European Journal of Taxonomy 114: 1-23

http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2015.114

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

ISSN 2118-9773

www. europeanj ournaloftaxonomy. eu

2015 • Jocque R. & Henrard A.

Research article

um:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7964D8E9-AF3B-4A53-BlDB-01409941E4A5

Revalidation of Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 with description of three

new species and discovery of a remarkable male palpal character

(Araneae, Zodariidae)

Rudy JOCQUE 1 & Arnaud HENRARD 2

1 2 Royal Museum for Central Africa, B-3080 Tervuren, Belgium.

2 Earth and Life Institute, Biodiversity Research Center, UCL-17.07.04, Batiment Carnoy,

Croix du Sud, 5, B-1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

'Email: [email protected] (corresponding author)

1 urn: lsid:zoobank,org: author: CF15016C-8CD1-4C9D-9021-44CA7DC7A5D5

2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org: author:E 1B02E6E-D91C-43FE-8D8C-CD102EFEE3B4

Abstract. The genus name Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 is considered available and valid, with

A. spinulosum Denis, 1966 as its type species. The genus is characterized by the presence of ventral

rows of long setae on the femora, large anterior median eyes and a large, dorsal, crater-like pit on the

cymbium. Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyschenlco, 1968 is removed from its synonymy and now only

contains its type species Z. surprisum Andreeva & Tyschenko, 1968. Three new Acanthinozodium

species are described: A. crateriferum sp. nov. (c?¥) from Ethiopia, A. sahelense sp. nov. (c?$) from a

wide range in the Sahel region and A. quercicola sp. nov. (c?) from Morocco. The genus appears to have

a large distribution in and around the Sahara. The possible function of the cymbial pit is discussed.

Keywords. Name availability, mating plug, Sahel region, Zodarion, Zodariellum.

Jocque R. & Henrard A. 2015. Revalidation of Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 with description of three new species

and discovery of a remarkable male palpal character (Araneae, Zodariidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 114:

1-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/eit.2015.114

Introduction

The spider family Zodariidae is fairly well analyzed and its phylogeny at genus level well resolved

(Jocque 1991; Ramirez et al. 2014). However, a few areas in the phylogeny remain to be studied. One

of them is the huge genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 and its closest relatives Zodariellum Andreeva &

Tyshchenko, 1968, Tropizodium Jocque & Churchill, 2005 and Parazodarion Ovtchinnikov, Ahmad &

Gurko, 2009. Their relationship ca nn ot be solved with the characters that were mentioned in the original

descriptions because some crucial characters, e.g. the femoral organ, were not yet known at that time.

Among them, the genus Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 was only superficially described.

It was synonymized with Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 by Jocque (1991) but it remained doubtful

whether this synonymy was well founded.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

In the present paper we address the nomenclatural problem of Acanthinozodium and reanalyze the

presumed synonymy with Zodariellum on the base of classical and new morphological characters. Three

new species are described.

Material and methods

Specimens were observed, drawn and measured with a WILD M 10 stereo microscope. Details of the

female genitalia and male palps were observed with a Zeiss Stemi 2000 stereo microscope. Measurements

and photographs of the habitus, details of mouthparts, detached male palps and female genitalia were

taken with a Leica MZ16 using the LAS automontage software (ver. 3.8). The female genitalia were

dissected and digested with pancreatin, then immersed in 75% ethanol.

For SEM photos, specimens were dried in Hexamethyldisilazane (36h), gold coated and examined and

photographed with a JEOL 6480 LV scanning electron microscope. All types are deposited in the Royal

Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium (MRAC).

All measurements are in in in All palp illustration are from left palps.

Abbreviations

ALE = anterior lateral eyes

AME = anterior median eyes

ALS = anterior spinnerets

CRB = collection Robert Bosmans

F = femur

MA = median apophysis

MOQ = median ocular quadrangle

MRAC = Musee Royal de FAfrique Centrale (Tervuren, Belgium)

Mt = metatarsus

P = patella

PLE = posterior lateral eyes

PLS = posterior lateral spinnerets

PME = posterior median eyes

PMS = posterior median spinnerets

RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis

t = tarsus

T = tibia

Results

Class Arachnida Cuvier, 1812

Order Araneae Clerck, 1757

Family Zodariidae Thorell, 1881

Genus Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966

Diagnosis

Members of the genus Acanthinozodium are recognized by the wide cephalothorax (LAV < 1.3), large AME

(Fig. 4F), and all femora without flattened setae but with a double row of long ventral setae (Fig. 4C). Males

are characterized by the deep dorsal pit at the base of the cymbium (Figs 9A-B, 10C, 12B-D); females by the

wide epigyne with a pair of large atria and the large spermathecae with a double chamber (Fig. 9F-G).

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Type species

Acanthinozodium spinulosum Denis, 1966.

Remark

The types of A. spinulosum could not be traced but the description mentions two of the diagnostic

characters of the genus: large AME and a double row of long ventral setae on the femora. Large AME

are widely distributed among the taxa in the femoral organ clade but are important to differentiate the

genus from Zodariellum that supposedly is a synonym (Jocque 1991). The presence of dorsal spines on

the femora is not diagnostic for the genus and also occurs in Zodarion nitidum (Audouin, 1826), the type

species of Zodarion (Ono & Jocque 1986; Levy 1992).

Description

Medium size spiders (2.8-5.7 mm) with smooth teguments. Carapace wide (LAV < 1.3) almost hairless apart

from a few longer hairs on clypeus; widest at level of coxae II—III, narrowed to about 0.68 times maximum

width in males and 0.55 times maximum width in females (cephalic width measured on posterior tangent of

PME). Cervical grooves poorly indicated. Profile fairly flat, often with a slight dip between eyes and fovea.

Colour. Carapace orange to shades of yellow, suffused with dark pattern; chelicerae, legs, mouthparts and

sternum orange to yellow; abdomen dorsum uniform dark, venter uniform grey, darker towards sides.

Eyes. In two rows: anterior row straight (eye centres), strongly procurved as seen from in front, posterior

row strongly procurved. AME dark, much larger (two to four times) than remainder which are pale; AME

less than half their diameter apart and as far from ALE; PME oval, three to five times their diameter apart

and 1.5 to 3 times their diameter from PLE. MOQ as wide in back as in front and slightly wider than

long. Clypeus convex, height about 1.5 times diameter of ALE, with some long dispersed setae.

Chilum. Absent. Chelicerae fused in the middle; intercheliceral triangle well developed; paturon dorsally

covered with stout hairs; with distal cusp with one tooth; fang shorter than wide at base. Labium triangular,

narrowed base. Endites roughly triangular, strongly converging. Sternum shield-shaped with rounded

sides, provided with triangular extensions corresponding with coxal concavities. Slightly longer than wide.

Legs. Slender. Formula 4123 or 4132. Spination reduced but a few dorsal and sometimes prolateral

spines on femora and ventral spines on tibiae. Femora with conspicuous double row of long ventral

setae. No incised hairs on femora. Femoral organ with barbed hairs on legs I—III (Figs 9E, 12E).

Female palp. With pectinated claw turned inwards over nearly 90°, with distal patch of chemosensitive setae,

modified prolateral, pectinated setae reduced or absent.

Abdomen. Oval; tracheal spiracle just in front of spinnerets; fairly wide, around 0.25 times maximum

width of abdomen) preceded by row of modified flat setae (Figs 5F, 12E-F). Males with two spinnerets,

females with six. ALS large, conical, biarticulate on common base. PLS and PMS very small. Colulus

represented by haired field.

Male palp. Tibia with small prolateral apophysis apart from the well developed RTA. Cymbium with

basolateral flange; with distal and prolateral smooth spines and dorsal patch of chemosensitive setae;

prolateral modified pectinated setae reduced; base with deep crater-like pit; bulbus with hook-like

median apophysis situated near distal tip; embolus flat, distal part with flange.

Distribution

Acanthinozodium is found in the semi-arid areas in and around the Sahara Desert from Senegal to Yemen.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Acanthinozodium crateriferum sp. nov.

um:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D55F4819-EEB4-489B-9AD5-A52FA259E42B

Figs 1-3, 13

Diagnosis

The male of this species is recognized by the shape of the RTA, which is straight and strongly tapered

towards the sharp tip (Figs 2B-C, 3A-B); the female has a wide epigyne with two triangular atria

divided by a thin septum (Figs IE, 3C), very different from that of A. zavattarii Caporiacco, 1941 in

which the atria are covered and the septum invisible from the outside.

Etymology

The name refers to the large crater-like pit at the base of the cymbium.

Type material

Holotype

ETHIOPIA: Near Ras Hotel, Awash National Park, 8°59’ N 40°10’ E, 29 May 1986, Russell-Smith

A. (MRAC 220817).

Fig. 1 .Acanthinozodium crateriferum sp. nov. A. Holotype f. B-E. Paratype $. A. Male habitus, dorsal

view. B. Female habitus, dorsal view. C. Idem, ventral view. D. Idem, lateral view. E. Epigyne, ventral

view. Scale bars: A-D = 1 mm; E = 0.2 mm

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Paratypes

1 S, 1 5, same data as holotype (MRAC 243548).

Other material examined

15,1 Oct. 1986, under piles of grass, further as holotype (MRAC 220696); 1 c?, 1 ?, 9 Nov. 1988, in

grass and gravel, further as previous (MRAC 224602).

Description

Male

Total length. 3.00.

Carapace. (Fig. 1A). 1.56 long and 1.21 wide.

Colour. (Fig. 1A). Carapace and chelicerae yellow; cephalic part with dense, brown suffusion forming

butterfly pattern in front of dark red fovea; sternum and mouthparts pale yellow; legs yellow, anterior pairs

with darker distal half of femora. Abdomen: Dorsum dark sepia with white spot in front of pale yellow

spinnerets, the latter surrounded by ill-defined dark ring; sides turning into pale along pale cream venter.

Clypeus. 0.21 high.

Fig. 2. Acanthinozodium crateriferum sp. nov., holotype palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view.

C. Retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

'«;■

'N'N

'~s

'a ') i r

Fig. 3. Acanthinozodium crateriferum sp. nov. A-B. Holotype <f. C. Paratype §. A. Male palp, ventral

view. B. Idem, retrolateral view. C. Epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Eyes. AME large, round; anterior eye row straight, posterior row procurved; AME: 0.15; ALE: 0.10;

PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.10; AME-AME: 0.08; AME-ALE: 0.02; PME-PME: 0.21; PME-PLE: 0.03. MOQ:

width 0.39 in front, 0.34 at the back; 0.33 long.

Sternum. 0.85 long, 0.78 wide.

Legs. Spination: all femora with two dorsal spines and two rows of long ventral setae.

Abdomen. With row of t hin modified setae in front of spinnerets.

Leg measurements.

Leg

Total

1.75

0.57

1.49

1.78

1.11

6.65

1.65

0.57

1.28

1.63

0.99

6.10

III

1.56

0.57

1.28

1.78

0.92

6.11

2.13

0.50

1.85

2.34

0.99

7.81

Palp. (Figs 2, 3A-B). Tibia protruding dorsally; RTA straight, tapered to sharp tip; cymbium with large

plug-pit just in front of tibial bulge; embolus reaching distal margin of bulbus with flat distal part; MA

sickle-shaped with distal bulge; conductor rounded, membranous.

Female

T OTAL LENGTH . 3.98.

Carapace. (Fig. IB). 1.85 long and 1.42 wide.

Colour. (Fig. 1B-D). Similar to male, but all femora distally darkened.

Clypeus. 0.25 high.

Eyes. AME: 0.16; ALE: 0.10; PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.10; AME-AME: 0.08; AME-ALE: 0.02; PME-PME:

0.23; PME-PLE: 0.03. MOQ: width 0.44 in front, 0.38 at the back; 0.34 long.

Sternum. 0.89 long, 0.82 wide.

Leg measurements.

Leg

Total

1.63

0.71

0.99

1.56

1.07

5.96

1.70

0.64

1.14

1.49

0.92

5.89

III

1.56

0.64

1.07

1.35

0.78

5.40

2.06

0.64

1.70

2.13

0.85

7.38

Epigyne. (Figs IE, 3C). Much wider than long; with two triangular atria divided by thin median septum;

spermathecae visible in transparency along distal side of triangle.

Variation

Total length of paratype male 2.8. Carapace colour may vary from bright orange to yellowish orange.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 13).

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org: act: 01A0026D-5 A5E-4CCD-A6CE-241708236D18

Figs 4-9, 13

Diagnosis

The male of this species is recognized by the shape of the RTA, which is about as long as the length of

the tibia, slightly curved down and dorsoventrally flattened; it has a typical large ventral bulge; extremity

of the MA is slightly indented (Fig. 8A). Females are characterized by the epigyne (Figs 5G-H, 6C) in

which the three sections of the frontal margin are strongly curved.

Etymology

The name refers to the wide area of distribution in the Sahel zone of western Africa.

Type material

Holotype

CAMEROON: Waza, 11°25’ N 14°34’ E, 28 Aug. 1972, Geraert E. (MRAC 144790).

Fig. 4. Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov., holotype S- A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Idem, ventral view.

C. Idem, frontal view. D. Idem, lateral view. E. Idem, dorsolateral view. F. Carapace, eye region, dorsal

view. Scale bars: A-E = 1 mm ; F = 0.5 mm.

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Fig. 5. Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov. A-B. 3 from Faro Game Reserve (MRAC 221205).

C-H. 5 ? from same sample. A. Male habitus, dorsal view. B. Idem, ventral view. C. Female habitus,

dorsal view. D. Idem, ventral view. E. Female, mouthparts and palps, ventral view. F. Female, abdomen,

modified setae in front of tracheal spiracle, ventral view. G. Epigyne, ventral view. H. Epigyne, other

specimen; arrow indicates plug. Scale bars: A-D = 1 mm; E-F = 0.2 mm.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Fig. 6 . Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov. A-B. Holotype $. A. Palp, ventral view. B. Idem, retrolateral

view. C. $ from Faro Game Reserve (MRAC 221205), epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Other material examined

CAMEROON: 3 SS, 4 5?: Faro Game Reserve, 8°24’ N 12°49’E, 4 May 2007, wooded savanna,

pitfall, Jocque R., Loosveldt K., Baert L., Alderweireldt M. (MRAC 221205); 2 $ §: as previous, 1 May

2007 (MRAC 221147); 1 §: as previous, 5 May 2007, gallery forest, pitfall (MRAC 221183). IVORY

COAST: 1 (?, 1 $: N of Korhogo, Bandama river, 9°27’ N 5°38’ W, 4 Feb. 1980, edge of riverine forest,

Everts J. (MRAC 174271); 1 3: Bouake, Mbe, WARDA The Africa Rice Centre, T5T N 5°06’ W, 22

Aug. 1992, pitfall trap, hydromorphic rice, Russell-Smith A. (MRAC 235937). BURKINA FASO: 1 S'-

Sissamba, 13°30 , N2 o 28’W, 190ct. 1993, pitfalls, treated Cl, DeVisscherM.-N.&Balan 9 aG. (MRAC

207576). SENEGAL: 1 ?: S. of Richard Toll, 16°20’N 15°30’W, 28 Aug. 1989, pitfall, savanna. Everts

J. (MRAC 170712); 1 §: as previous, 20 Aug. 1989 (MRAC 170716); 2 SS- as previous, 2 Sep. 1989

(MRAC 170719).

Description

Male

Total length 3.55.

Fig. 7. Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov., holotype S, palp. A. Prolateral view. B. Ventral view.

C. Retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Carapace. (Figs 4A, C-E, 5A-B). 1.85 long and 1.49 wide.

Colour. (Figs 4, 5A-B). Carapace and chelicerae yellow; brown suffusion on cervical grooves; fovea

dark reddish brown; sternum and mouthparts pale yellow; legs uniform yellow. Abdomen: dorsum dark

sepia with large white spot in front of pale yellow spinnerets, the latter surrounded by ill-defined dark

ring; sides turning into pale along pale cream venter.

Clypeus. 0.31 high.

Eyes. (Fig. 4F). AME large, round; anterior eye row straight, posterior row strongly procurved; AME:

0.20; ALE: 0.10; PME: 0.10; PLE: 0.08; AME-AME: 0.10; AME-ALE: 0.03; PME-PME: 0.20; PME-

PLE: 0.07. MOQ: width 0.49 in front, 0.44 at the back; 0.39 long.

Sternum. 1.42 long, 0.99 wide.

Legs. Spination: all femora with one dorsal spine and two rows of long ventral setae.

Fig. 8. Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov., $ from Faro Game Reserve (MRAC 221205), palp.

A. Detail of bulbus with MA in expanded position, ventral view; arrow indicates the indentation of the

MA tip. B. Tibia and base of bulbus, prolateral view; arrow indicates position of the crater-like plug pit.

C. Retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Fig. 9. Acanthinozodium sahelense sp. nov. SEM photos of $ and $ from Faro Game Reserve (MRAC

221183). A. Male palp, base of cymbium, dorsal view. B. Detail of previous showing “plug pit”, dorsal

view. C. Male palp, ventral view. D. Detail of previous, showing MA in expanded position. E. Male,

femoral organ. F. Epigyne, after digestion, dorsal view; arrows indicate the two spermatheca chambers;

star indicates the atria. G. Detail of previous showing spermatheca with two chambers. Scale bars: A,

C-D, F-G =100 pm; B, E = 10 pm.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Abdomen. With row of thin modified setae in front of spinnerets.

Leg measurements.

Leg

Total

2.66

0.63

2.17

2.10

1.47

9.03

2.10

0.70

1.54

2.17

1.33

7.84

III

2.03

0.63

1.40

2.10

1.26

7.42

2.10

0.84

2.17

2.80

1.96

9.87

Palp. (Figs 6A-B, 7-8, 9A-D). Tibia protruding dorsally; RTA about as long as length of tibia, slightly

curved down and dorso-ventrally flattened; with conspicuous ventral bulge; cymbium with large plug-

pit just in front of tibial bulge; embolus curved, flat, distal part with dorsal and ventral lamellae; MA

strongly curved backward, distal extremity slightly indented; conductor rounded, membranous.

Female

Total length. 5.04.

Carapace. (Fig. 5C) 2.34 long and 1.85 wide.

Colour. (Fig. 5C-F). Similar to male, but cephalic area more strongly suffused with dark brown.

Clypeus. 0.26 high.

Eyes. AME: 0.20; ALE: 0.10; PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.10; AME-AME: 0.10; AME-ALE: 0.03; PME-PME:

0.33; PME-PLE: 0.08. MOQ: width 0.46 in front, 0.43 at the back; 0.39 long.

Sternum. 1.28 long, 1.07 wide.

Leg measurements.

Leg

Total

2.52

0.70

2.03

2.80

1.54

9.59

2.45

0.70

1.89

2.66

1.19

8.89

III

1.68

0.70

1.82

2.87

0.98

8.05

2.94

0.77

2.52

2.80

1.19

10.22

Epigyne. (Figs 5G-H, 6C). Wider than long; with two atria divided by thin median septum; anterior atria

margin with three sections, one central, two lateral; all curved; spermathecae visible in transparency at

extremities of central section.

Variation

Intensity of suffusion in cephalic area is variable. Total length of females varies between 3.4 and 5.1;

that of males between 3.3 and 3.5.

Distribution

Very wide, from northern Cameroon in the east, to Senegal in the west (Fig. 13).

r _

JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Acanthinozodium quercicola sp. nov.

um:lsid:zoobank.org: act: 917D7A4F-2400-416F-8BC2-08013EB70E44

Figs 10-11, 13

Diagnosis

The male of this species is characterized by the shape of the sinuous, by dorsolaterally flattened RTA

and by the MA with dorsal bulge.

Etymology

The name refers to the habitat where the types were found: Quercus suber woodland.

Material examined

Holotype

MOROCCO: S, Oulmes, 33°26” N 6°1 , 0” W, 4 Nov. 2011, sieving leaf litter of Quercus suber , Brustel

H. (MRAC 243549).

Paratype

1 S'- same data as holotype (MRAC 243549).

Description

Male

T OTAL LENGTH. 3.91.

Carapace. (Fig. 10A). 1.92 long and 1.49 wide.

Colour. (Fig. 10A-B). Carapace and chelicerae brownish yellow; clypeus, around eyes and cephalic

area with dark brown suffusion forming butterfly pattern in front of black fovea; thoracic area with darker

striae; mouthparts pale yellow; sternum yellow with dark margin; legs brownish yellow. Abdomen:

dorsum dark sepia, no pale spot in front of pale cream spinnerets; sides and venter pale sepia.

Clypeus. 0.20 high.

Eyes. AME large, round; anterior eye row straight, posterior row strongly procurved; AME: 0.15: ALE:

0.10; PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.08; AME-AME: 0.08; AME-ALE: 0.02; PME-PME: 0.20; PME-PLE: 0.05.

MOQ: width 0.34 in front, 0.46 at the back; 0.31 long.

Sternum. 0.99 long, 0.85 wide.

Legs. Spination: femora: I with 3 dorsal 1 prolateral, II with 2, III and IV with 1 dorsal spine; two rows

of long ventral setae.

Abdomen. With row of modified flat setae in front of spinnerets preceded by dense cover of flattened

setae.

Leg measurements:

Leg

Total

1.89

0.70

1.75

2.03

1.19

7.56

1.89

0.70

1.61

1.75

1.05

7.00

III

1.61

0.70

1.26

1.96

0.84

6.37

2.24

0.77

2.10

2.31

0.91

8.33

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Fig. 10. Acanthinozodium quercicola sp. nov., holotype f. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Idem, ventral

view. C. Palp, dorsal view; arrow indicates the crater-like plug pit. D. Idem, prolateral view. E. Idem,

ventral view. F. Idem, retrolateral view; arrow indicates the tooth at base of the RTA. Scale bars: A-B =

1 mm ; C-F = 0.2 mm

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Palp. (Figs 10C-F, 11). Tibia slightly produced forward dorsally; RTA short, dorsoventrally flattened,

sinuous in ventral view; cymbium with dorsal plug pit in front of tibial protrusion; embolus broad at

base, tapered to rounded tip with dorsal and ventral lamellae; MA fairly long, sickle shaped, with strong

dorsal boss; conductor membranous, rounded.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in Morocco (Fig. 13).

Fig. 11. Acanthinozodium quercicola sp. nov., holotype palp. A. Ventral view. B. Retrolateral view.

Scale bar = 0.2 mm.

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

Fig. 12. A. Acanthinozodium tibesti Jocque, 1991, holotype 5 (MRAC 133011), epigyne, ventral view;

arrows indicate both sides plugged. B. Acanthinozodium sahariense Denis, 1959 (CRB), male palp,

dorsolateral view; arrow indicates the crater-like plug pit. C. Acanthinozodium sericeum Denis, 1956

(CRB), male palp, dorsolateral view; arrow shows the crater-like plug pit. D. Idem, detail of previous.

E. Same specimen, abdomen, ventral view. F. Idem, detail of previous. G. Same specimen, femoral

organ on leg II. Scale bars: A-B = 0.2 mm; C, E = 100 pm; F = 20 pm D, G = 10 pm.

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JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

Discussion

The nomenclatural problem

In 1952 J. Denis described (in French) three species in a genus “ Acanthinozodium ” without designating

a type species. He did not do this because the publication in which he wanted to describe the genus was

greatly delayed and only appeared in 1966. In the latter paper he described Acanthinozodium spinulosum

and mentioned that this should have been the type species: “Le genre Acanthinozodium est intermediaire

entre les Diores et les Zodarium : son type aurait du etre A. spinulosum : mais par suite du retard apporte

a la publication de cette etude, j’ai ete amene a en donner une description tres sommaire (in the 1952

paper)” (our remark in brackets).

In his catalogue, Brignoli (1983) regarded the name Acanthinozodium as available, with the type

species A. spinulosum, because the paper of Denis (1966) could be recognized as the first “revision”

of the genus thereby establishing its availability. In a revision of the Zodariidae, Jocque (1991) also

considered Acanthinozodium as available and valid, and designated the first species described in the

1952 paper (A. cirrisulcatum Denis, 1952) as the type species. In 2001 Marusik & Koponen considered

Acanthinozodium unavailable because no type species was designated at the first publication of the name.

As a result, all species regarded as congeneric with Acanthinozodium were transferred to Zodariellum

Andreeva & Tyshchenlco, 1968 (Platnick 2002, see also the World Spider Catalog 2015). We here use

“Tyshchenko” spelled as in this late author’s most recent publications (see Marusik & Koponen 2001).

However, before the intended type species A. spinulosum was described by Denis, 1966, no other

authors used the name, but Denis published three other papers with Acanthinozodium before that year

(Denis 1952, 1956 and 1959). The first one contained two species and one subspecies of the genus, the

second only one: A. sericeum Denis, 1956, the third one three. The case is complicated because, if Denis

Fig. 13. Distribution map of A crateriferum sp. nov. (•), A. sahelense sp. nov. (■) and A quercicola sp.

nov. (A).

European Journal of Taxonomy 114 : 1-23 ( 2015 )

(1956) had used a reference to the new genus in 1956, A. sericeum would have been the type species by

monotypy and combined description. But he did so in the 1966 publication in which the description of

the intended type species A. spinulosum was finally published. By that action Acanthinozodium becomes

available and valid, and its type species is A. spinulosum Denis, 1966. This is confirmed in the catalogue

by Brignoli (1983) who also stipulated that the 1966 paper of Denis makes the name available.

The vast majority of the comments (in linens') about this case agree that Acanthinozodium is a valid

genus. However, there is no complete unanimity as to whether the type species should be the first species

described by Denis in 1952 (A. cirrisulcatum), as argued by Jocque (1991), or the species Denis selected

and confirmed as his choice in 1966 (A. spinulosum). The main argument to prioritize the former is that

the selection of A. spinulosum would jeopardize the stability of the name Acanthinozodium. Since the

name was not used by any other author before 1966 and possible synonyms were only created thereafter,

we regard this argument as invalid. A second argument is “priority”, but rules in this connection only

concern synonymies. We therefore consider A spimdosum the type species with the following rationale:

As no type species was proposed in 1952, the genus name is not available from Denis, 1952, according

to the International Code of Zooological Nomenclature (International Commission on Zoological

Nomenclature 1999, Article 13.3). The first time atype species was proposed-in 1966-Denis designated

A. spinulosum as the type species. Assuming that Denis included a statement that would satisfy Article

13.1 (ICZN 1999), then the correct name is Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966. There is no requirement for

Denis to have nominated one of the originally included species as the type species. Also, Article 11.9.3.1

guarantees that any species described in Acanthinozodium prior to 1966 is validly formed, despite the

genus-group name being not available until Denis (1966).

A further complication of this case is the synonymy with Zodariellum that was established by Jocque

(1991). The paper by Andreeva & Tyshchenko (1968), in which the latter genus was described, is

troubling as it contains several inconsistencies (see also Marusik & Koponen 2001). The authorship of

the type species of Zodariellum changes from Tyshchenko in the text to Andreeva & Tyshchenko in the

abstract. The heading of the new genus is “ Lodariellum ” instead of Zodariellum. These mistakes have

little bearing on the use of the new genus name and its possible synonymy with Acanthinozodium, but the

following has. Zodarion continentalis ( Andreeva & Tyschchenko, 1968) (which should be “ continental”)

was mentioned in the English abstract as belonging to “the three new Zodarion ” (there mentioned as

“Zodarium ”) species in the paper but described in between the Zodarion species as Zodariellum in the

text, although the single illustration for that species (fig. 5) is attributed to “Z. continentalis ” among the

other Zodarion species.

The core of the paper, the particular characters of the type species of Zodariellum , its unusual small AME

(fig. 7 in Andreeva & Tyshchenko 1968), the size and position of the eyes in the posterior row and the

flat carapace, apparently escaped the attention both of Jocque (1991) and Marusik & Koponen (2001).

The confusion in the Russian (Cyrillic) paper and the very superficial description of the genus with only

a lateral view of the habitus and a dorsal view of the male palpal tibia, may explain these mistakes.

Acanthinozodium can indeed not be a synonym of Zodariellum because one of the main characters

of the former is exactly the large size of the AME, but also the profile of the carapace is different.

Marusik & Koponen (2001) based the attribution of their new species from Mongolia to Zodariellum on

the similarity of the male palps with that in the crucial fig. 5 of Andreeva & Tyshchenko (1968), which,

in their description, was erroneously mentioned as belonging to “ Zodariellum ” continentalis.

The outcome of this discussion is as follows. Apart from those described in the present paper,

Acanthinozodium now contains the following species: A. cirrisulcatum Denis, 1952, A. sahariense

Denis, 1959*, A. sericeum Denis, 1956*, A. spinulosum Denis, 1966, A. subclavatum Denis, 1952,

r _

JOCQUE R. & HENRARD A., Revalidation and new species of Acanthinozodium (Araneae, Zodariidae)

A. tibesti Jocque, 1991* and A. zavattarii (Caporiacco, 1941)*. Only specimens of the species marked

with * have been examined by the present authors. The genus Zodariellum now only contains its type

species (Z. surprisum Andreeva & Tyschchenko, 1968), as it is apparently the only species in the femoral

organs clade with AME that have the same size as the other eyes. Other species that have been placed

there, need to be transferred to Zodarion. However, it is worth to note that at least some species of the

latter genus, i.e. species of the Z thoni group appear to have small AME, the diagnostic character of

Zodariellum. These observations show a need for revisions of these very diverse groups.

The cymbial pit

Species of Acanthinozodium have a conspicuous circular pit at the base of the cymbium. This hole is not

always easily observed as it is sometimes filled with a colourless gel-like substance. However, when it

is empty, it appears as a large crater-like depression with a ringed inner wall (Figs 9A-B, IOC, 12B-D).

The most plausible hypothesis so far is that it represents the outlet of a gland that produces a sticky matter

used to seal the epigyne after copulation. The surface of the amorphous matter in the pit is irregular and

sometimes has long thin smears (Jocque & Harten, in preparation), just like glue that has been pressed

out of a tube. Epigynes of Acanthinozodium have large atria that are often filled with a large sticky plug

that protrudes above the surrounding tegument (Figs 1A, 5H, 12A). Epigyne plugs are not uncommon in

spiders (Uhl et al. 2010). The most commonly mentioned plugs are parts of the palp, more precisely of

the embolus. The consequence of this plugging system is that males, leaving the emboli behind as plugs

(Fromhage & Schneider 2006), loose the possibility to mate another time. In other species, male spiders

produce a sticky matter that is meant to be applied to the epigyne either to impede subsequent matings by

other males or to prevent backflow of sperm, but remain polygamous themselves. There are apparently

several types of sticky plugs: glands that produce a sticky matter within the male palp, released through

a separate opening at the base of the embolus base as in some Amaurobius C.L. Koch, 1837 species

(Suhm et al. 1996) or ejected through the embolus itself. In the latter case the plug has to be produced

and introduced into the epigyne copulatory tract after sperm transfer (Uhl et al. 2014). This type of glands

was well documented by Uhl et al. (2014) for Oedothorax retusus (Westring, 1851). Its efficiency is fairly

high (Kunz et al. 2014), but depends on the size and the time it takes to harden. Since the canal through

which the matter is ejected is very narrow, it is not surprising that the amount of sticky matter that can

be transferred is restricted and should also have a low viscosity. These prerequisites are presumably less

stringent in the second type of sticky plugs that are produced by a gland that ejects the matter through a

wide canal in the cymbium. Such glands are supposed to be present in Storenomorphinae (Jocque 1991,

figs 39M0) where the cymbium is provided with hollow setae and epigynes are very often completely

covered by a rubbery matter. The Acanthinozodium crater-like plug-pit can also be assumed to be an

efficient outlet for sufficient viscous sticky matter to block the large atria of the epigyne (Figs 5H, 12A).

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Mark Harvey, Norman Platnick, Thomas Pape, Stephen Thorpe and Laurent Raty

for their interesting and useful co mm ents in connection with the nomenclatural problem presented

here. We thank Alain Reygel for the drawings and Robert Bosmans and Sylvain Dejean for the loan of

specimens. We are grateful to Gabriele Uhl for critical comments on the plug-pit hypothesis. This paper

is publication BRC 325 of the Biodiversity Research Center (Universite Catholique de Louvain). This

publication is financed thanks to the FRIA (Fonds pour la Formation a la Recherche dans 1’Industrie et

dans FAgriculture).

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