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Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. isdescribed based on specimens of both sexes. The new species is compared with the similar Dasumia crassipalpis (Simon, 1882), described from Syria; and with Dasumia mariandyna Brignoli, 1979, the only previously known species of the genusrecordedfrom Turkey. Furthermore, we point out that, due to some contradictions to the original description of the genus, Dasumia mariandyna may necessarily belong to another genus. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnosis and figures of the copulatory organs of the new species are presented.
Harpacteinae, spider, Turkey
Dasumia is a genus of the family Dysderidae and includes 13 previously described species (
During our survey of the Turkish spider fauna, we encountered some interesting dysderid specimens in Kahramanmaraş province, a region that constitutes a transition zone between the Turkish Mediterranean region and the south-eastern region of Anatolia. Initially, examination of the sternum morphology suggested the specimens were members of the subfamily Harpacteinae. However, the structure of copulatory organs did not conform with the known species of Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 and Stalagtia Kratochvíl, 1970 from Turkey, nor did they show any similarity with those of Dasumia mariandyna Brignoli, 1979, which represented the only known Dasumia species recorded from Turkey. Kahramanmaraş is located close to Syria, so we then examined members of Harpacteinae known from Syria and the Middle East. This revealed similarities between our specimens and those of Dasumia crassipalpis from Syria, which had previously been described as Harpactes crassipalpis by
The purpose of this study is to describe and illustrate a new species of Dasumia from Turkey and to discuss its placement in the genus together with the Syrian Dasumia crassipalpis and the Turkish endemic Dasumia mariandyna.
Materials and methodsAll specimens were collected from Kahramanmaraş province of Turkey (Fig. 1). The specimens were collected from under stones using a hand aspirator. Digital images of the pedipalps and vulvae were taken with a Leica DFC295 digital camera attached to a Leica S8AP0 stereomicroscope, with 5–15 photographs taken in different focal planes and combined using image stacking software. Photographic images were edited using PHOTOSHOP CS2 and COREL-DRAW X3 was used to create the plates. All measurements are in mm. Terminology for the body measurements follows
Collecting localities of Turkish Dasumia species. terra typica, Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. ● Dasumia mariandyna
Dasumia Thorell, 1875
In Thorell, 1875: 100, type species Dasumia taeniifera Thorell, 1875
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8E19F1DC-74BA-47D4-A505-6498414B4CCE
Holotype. ♂ (AUZM), TURKEY, Kahramanmaraş Province, Pazarcık District, c. 5 km S of Narlı Town [37°19'11.78"N; 37°10'16.19"E], 07.03.2008, under stones, leg. E.A.Yağmur. Paratypes: 1 ♀ (AUZM); 1 ♀ (SMF), together with holotype.
The new species is named in honour of the Italian geologist & arachnologist Dr. Fulvio Gasparo, who has made great contributions to the taxonomy of the family Dysderidae.
Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. can be readily identified by the unique structure of male and female copulatory organs. It is most similar to Dasumia crassipalpis from which it can be differentiated as follows:
1. In Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. the transition zone between the tegulum and the distal appendages is more notable than in Dasumia crassipalpis.
2. In Dasumia gasparoi sp. n.the tip of the falciform embolus is sharper and taller and the embolus extends beyond Apophysisb, whereas in Dasumia crassipalpis, the embolus only reaches the middle of Apophysisb.
3. Apophysisa and Apophysisb show explicit differences in structure between the two species.
4. In Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. the spermatheca are relatively wider. Distal crest of spermatheca is shorter and thicker in Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. than in Dasumia crassipalpis (see
(Holotype ♂ / Paratype n=2 ♀): AL 3.50 / 4.47-4.50; CL 3.20 / 3.25-3.50; CWmax 2.50 / 2.75-2.80; CWmin 1.25 / 1.59-1.44 ; AMEd 0.16 / 0.17-0.18; PLEd 0.15 / 0.14-0.15; PMEd 0.11 / 0.14-0.12 ; ChF 0.58 / 0.66-0.66; ChG 0.47 / 0.52-0.53 ; ChL 1.37 / 1.60-1.62. Leg measurements are given in Table 1.
Leg measurements of Dasumia gasparoi sp. n.
(Holotype ♂ / Paratype ♀) | Fe | Pa | Ti | Me | Ta |
Leg I | 3.00 / 3.08 | 1.80 / 1.88 | 2.76 / 2.60 | 2.68 / 2.48 | 0.63 / 0.48 |
Leg II | 2.50 / 2.56 | 1.60 / 1.68 | 2.40 / 2.24 | 2.60 / 2.50 | 0.63 / 0.60 |
Leg III | 2.10 / 2.16 | 1.05 / 1.12 | 1.75 / 1.68 | 2.05 / 2.04 | 0.55 / 0.44 |
Leg IV | 2.96 / 3.00 | 1.40 / 1.60 | 2.50 / 2.56 | 2.64 / 3.20 | 0.63 / 0.64 |
Carapace dark brown anteriorly, yellowish brown posteriorly and blackish brown laterally. AME, PLE and PME in a circular arrangement. AME separated. PLE and PME clearly separated. Sternum, labium, gnathocoxae and chelicerae yellowish brown. Sternum blackish brown laterally (Figs 2–5). Cheliceral groove with two retromarginal and two promarginal teeth. Teeth on the promargin originate at the base of the groove and end in the middle. Retromarginal teeth originate in alignment with the point at which the promarginal teeth stop, and continue to the top of the cheliceral groove. Teeth on retromargin relatively smaller and more widely separated, when compared with those on the promargin (Figs 6, 7). Cheliceral groove long, top of the labium and gnathocoxae covered with short hairs. In males, joint of trochanter to gnathocoxa thicker and deeper (see Fig. 3). Abdomen greyish to light brown, with short, thin blackish hair over the entire surface. Females with a strongly developed linear postpedicelar and trapezoid epigastric scutum (Fig. 8). Males also have these structures, but they appear thinner and have less colour. Legs yellowish to light brown with sparse blackish setae. Periphery of articulation points dark brown.
Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. 2, 3 (♂) carapace, sternum 4, 5 (♀) ditto. Scale lines: 0.25 mm.
Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. 6, 7 cheliceral teeth 8 female, ventral view Scale line: (6, 7) 0.1 mm.
Leg IV > Leg I > Leg II > Leg III. Tarsi with three claws. Bent claws and middle claws are well developed (Figs 9, 10, 11, 12).
Tarsi III and IV with fine scopulae (Figs 9-12). Legs III and IV with fine metatarsal scopulae along the ventral surface, covering slightly less than the distal half of the segment. Dorsal part of coxae III and IV with 1-4 spines. Details of leg spination are given in Table 2.
In males, palpal tibia almost double the size of the tarsus. Tarsus bullet-shaped in lateral view. Tegulum yellowish brown; approximately as long as wide, and with a spherical shape. Between the distal appendages and tegulum, there is a visible transition region, peripherally sclerotized in places (Figs 13, 14). Tip of embolus adjacent to Apophysisb (Figs 13, 15). Embolic base wide and triangular. Embolus falciform, tapering distally, blackish and well sclerotized along its length (Figs 15, 16). Apophysisa triangular, separated from embolus and Apophysisb (Fig. 13). Details of palp in ventral view: Apophysisa1 short and sharp, beak-shaped at the right corner; Apophysisa2 semicircular at the left corner; Apophysisa3 (which is stubbier than apophysesa1 and Apophysisa4) ear-shaped at the rear corner. All of these apophyses with well sclerotized margins (Fig. 15).
Leg tarsi of Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. 9 Leg I 10 Leg II 11 Leg 3 12 Leg IV Scale line: 0.25 mm.
Male palp of Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. Abbreviations: Apa Apophysisa Apb Apophysisb E embolus. Scale lines: 0.25 mm.
Vulva generally well sclerotized. Distal crest medium-sized and butt-ended. Distal expansion of the spermatheca wider than distal crest and visually hump-shaped. Rod-shaped part of the anterior spermatheca short and broader towards the base. Basal transverse part of the anterior spermatheca appears merged with the anterior basal arc. Both structures well sclerotized from centre to periphery. In dorsal view, anterior basal arc arc-shaped; basal transverse part of the anterior spermatheca forming a downward chevron shape. Transverse bar longer than the anterior basal arc. The surface area of the posterior spermatheca is wider than the anterior spermatheca. Transverse bar ends with one snake head-shaped structure at either side; and in contact with posterior diverticulum over complex membranous channel network (Figs 17, 18, 19).
Vulva of Dasumia gasparoi sp. n. 17, 18 dorsal view 19, 20 ventral view. Abbreviations: aba anterior basal arc btas basal transverse part of the anterior spermatheca dc distal crest des distal expansion of the spermatheca pd posterior diverticulum rsas rod-shaped part of the anterior spermatheca tb transverse bar. Scale lines: 0.5 mm.
Dasumia mariandyna (topotype). 24 male palp 25 cheliceral teeth. Scale line: (24) 0.25 mm.
In ventral view, and looking at an angle of 70° from the surface to the vulva, we observed symmetrically located, reniform structures consisting of helicoidal canals inside both sides of the vulva (Fig. 20). The origin and function of these structures is unknown.
Samples were collected during early spring from under stones (using a hand aspirator) in steppe habitat with scrubs of Quercus coccifera and with pine woods located close by. The collection locality was on low land at the middle of a mountainous region, which may enhance the probability of this species being an endemic.
http://species-id.net/wiki/Dasumia_crassipalpis
1 ♂ (AUZM), ISRAEL, Mount Meron, 17.XII.2010, leg. C. Drees
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
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
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.
Leg spination of Dasumia gasparoi sp. n.
♂ (Holotype) | Leg I | Leg II | Leg III | Leg IV |
C | 0 | 0 | 2 pl | 3 pl 1 D |
Tr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fe | 4 pl | 5 pl | 3 D 4 rl | 9 D |
Pa | 0 | 0 | 2 D 1 rl | 0 |
Ti | 0 | 0 | 2 pl 1 D 4 rl 5 V | 4 pl 4 rl 5 V |
Me | 0 | 0 | 3 pl 6 rl 2 V | 4 pl 1 D 5 rl 6 V |
♀ (Paratype) | ||||
C | 0 | 0 | 1 pl | 2 pl |
Tr | 0 | 0 | 1 rl | 1 rl |
Fe | 2 pl | 1 pl | 3 D 3 rl | 8 D |
Pa | 0 | 0 | 2 D 1 rl | 0 |
Ti | 0 | 0 | 2 pl 1 D 3 rl 2 V | 4 pl 1 D 3 rl 5 V |
Me | 0 | 0 | 4 pl 6 rl 2 V | 4 pl 4 rl 5 V |
Leg measurements of Dasumia crassipalpis
♂ | Fe | Pa | Ti | Me | Ta |
Leg I | 2.67 | 1.85 | 2.65 | 2.57 | 0.64 |
Leg II | 2.69 | 1.66 | 2.54 | 2.49 | 0.62 |
Leg III | 2.20 | 1.16 | 1.75 | 2.24 | 0.57 |
Leg IV | 3.12 | 1.49 | 2.60 | 3.06 | 0.58 |
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).
Male palp of Dasumia crassipalpis. Abbreviations: Apa Apophysisa Apb Apophysisb E 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
Dasumia crassipalpis.First described as Harpactes crassipalpis by
http://species-id.net/wiki/Dasumia_mariandyna
1 ♂ (AUZM) TURKEY, Düzce Province, Akçakoca District, c. 1 km south of Kepenç Village [41°4'11.89"N; 31°7'9.06"E], 22.V.2008, under leaf litter, leg. K.B. Kunt; 1 ♂ (AUZM), Bolu Province, Abant [40°40'39.36"N; 31°28'18.78"E], 13.IX.2009, under leaf litter, leg. K.B. Kunt.
Brignoli defined the relation of Dasumia mariandyna to other species of the genus as follows: “The new species is not related to the Greek and Near Eastern species; it can be easily distinguished from all known species by the genitalia" (see
Leg spination of Dasumia crassipalpis
♂ | Leg I | Leg II | Leg III | Leg IV |
C | 0 | 0 | 1 pl 1 D | 7 pl 2 D |
Tr | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 rl |
Fe | 4 pl | 1 pl | 3 D 3rl | 9 D |
Pa | 0 | 0 | 2 D 1 rl | 1 D |
Ti | 0 | 0 | 2 pl 1 D 3 rl 5 V | 4 pl 1 D 3 rl 5 V |
Me | 0 | 0 | 3 pl 6 rl 2 V | 5 pl 5 rl 5 V |
With the description ofDasumia gasparoi sp. n., the total number of Dasumia species is now 14 and the total number of dysderid spiders known from Turkey is raised to 47. Even if we ignore Dasumia sancticedri Brignoli, 1978 (described in the genus Dasumia and associated with Dasumia crassipalpis by Brignoli) which has a suspiciously differentpalpal structure questioning its correct placement in the genus Dasumia (see Brignoli, 1978, page 173. figures 1, 2); it is not unreasonable to think that spiders exist in the Eastern Mediterranean basin includes similar but different species which are slightly different from the European taxa in the structure of copulatory organs. The relationships between the European and Eastern Mediterranean representatives of the genus will be clarified following future revisions and with studies including molecular systematics.
This work was supported by the Research Foundation of Anadolu University (Project Number: 1001F31). We are very grateful to Dr. Ersen Aydın Yağmur (Turkey) for providing type specimens of the new species and Dr. Sergei Zonstein (Israel) for sending comparison material of Dasumia crassipalpis from Israel. We would like to thank Dr. Murat Bilecenoğlu (Turkey) for translations of Latin texts and Mr. Ahmet Bozardıç (Turkey) for his important help during field trips. The English of the final draft was kindly checked by Dr. David Penney (United Kingdom).