Eratigena montigena, COMB. NOV.

ERATIGENA MONTIGENA (SIMON, 1937) COMB. NOV. (FIG. 10L–O)

Tegenaria montigena Simon, 1937: 1001, 1039, figs 1541, 1542.

Tegenaria lusitanica Schenkel, 1938: 11–13, fig. 4, male; synonymized by Bacelar (1940: 107).

Tegenaria feminea: Brignoli, 1978a: 276, fig. 3, female, misidentification.

Types

Syntypes. Spain: Guadarrama, la Granja, 2 ♂, 9 ♀ (MNHN, 1964), vi.1908, Simon.

Other material examined

Portugal (15 ♂, 12 ♀); Spain (3 ♂, 12 ♀).

Diagnosis

Eratigena montigena can be easily recognized by the unique and distinctive terminal end of the conductor in lateral view (Fig. 10O), the shape of the onebranched and protruding RTA, the strongly sclero- tized epigynal plate with two symmetrically arranged reniform depressions with the CO, the epigynal teeth, and the simply shaped vulva (Fig. 10M–N).

Description

Measurements: Measurements and detailed description of male were provided by Schenkel (1938: 11–13, sub Tegenaria lusitanica). Female (N = 1): CL 4.64, CW 3.14, STL 2.36, STW 2.01, OL 6.42, OW 4.16. Leg I (4.20, 1.77, 3.65, 3.65, 2.27), II (3.65, 1.60, 2.67, 3.14, 1.93), III (3.32, 1.39, 2.34, 3.44, 1.76), IV (4.39, 1.56, 3.81, 4.91, 2.14), Pedipalp (1.85, 0.80, 1.05, 1.85). EPL 0.70, EPW 1.08, ATL 0.36, ATW 0.52. Eyes: PME 0.18, PLE 0.18, AME 0.14, ALE 0.19. Eye distances: PME– PME 1 x PME, PME–AME 1 x PME, PME–PLE 1 x PME, PME–ALE 1–1.5 x PME, AME–AME 0.5–1 x AME, AME–ALE < 0.5 x AME. CLY1 2.5–3 x AME, CLY2 1–1.5 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with one branch, laterally oblong protruding ventrad, lobe-like, distally broadly truncated. Short dorsal spike at male palp tibia present. Embolus length 1–1.25 x CB, originating at 10 o’clock position, distal tip at 4 o’clock position. Conductor with distal portion moderately elongated, shorter or almost as long as wide, not reaching distal margin of alveolus, lateral margin folded along terminal half. Terminal end very complex with a simple and curved point ventrally and a strongly protruding and massive outgrowth dorsally, in between these structures a short sharp point. Transversal ridge of conductor expressed as membranous lamella. Conductor membranously connected to tegulum. MA originating at 7 o’clock position, moderately protruding, as long as wide, distally with pocket-like sclerite. Connection of MA to tegulum moderately sclerotized.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with a strongly sclerotized, trapezoidal to oval plate, anteriorly of which well-separated CO are located at anterior end of two symmetrically arranged reniform depressions. Posterior sclerite absent. Epigynal teeth present, originating posteriolateral at the epigynal plate, pointing mediad. Vulva consists of short and convoluted CD leading into RC, irregularly sclerotized, enclosing convoluted ducts, separated by more than their diameter. FD only represented by small, leafshaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three, retromargin with eight to nine teeth. Colulus rectangularly shaped with distal margin w-shaped. Distal segment of PLS longer than basal segment. PMS with one prominent minor ampullate gland spigot and three to four cylindrical gland spigots laterally. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus absent. Tarsal trichobothria seven to nine. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–1+1p–0–0 or 1–2p–0–0), female palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2p–0–0), leg femora (I: 2–2–0–0. II: 2–2– 0–0. III: 2–2–2–0. IV: 1–1–1–0.), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae [I: 0–0–0–3p, or 2–0–0–3p (dorsal spines very skinny). II: 0–1–0–3p, or 2–1–0–3p (dorsal spines very thin). III: 2–2–2– 3p. IV: 2–2–2–3p+1+1p], metatarsi (0–0–0–4p+1, 0–2–0–4p+1, 1–4–4–4p+1 or 2–4–3–5p, 2–4–4–2p+1+3p), tarsi (I–II 0, III 0–2–3–0, IV 0–2– 4–0).

Coloration: Carapace with longitudinal dark symmetrical bands, may be reduced to only triangular dots. Sternum either without a pattern or with moderately paler median region. Opisthosoma dark brown-grey-green, at the cardiac mark yellowish, continuing posteriorly in broad chevrons. Legs without a pattern. ALS fairly darkened, PLS both segments darkened.

Distribution

Reported from the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain).

Discussion

Brignoli’s concept of E. montigena is confusing. He illustrated the vulva (Brignoli, 1971b) of this species under Teg. montigena as well as under Teg. feminea on the basis of a misidentified specimen from ‘Zamora, env. Sandin de Carballeda’ (Brignoli, 1978a: 276, fig. 3), which was re-examined here.