Lycosa hyraculus Steinpress & Cohen & Pétillon & Chipman & Gavish-Regev 2022, sp. nov

Lycosa hyraculus sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 8BA7C78F-E972-41B9-B7AC-C65ECA9B67E2 Figs 1, 2C, 3C, 4C, 5C, 6C, F, 7B, F, 8B–D, 9B, 10B, 11C–D, 12C, 19, 21B, 22B, 23–24 Diagnosis Male TER not bent posteriorly, directed retrolaterally. Contrasts with L. gesserit sp. nov. by having TAT as long as CTA (TAT as shorter than CTA in L. gesserit). Contrasts with all other known males of Lycosa, with TER bent posteriorly (Figs 2C, 3C, 4C, 5C, 6C, F, 7C, 19). Female Recognized by combination of characters: ocular area:>⅓ length of carapace, distinctly raised, making the carapace between PLE and fovea appear slightly concave in profile. Epigyne: septal pedicel reduced, septum trapezoidal, broader proximally, wider than long. Copulatory openings narrow, at anterior end of septum. Carapace resembles L. oculata, L. suboculata, and L. macrophthalma, but in these species the septum is longer than wide. Carapace also resembles Lycosa sp., but in this species the copulatory openings are not visible in ventral view. Epigyne similar to L. piochardi and L. baulnyi, but in these species the ocular area is not distinctly raised, and is Etymology Species name from Hyrax. This species often leaves the entrance to its burrow open. This behavior reminded the authors of an Israeli nursery rhyme, in which “the little hyrax forgot to close the door”. Type material Holotype ISRAEL – Negev • ♂; Sede Zin; [30.854° N, 34.773° E]; 13 Aug. 2016; I. Steves leg.; HUJ INV-AR20818. Paratype ISRAEL – Negev • ♀; same collection data as for holotype; HUJ INV-AR20817. Other material examined EGYPT – Sinai • 1 juv.; Al-Qusaymah (Kadesh Barnea); [30.668° N, 34.366° E]; 13 Nov. 1967; P. Amitai leg.; HUJ INV-AR20840 • ISRAEL – Negev • 1 ♀; Ha-Ro’a Campsite; [30.876° N, 34.784° E]; 14 Jun. 2015; E. Gavish-Regev leg.; HUJ INV-AR20658 • 1 ♂; Haluqim ridge; [30.86° N, 34.77° E]; 24 Jul. 2018; E. Gavish-Regev leg.; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20663 • 1 juv.; Hawat Even Ari; [30.786° N, 34.77° E]; 3 Jan. 2018; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20942 • 1 ♂; Mamshit; 7 Nov. 2017; A. Uzan leg.; HUJ INV-AR20553 • 1 juv.; Midreshet Ben-Gurion; [30.854° N, 34.773° E]; 22 Oct. 2018; I. Armiach Steinpress leg.; HUJ INV-AR20737 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; HUJ INV-AR20738 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; HUJ INV-AR20739 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20740 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20741 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20742 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20743 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20744 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20745 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20746 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20747 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20748 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20749 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20750 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20757 • 1 ♂; Mishor Yamin; [31.003° N, 35.1° E]; 11 May 2014; S. Aharon leg.; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20855 • 1 ♂; Shivta camp; [30.9245° N, 34.6244° E]; 22 Oct. 2018; O. Erlichman leg.; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20835 • 1 juv.; Tel Jaulan, Yeruham; [30.985° N, 34.904° E]; 10 Oct. 1962; P. Amitai leg.; HUJ INV-AR20836 • 1 ♀; Yeruham; [30.985° N, 34.9° E]; 1 Apr. 2017; A. Novikova leg.; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR 20523 • 1 juv.; same locality as for preceding; 29 Jul. 2018; E. Gavish-Regev leg.; col. juv.; HUJ INV-AR20616 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; HUJ INV-AR20620 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20617 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20618 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20619 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 2 Jun. 2016; E. Zvik; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20665 • 1 juv.; same locality as for preceding; 19 Jul. 2019; Y. Zvik leg.; col. sub.; HUJ INV-AR20868 • 1 ♂; Yeruham Park; 2 Jun. 2016; Y. Zvik leg.; HUJ INV-AR20874 • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; HUJ INV-AR20875. Description Male HOLOTYPE MEASUREMENTS. AME diameter: 0.4; ALE diameter: 0.35; PME diameter: 1.25; PLE diameter: 0.99; carapace length: 9.71; carapace width: 7.28; carapace maximal height: 3.59; abdomen length: 6.9; leg I (Fe, Pa, Ti, Mt, Tr): 7.9, 3.54, 6.45, 6.48, 3.67; leg II: 7.31, 3.7, 5.58, 6.93, 3.76; leg III: (missing), 2.88, 5.03, 6.82, 3.57; leg IV: 8.99, 3.56, 7.14, 9.35, 4.07. VARIATION IN MALES COLLECTED AS ADULTS (n = 2, all other male adults collected as juveniles). AME diameter: 0.28–0.44; PME diameter: 0.9–1.19; carapace length: 0.78–10.03; carapace width: 0.59–7.75; carapace maximal height: 2.78–3.36; abdomen length: 5.9–6.5; leg I (Fe, Pa, Ti, Mt, Tr): 6.44–7.7, 3.02– 3.68, 5.5–6.7, 5.84–7.3, 3–3.23; leg II: 6.19–8.2, 2.7–3.6, 5–6.36, 5.66–7.36, 3.1–3.8; leg III: 5.85–7.66, 2.4–3.36, 4.5–5.72, 6.2–7.58, 2.8–3.43; leg IV: 7.5–9.42, 2.8–3.59, 6.06–10, 8.03–10.33, 4.03–4.26. CARAPACE. Ocular area>⅓ length of carapace, distinctly raised, making the carapace between PLE and fovea appear slightly concave in profile. COLOR. Carapace cream colored, with light brown median bands, radiated and darker on margins, connecting to dark ocular area. Perimeter light brown. Sternum black. Chelicerae reddish-brown. Abdomen yellow infused with light brown dorsad, cardiac mark brown, darker on margins. Abdomen venter black posterior to epigastric fold. Genital opening brown. Spinnerets black. Legs cream colored, infused with brown dorsad, yellowish ventrad, to reddish-brown distad, with two black bands on tibia. Coxae dark grey, trochanters brown. Pedipalps yellow, to dark brown distad (Figs 6C, 7C, 8C–D). COLOR VARIATION IN MALES (n = 5). Abdominal black patch sometimes traspezoidal, narrow distad; sometimes short, not reaching spinnerets. Spinnerets sometimes grey, brown or yellow. GENITALIA. Genital opening sclerotized, similar to subadult female epigyne. Cymbium reddish-brown. Tegular apophysis (TA) lying flat on bulb, oriented retrolaterally. TAT highly sclerotized, dark brown, not bent posteriorly (unlike most other species of Lycosa), slightly bent ventrad. CTA with smooth edge, and abrupt, rounded end at base of TAT. Tip of conductor membranous, triangular, with smooth edges. Synembolus with small, slightly sclerotized lobe (SEL), on retrolateral edge (Figs 2C, 3C, 4C, 5C, 19). LEGS. Metatarsus I ventral spination: 2 pairs + apical pair. Tibia I ventral spination: 2 pairs + apical pair. Tarsus with scopula. Female PARATYPE MEASUREMENTS. AME diameter: 0.44; PME diameter: 1.6; carapace length:10.97; carapace width: 7.96; carapace maximal height: 3.96; abdomen length: 10.88; leg I (Fe, Pa, Ti, Mt, Tr): 8.18, 3.75, 6.07, 5.62, 3.1; leg II: 7.56, 3.7, 5.56, 6.03, 3.1; leg III: 6.34, 3.28, 5, 6.72, 3.29; leg IV: 8.25, 3.66, 6.84, 8.66, 3.75. VARIATION OF AN ADDITIONAL FEMALE COLLECTED AS ADULT (n = 1, all other female adults collected as juveniles). AME diameter: 0.55; PME diameter: 1.35; carapace length: 10.7; carapace width: 8.2; carapace maximal height: 4.02; abdomen length: 9.98; leg I (Fe, Pa, Ti, Mt, Tr): 8, 3.9, 6.3, 5.5, 3.17; leg II: 8.06, 4, 5.87, 6.26, 3.6; leg III: 7.45, 3.6, 5.56, 6.94, 3.53; leg IV: 9.64, 3.7, 7.46, 10.2, 4.23. CARAPACE. Similar to male. COLOR. Similar to male. No significant variation observed (Figs 6F, 7F, 8C). GENITALIA. Epigyne longer than wide. Septal pedicel reduced, narrower than septum. Septum trapezoidal, wider proximally, about as long as proximal part of epigyne. Copulatory openings narrow, flanking septal pedicel. Spermatheca dark brown, compact, distal part arching laterally. Head of spermatheca distinctly wider than sperm duct, subcircular, positioned anterior to copulatory opening (Figs 9B, 10B, 11C–D). LEGS. Similar to male. Natural history This species is nocturnal. Females were collected March, June, August and September. Males collected June, August and September. Subadult females were collected April and June. Subadult males were collected May, July and September. Juveniles were collected January, June, July and October (Table 4). Reproductive season unknown. This species inhabits loess soils in arid desert environments (annual precipitation 75–200 mm). The burrow usually with a modification in the form of a thin, flexible door made of silk and soil, and hinged to the entrance with silk. Rarely an object such as a piece of soil crust or a flat stone can be used as a door. The door is often left open. The spiders are usually found at night, standing near the burrow, rarely on rocks or vegetation. Captive specimens accept a wide variety of insects, similar to other species of Lycosa (Steves et al. 2017) (Figs 8C–D, 21B, 22B). Distribution EGYPT, ISRAEL. Records EGYPT: Sinai (Al-Qusaymah (Kadesh Barnea)). ISRAEL: Negev (Ha-Ro’a Campsite, Haluqim ridge, Hawat Even Ari, Mamshit, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Mishor Yamin, Sede Zin, Shivta camp, Yeruham) (Fig. 1). Relationships According to our molecular phylogey, this species is the sister taxon of Lycosa gesserit sp. nov., and closely related to Lycosa oculata, Lycosa aff. oculata 1 and Lycosa aff. oculata 2. The cephalothorax is morphologically similar to Lycosa macrophthalma Nadolny & Zamani, 2020 and the species might be related to it as well (Figs 23–24).