated. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Inner side of chelicerae with a kind of stridulatory file (Fig. 12). Femora with 3 dorsal spines, tibia and metatarsus with 2 dorsal spines, sometimes poorly developed, tibia and metatarsi with four or five ventral spines (3pv-2rv or 2–2v). Tarsi without transverse furrow.

Male palp: cymbium with several apical spines; tegular apophysis shifted retrolaterally, with bill-like extension directed ventrally. Palea absent, embolus forming almost a circle, only partly hidden by tegulum. Epigyne: fovea (depression) absent, septum droplet-shaped, covered with hairs, almost as wide as high; stem short. Weakly sclerotized parts of epigyne are referred to here as windows (Wi).

Comments.

Saitocosa was synonymised with Xerolycosa by Yaginuma (1986: p. 169) through synonymisation of the type species Tarentula flavitibia Saito, 1934 with Xerolycosa nemoralis.

Dahl (1908) described Xerolycosa and placed only two species in this genus: Xerolycosa nemoralis and Xerolycosa miniata. No type species was selected. It is not clear who selected Xerolycosa nemoralis as the type species. The first clear indication we found was in Roewer's catalogue (Roewer 1954: p. 309). The same species was indicated as the generotype in Roewer's revision of Lycosidae (Roewer 1959: p. 893) and in Bonnet's catalogue (1959: p. 4836).

In Platnick's catalogue (2011) five species are listed under Xerolycosa: Xerolycosa miniata (C.L. Koch, 1834), Xerolycosa nemoralis (Westring, 1861), Xerolycosa pelengena Roewer, 1960, Xerolycosa sansibarina Roewer, 1960 and Xerolycosa undulata Chen, Song et Kim, 1998. Roewer's species are known from Africa (Congo and Zanzibar). Judging from the figures, Xerolycosa pelengena is a member of Trochosini, due to its carapace pattern (two dark longitudinal stripes within the median band, just behind the PLE) and epigyne (anchor-shaped septum, and triangle-shaped hoods of the apical pocket) and seems to belong to Trochosa. Therefore, we propose the new combination: Trochosa pelengena (Roewer, 1960) comb. n. Xerolycosa sansibarina, known from the male sex only, has a carapace and abdominal pattern very different from Evippinae species, and the palp has a distinctly different conformation, typical for the Lycosinae (tegular apophysis stretching horizontally, tip of embolus visible and resting horizontally in a tegular depression). However, we refrain from suggesting a new combination because its generic affinities are currently unclear.

Because of the burrowing behaviour in Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963), believed to be absent in the other species, we first followed A.A. Zyuzin's (personal communication) opinion that it may belong to a separate genus. However, females of Xerolycosa nemoralis are known to excavate shallow depressions in soil (Smola 2007). In addition to behaviour, Xerolycosa mongolica has widely spaced posterior median eyes (one diameter apart) in contrast to the type species, Xerolycosa nemoralis, and Xerolycosa miniata (less than one diameter apart). Study of the male palp and the leg spination revealed no differences between Xerolycosa mongolica and the other species.

Species separation

Xerolycosa species can be distinguished by the shape of the copulatory organs. In addition Xerolycosa mongolica can be recognized by the variegated (spotty) pattern of the carapace and abdomen, and by lacking a light median band. The spination of leg I may help to distinguish males of Xerolycosa mongolica, and females of all species.

The male palps in all three species are rather similar in general appearance. The species can be relatively easy recognized in retrolateral view by the profile of the tegular apophysis (Figs 22–24, 25, 27, 29) and by the shape of the embolic region following dissection, notably the course and length of the embolus, and the seminal duct position (Figs 26, 28, 30). The males of Xerolycosa miniata and Xerolycosa nemoralis have the same spination pattern on leg I (Table 1), but the females have different leg spine formulae (Table 2). The epigynes in the three species are very similar and can be distinguished by the shape of the septum and the “windows” (Figs 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41). Additional differences can be found in the spermathecae (Figs 32, 36, 40, 34, 38, 42).

Table 1.

Chaetotaxy of leg I in Xerolycosa males.

Species Segments of leg I
femur patella tibia metatarsus
miniata 2p+2r 1p+1r 1p+2r+3-2v 2p+1r+2-2v
mongolica 1 or 2p+2r 1p 0 or 1p+2-2v 1p+2-2v
nemoralis 2p+2r 1p+1r 1p+2r+3-2v 2p+1r+2-2v
Table 2.

Chaetotaxy of leg I in Xerolycosa females

Species Segments of leg I
femur patella tibia metatarsus
miniata 2p 0 1p+2-2v 2p+2-2v
mongolica 2p 0 0 or 1p+3-2v 2p+2-2v
nemoralis 2p+2r 1p 1p+3-2v 2p+2-2v
Key to the Palaearctic Xerolycosa species
1 Carapace with wide whitish median band 2
– Carapace without whitish median band Xerolycosa mongolica
2 Tegular apophysis with well developed ridge, and lower part as high as upper part (Fig. 25), free part of embolus bent (Fig. 26), epigynal windows wider than high (Figs 39, 42) Xerolycosa nemoralis
– Tegular apophysis has no developed ridge and lower part is higher than upper part (Fig. 27), free part of embolus gradually rounded, epigynal windows droplet-shaped, higher than wide (Figs 31, 33) Xerolycosa miniata
Species survey
Xerolycosa miniata (C.L. Koch, 1834)

http://species-id.net/wiki/Xerolycosa_miniata

Figs 6–7, 22, 27–28, 31–34
Lycosa miniata C.L. Koch, 1834: 123, pl. 13–14 (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Dahl 1908: 361, 364, f. 58 (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Holm 1947: 24, pl. 4, f. 34–35, pl. 10, f. 26 (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Roberts 1985: 142, f. 61b (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Roberts 1995: 223, f. (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Roberts 1998: 237, f. (♂♀).
Xerolycosa miniata: Almquist 2005: 251, f. 245a-f (♂♀).

For a complete list of references see Platnick (2011).

Material examined.

FINLAND (selected records from different parts of the range): 15♂♀ (ZMUT), Nauvo Seili (60°15'N, 21°58'E), sandy sea shore, 16.05.-11.08.1974 (R. Mannila); 1♂ 1♀ (ZMUT), Virolahti Siikasaari (60°28'N, 27°35'E), sandy sea shore, 07.05.-13.09.1970 (S. Kännö); 17♂♀ (ZMUT), Pori Yyteri (61°33'N, 21°32'E), among Empetrum in sand dune, 14.07.1968 (P.T. Lehtinen); 1♀ (ZMUT), Hailuoto Marjaniemi (65°02'N, 24°36'E), Elymus sandy shore, 12.7.1973 (P.T. Lehtinen). RUSSIA:Adygeya: 1♂ 1♀ (TNU-2657/18), Caucasian State Reserve, 12 km SE kordon Guzeripl, Pastbishche Abago Mt. Range (43°53'N, 40°12'E 43°56'N, 40°16'E, 1727–2010 m a.s.l.), 18–23.08.2009 (M.M. Kovblyuk). Tuva: 13♂ 11♀ (IBPN), Uyuk River mouth, 52°04'N, 94°22'E, 600–700 m, 3–5.06.1995 (Y.M. Marusik). UKRAINE: Crimea: 1♀ (TNU-2187/1), Simferopol Distr., Kesslers' Forest, 8.08.2000 (M.M. Kovblyuk).

Diagnosis.

The species differs distinctly from Xerolycosa mongolica by the carapace pattern, having a light longitudinal band and stripes. Males can be distinguished from those of Xerolycosa nemoralis by the shorter seminal duct, a bent free part of the embolus and a bent tip, a rounded (not pointed) process of the tegular apophysis, basal part higher than apical (equal in Xerolycosa nemoralis), and the lack of a tegular ridge. Females can be distinguished by the proportions of the epigyne (windows longer than wide, whereas in Xerolycosa nemoralis they are wider than long).

Description.

Male. Total length 5.0 (4.7–6.2). Carapace: 2.85 (2.52–3.09) long, 2.1 (1.79–2.22) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.2. Habitus and pattern as in Fig. 6; carapace with wide white median band and marginal light stripes.

Palp as in Figs 22, 27–28, cymbial spines poorly distinct, upper part of tegular apophysis with claw-like outgrowth; embolus relatively thin, following an oval course, tip modified.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 1.95 0.85 1.5 1.6 1.13 7.03
II 1.8 0.8 1.35 1.55 1.15 6.65
III 1.85 0.8 1.3 1.85 1.05 6.85
IV 2.38 0.95 1.85 2.8 1.38 9.35

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 2p+2r 1p+1r 1p+2r+3-2v 2p+1r+2-2v
II 2p+2r 1p 2p+2r+2-2v 2p+1r+2-2v
III 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2-2v 2p+2r+2-2v
IV 2p+1r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2-2v 2p+2r+3-2v

Female. Total length 7.0 (4.8–7.4). Carapace: 3.0 (2.46–3.28) long, 2.1 (I. 71–2.42) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.25. Habitus and pattern as in Fig. 7; pattern on carapace same as in male but with less distinct lateral light stripes.

Epigyne as in Figs 31–34, sides of stem rounded, windows shaped like inverted droplets, their upper margins almost horizontal.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 1.75 0.93 1.35 1.35 1.05 6.43
II 1.75 0.9 1.25 1.38 1.03 6.3
III 1.8 0.88 1.2 1.7 1.03 6.6
IV 2.4 1.05 1.85 2.7 1.3 9.3

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 2p 0 1p+2-2v 2p+2-2v
II 2p 1p 1p+2-2v 2p+2-2v
III 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2-2v 2p+2r+2-2v
IV 2p+1r 1p+1r 2p+1r+2-2v 2p+2r+3-2v
Distribution.

Xerolycosa miniata has a Euro-Mongolian boreo-nemoral range (Marusik et al. 2000) and is known from Portugal to Tuva, north to central Finland and north Ural, and south to Azerbaijan and north-western Mongolia.

Xerolycosa mongolica (Schenkel, 1963) comb. n.

http://species-id.net/wiki/Xerolycosa_mongolica

Figs 1–3, 10, 18–21, 23a-b, 29–30, 35–38.
Arctosa mongolica Schenkel, 1963: 353, f. 204a-c (♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Yu & Song 1988: 118 (incorrect synonymy).
“Xerolycosa” mongolica: Logunov, Marusik & Koponen 1998: 139.
“Xerolycosa” mongolica: Marusik, Logunov & Koponen 2000: 87.
Xerolycosa undulata Chen, Song & Kim, 1998: 71, f. 7–12 (♂). syn. n.
Xerolycosa undulata: Song, Zhu & Chen 1999: 346, f. 202J (♂).
Material examined.

Holotype ♀ (MNHN) “Urga-Tsitsikar, Chaffanjon” [1896] (can refer either to Mongolia or China). RUSSIA, Tuva: 17♂ 2♀ (IBPN & ZMUT), SE Tuva, Erzin Town environs, 50°14'N, 95°09'E, 1165 m, dry steppe, 9.06.1995 (Y.M. Marusik & S. Koponen); 13♂ 1♀ (SZMN), SE Tuva, Erzin environs, 50°14'N, 95°09'E, 1165 m, Artemisia-Stipa steppe, 9.06.1995 (D.V. Logunov); 4♂ (ZMMU), SE Tuva, Tes-Khem Valley, 50°19'N, 95°01'E, 10.06.1995 (Y.M. Marusik); 3♂ (ZMMU), environs of Kyzyl, Nanophyton erinaceus semidesert steppe, 6.06.1995 (Y.M. Marusik).

Notes.

The holotype female of Xerolycosa mongolica is very pale and the pattern is not visible. The figure in Schenkel (1963), however, corresponds well with the pattern observed in Tuvan specimens. When Yu and Song (1988) synonymized Arctosa mongolica and Xerolycosa nemoralis they mentioned that the type of Arctosa mongolica had been studied. The general appearance of the epigynes in the two species is not similar. The epigynal septum and the windows are more similar to those in Xerolycosa miniata (cf. Figs 31, 33, 35 and 37).

Xerolycosa undulata was described on the basis of the holotype male from Heilongjiang, not far from Tsitsikar. According to the text (Chen et al. 1999), the type was deposited in the Institute of Zoology in Beijing. However, the type was not found in the collections (Li, personal communication). Comparison of our figures of the male palp of Xerolycosa mongolica and figures of Xerolycosa undulata provided by Chen et al. (1998) leaves no doubts that these two names should be synonymized. It is worth mentioning, that when Xerolycosa undulata was described the male of Xerolycosa mongolica was unknown.

Diagnosis.

Xerolycosa mongolica differs distinctly from its congeners by its spotty pattern and lack of longitudinal bands or stripes on the carapace, widely spaced anterior median eyes (more than one diameter of AME), long filiform embolus, shape of the tegular apophysis, and structure of the epigyne and vulva.

Description.

Male. Total length 6.1 (5.6–6.25). Carapace: 3.05 (2.8–3.1) long, 2.1 (1.9–2.1) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.07 (1.03–1.12). Habitus and pattern as in Figs 2–3.

Palp as in Figs 18–21, 23, 29–30, cymbium with distinct spines, apical part of tegular apophysis with triangular extension, embolus filiform along its entire course.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 2.3 1.05 2.0 1.85 1.25 8.45
II 2.2 1.0 1.75 1.85 1.15 7.95
III 2.15 0.9 1. 5 2.1 1.05 6.2
IV 2.85 1.05 2.25 3.2 1.45 10.8

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 1 or 2p+2r 1p 0 or 1p+2–2v 1p+2–2v
II 2p+2r 1p 2p+2–2v 2p+2–2v
III 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+2–2v
IV 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+3–2v

Female. Total length 6.6 (5.7–6.6). Carapace: 2.35 (2.35–2.7) long, 1.7 (1.7–1.85) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.18 (1.1–1.18). Habitus and pattern as in Fig. 2.

Epigyne as in Figs 35–38, septum almost triangular in shape, upper margins of windows inclined.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 1.7 0.75 1.3 1.2 0.85 5.8
II 1.6 0.7 1.1 1.1 0.8 5.3
III 1.5 0.7 0. 9 1.4 0.85 4.45
IV 2.0 0.75 1.5 2.35 1.2 7.8

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 2p 0 0 or 1p+3–2v 2p+2–2v
II 2p+0 or 1r 0 1p+2–2v 2p+2–2v
III 2p+1r 1p+1r 2p+1r+2–2v 2p+2r+2–2v
IV 1 or 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+3–2v
Comments.

It seems that Schenkel (1963) placed this species in Arctosa due to the carapace pattern being typical for the genus (no stripes or bands). Arctosa mongolica was synonymized with Xerolycosa nemoralis by Yu & Song (1988) without examination of the female holotype. Study of the holotype and comparison with European and Siberian specimens of Xerolycosa nemoralis revealed clear differences in pattern, spination and copulatory organs and therefore we remove Xerolycosa mongolica from synonymy and establish a new combination.

Biology.

Xerolycosa mongolica females make burrows in the ground in places with sparse steppic vegetation. The burrows are relatively deep 7–10.5 cm and 4–6 mm in diameter (Logunov, personal communication). Apparently males do not construct burrows. These observations were first made by Dmitri Logunov in Tuva. Subsequently we (Koponen and Marusik) witnessed this behaviour. It is worth mentioning that Xerolycosa mongolica seems to be the smallest burrowing wolf spider (Logunov, personal communication).

Distribution.

The exact distribution of this species is unknown because the type locality is uncertain (Urga-Tsitsikar), and because of incorrect synonymisation its distribution in China is unclear. Xerolycosa mongolica is well documented from Tuva only.

Figures 1–7.

General appearance of Xerolycosa mongolica 1–3 Xerolycosa nemoralis 4–5 and Xerolycosa miniata 6–7 1, 5, 7 female, dorsal 2, 4, 6 male, dorsal 3 male, ventral.

Figures 8–13.

Somatic characters of Xerolycosa nemoralis 8–9, 11–13 and Xerolycosa mongolica 10 8–10 prosoma, frontal 11–12 – chelicerae, median and inner view 13 tarsus IV, retrolateral. Arrows show cheliceral teeth and stridulatory files.

Figures 14–21.

Male palp of Xerolycosa nemoralis 14–17 and Xerolycosa mongolica 18–21. 14, 18 whole palp, ventral 15, 19 – bulbus, lateral 16, 20 embolic division, ventral and ventro-retrolateral 17, 21 whole palp, apical. Abbreviations: At– terminal apophysis; Co – conductor; Eb– base of embolus; Et – tip of embolus; St– subtegulum; Ta – tegular apophysis; Te– tegular extension.

Xerolycosa nemoralis (Westring, 1861)

http://species-id.net/wiki/Xerolycosa_mongolica

Figs 4–5, 8–9, 11–13, 14–17, 24, 25–26, 39–42
Lycosa nemoralis Westring, 1861: 472 (♂♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Dahl 1908: 361, f. 57 (♂♀).
Tarentula flavitibia Saito, 1934: 355, pl. 13, f. 31, pl. 15, f. 84 (♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Holm 1947: 23, pl. 4, f. 36–37, pl. 10, f. 25 (♂♀).
Saitocosa flavitibia:Roewer 1960: 889.
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Zyuzin 1985: 48, f. 15–16, 20–22 (♂♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Roberts 1985: 140, f. 61a (♂♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Roberts 1995: 222, f. (♂♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Roberts 1998: 236, f. (♂♀).
Xerolycosa nemoralis: Almquist 2005: 252, f. 246a-i (♂♀).

For a complete list of references see Platnick (2011).

Misidentification.

Xerolycosa nemoralis: Yin et al. 1997: 10, f. 3a-d (♀), refer to a species with unclear generic affinities.

Material examined.

FINLAND (selected records from different parts of the range): 18♂♀ (ZMUT), Vuolijoki, Vuottolahti, Lapinniemi (64°13'N, 27°20'E), 16.07.1972 (P.T. Lehtinen); 1♂ (ZMUT), Hammarland Sålis (60°15'N, 19°44'E), dry forest, 26.06.-06.08.1971 (P.T. Lehtinen); 5♂ 4♀ (ZMUT), Turku Kärsämäki (60°30'N, 22°15'E), forest, 24.04.-04.08.1972 (I. Oksala); 12♂♀ (ZMUT), Harjavalta, Sport center (61°17'N, 22°10'E), pine forest, 09.07.-09.08.1992 (S. Koponen). RUSSIA: Adygeya:2 ♀ (TNU-2718/18), Caucasian State Reserve, env. kordon Guzeripl (44°00'N, 40°08'E, ~ 670 m), Abies & Fagus wood, 13–17.08.2009 (M.M. Kovblyuk); 2 ♀ (TNU-2719/3), Caucasian State Reserve, env. kordon Guzeripl (44°00'N, 40°08'E, ~ 670 m), Abies & Fagus wood, pitfalls, 16-23.08.2009 (M.M. Kovblyuk). Krasnoyarsk Prov.: 1♀ (IBPN), West Sayany Mts., Oiskiy Mt. Range, Buiba Riv., 52°47'N, 93°18'E, 1230 m, among stones, 20-21.06.1995 (Yu.M. Marusik). Sakhalin Island: 4♂ 4♀ 13 juv. (IBPN), SE part, Tsapko Vill. env., Zhdanko Mt. Range, 48°06.051'N, 142°31.557'E, h 220m, foothill of Vladimirovka Mt., stony debris along temporary creek, 1.08.2001 (Y.M.Marusik ); 5♂ 2♀ (IBPN), SE part, env. of Starodubskoye Vil., Naiba River mouth part, 47°24.992'N, 142°45.384'E, 23.07.2001 (Y.M.Marusik); 4♂ 5♀ (IBPN), SW part, Krilyon Peninsula, W shore, ca 5 km S of Shebunino Vil., Kitosia River mouth, 36°22.536'N, 141°52.562'E, 14-15.08.2001 (Y.M.Marusik). Magadan Area: 1♂ (IBPN), ca. 30 km N of Magadan, Dukcha River Valley, gravely bank, June 1995 (Y.M.Marusik). Kamchatka Province: 1♂ (IBPN), Kamchatka Peninsula, 10–12 km N of Paratunka Vil., Yelizovo Forestry, 53.050°N, 158.225°E, 15-28.07.2004 (A.S. Ryabukhin). No precise data: numerous males and females have been collected on five Kuril Islands: Kunashir, Iturup, Urup, Chirpoi and Paramushir.

Diagnosis.

The species differs distinctly from Xerolycosa mongolica by the pattern of its carapace, having longitudinal bands and stripes, and by having the anterior median eyes situated more closely together (less than one diameter of AME, more than one diameter in Xerolycosa mongolica). From Xerolycosa miniata, males can be distinguished by their longer seminal duct, rounded embolus, the sharply pointed process of the tegular apophysis and by the proportions of the epigyne (windows wider than high, whereas in Xerolycosa miniata they are higher than wide). Xerolycosa nemoralis females possess 2 retrolateral spines on femur I whereas the other species have only 2 prolateral spines.

Description.

Male. Total length 6.0 (5.5–6.8). Carapace: 2.9 (2.75–2.9) long, 2.0 (1.9–2.0) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.23 (1.12–1.23). Habitus and pattern as in Fig. 4.

Palp as in Figs 14–17, 24–26, tip of cymbium with poorly developed spines, upper part of tegular apophysis with bill-shaped extension, embolus relatively thick, free part (=embolus proper) bent, tip modified.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 1.85 0.85 1.5 1.55 1.05 6.8
II 1.85 0.85 1.35 1.4 1.1 6.55
III 1.7 0.8 1.25 1.75 1.05 6.55
IV 2.35 1.0 1.8 2.8 1.35 9.3

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 2p+2r 1p+1r 1p+2r+3–2v 2p+1r+2–2v
II 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+1r+2–2v
III 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+2–2v
IV 2p+1r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+3–2v

Female. Total length 6.7 (6.4–7.1). Carapace: 3.25 (2.8–3.35) long, 2.25 (2.0–2.4) wide. Carapace length/femur IV ratio 1.18 (1.14–1.18). Habitus and pattern as in Fig. 5.

Epigyne as in Figs 39–42, windows wider than high, septum with rounded sides.

Length of leg segments:

femur patella tibia metatarsus tarsus Total
I 2.25 1.0 1.75 1.7 1.3 8
II 2.15 0.95 1.65 1.65 1.3 7.7
III 2.15 0.9 1. 6 2.0 1.25 6.3
IV 2.75 1.05 2.2 3.25 1.5 10.75

Spination of legs:

femur patella tibia metatarsus
I 2p+2r 1p 1p+3–2v 2p+2–2v
II 2p+2r 1p 1p+2–2v 2p+2–2v
III 2p+2r 1p+1r 2p+2r+2–2v 2p+2r+2–2v
IV 2p+1r 1p+1r 2p+1r+2–2v 2p+2r+3–2v
Comments.

Judging from the figures, the record of Xerolycosa nemoralis by Yin et al. (1997: f. 3a-d) from China refers to another species and even a different genus.

Distribution.

Xerolycosa nemoralis has a trans-Palaearctic boreo-nemoral range (Marusik et al. 2000) and occurs from the Iberian Peninsula to Kamchatka and the North Kuril Islands, north to the Polar Circle in Lapland and to central Yakutia, south to Azerbaijan and Honshu.

Figures 22–24.

Male palp of Xerolycosa miniata 22 Xerolycosa mongolica 23 and Xerolycosa nemoralis 24 22, 23a, 24 retrolateral 23b prolateral. 23b after Chen et al. (1998). (scale bar 0.1 mm).

Figures 25–30.

Male palp of Xerolycosa nemoralis 25–26 Xerolycosa miniata 27–28 and Xerolycosa mongolica 29–30 25, 27, 29 bulbus, retrolateral 26, 28, 30 embolic division, ventral. Arrows indicate differences between Xerolycosa miniata and Xerolycosa nemoralis. Abbreviations: At– terminal apophysis; Co – conductor; Eb –base of embolus; Et – tip of embolus; Sd – seminal duct.

Figures 31–42.

Epigyne of Xerolycosa miniata 31–34 Xerolycosa mongolica 35–38 and Xerolycosa nemoralis 39–42 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 ventral 32, 36, 40, 34, 38, 42 dorsal. (36 & 38 holotype). Abbreviations: Re– receptaculum; Se– septum; Ss – septal stem;Wi – window of epigyne.

Acknowledgements

We thank the following colleagues who contributed to this study: C. Rollard (MNHN) and Shuqiang Li (Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China) for loan of type material or providing information about types; D.V. Logunov (Manchester, UK) showed us X. mongolica in the field and informed us about its burrowing ecology and A.A. Zyuzin's ideas about placement of this species; T. Kronestedt (Stokholm, Sweden) and C. Deltshev (Sofia, Bulgaria) reviewed the manuscript. N. Tsurusaki helped us with Japanese literature and N. Fritzén (Vaasa, Finland) gave us freshly collected specimens of X. miniata and X. nemoralis that were used for making digital photographs. The English of the final draft was kindly checked by D. Penney (Manchester, UK).

This work was supported in part by the RFFI grants # 09-04-01365 and 11-04-01716-a and by the Karadag Nature Reserve.

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