Raveniola ovchinnikovi Zonstein, 2024, sp. nov.

Raveniola ovchinnikovi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 89FDF531-7C9A-4799-9279-7009A7A26049 Figs 26–27, 106, 161, 225, 284–285, 375, 450–453, 612, 759 Diagnosis Raveniola ovchinnikovi sp. nov. clearly differs from other species of the group by having a pale coloured body and legs, as well as by the full absence of the abdominal pattern and by its clearly longer (shortly digitiform vs triangular) apical segments of PLS (Figs 26–27, 612 cf. 19–24, 28–35, 75–81, 597–598, 605, 609, 614, 616). Etymology The specific epithet is given in honour and memory of Sergei Ovchinnikov (1958–2007) noting his considerable contribution to the modern study of Central Asian spiders. Material examined Holotype KYRGYZSTAN • ♂; foothills of Kyrgyz Mts (northern slope), Kok-Dzhar Gorge, 3 km SSE of Bishkek; 42°47.4′ N, 74°37.7′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 1992; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH. Paratype KYRGYZSTAN • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for preceding, Orto-Sai Canyon, 2.5 km S of Bishkek; 42°47.7′ N, 74°36.2′ E; 1050 m a.s.l.; SMNH. Additional material (5 juvs) KAZAKHSTAN • 1 juv.; foothills of Chu-Ili Mts, surroundings of Kordai Town; 43°02′ N, 74°43′ E; 600–700 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun. 1983; S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH. KYRGYZSTAN • 1 juv.; foothills of Kyrgyz Mts, Alamedin Canyon, 12 km SE of Bishkek, environs of Koi-Tash Village; 42°43′ N, 74°40′ E; 1300 m a.s.l.; 20 Jul. 1978; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH • 2 juvs; Chu Valley, bank of Ala-Archa River, 1 km N of Bishkek; 42°57′ N, 74°34.5′ E; 700 m a.s.l.; 5 Apr. 1983; S. Zonstein and S.V. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH • 1 juv; foothills of Kyrgyz Mts (northern slope), Jardy-Kaindy Canyon, 80 km WSW of Bishkek; 42°41′ N, 73°37′ E; 1200 m a.s.l.; 11 Jun.1985; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH. Description Male (holotype) HABITUS. See Fig. 26. MEASUREMENTS. TBL 9.10, CL 4.03, CW 3.52, LL 0.37, LW 0.78, SL 2.12, SW 1.84. COLOUR. Entire cephalothorax, palps and legs pale orange; carapace and chelicerae slightly darker, light brownish orange; eye tubercle dark brown to brownish black; abdomen uniformly pale greyish white, without dorsal pattern; spinnerets very pale greyish yellow. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 106. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 161. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.12(0.16), ALE 0.19, PLE 0.11, PME 0.09; AME–AME 0.14(0.10), ALE–AME 0.06(0.04), ALE–PLE 0.05, PLE–PME 0.04, PME–PME 0.30. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 10–11 promarginal teeth and 4 mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 225. Maxillae with 12–13 cuspules each. LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Fig. 284. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; narrowly divided with setae on tarsus II; widely divided on tarsus III; sparse and rudimentary on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 8–11 on metatarsi, 10–12 on tarsi, 8 on cymbium. PTC I–IV with 8 and 8–10 teeth on outer and inner margins, respectively. LEG MEASUREMENTS. FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.331.232.17–0.636.36Leg I4.162.163.253.212.1214.90Leg II3.941.933.183.162.1314.34Leg III3.491.251.923.142.1511.95Leg IV4.211.913.673.782.6716.24 SPINATION. Palpal patella, patellae I–II, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d2, pd2, rd2; tibia d4, pv3, r2, v5; tarsus d5. Leg I: femur d4, pd2, rd2; tibia p2, r2, pv2, rv2+2M; metatarsus v1. Leg II: femur d4, pd2; tibia p3, v7; metatarsus p1, v6. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p2, r2(1); tibia d3, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d3, p4, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p2 r2(1); tibia d1, d3(2), p3, r4, v7; metatarsus d3, p3, r3(1), v8(6). PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 375. Embolus long, tapering and slightly curved subapically (Figs 450–452). SPINNERETS. See Fig. 612. PMS: length 0.18, diameter 0.07. PLS: maximal diameter 0.33; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.90, 0.57, 0.52; total length 1.99; apical segment digitiform. Female Unknown. Variation Carapace length in the male paratype 3.68. The variation in habitus and the structure of the male tibia and metatarsus I, and the copulatory bulb, as shown in Figs 27, 285 and 453. Ecology Unlike most species of the group, Raveniola ovchinnikovi sp. nov. occurs in a subarid low-altitude zone of intermontain valleys and in dry low foothills, where it inhabits steppe biotopes on the loess substrate. All spiders were collected from cavities and cracks in the clay precipices or from abandoned rodent burrows. Distribution The northernmost part of Kyrghyztan and the adjoining territory of southeastern Kazakhstan: the Chu Valley and the adjoining foothills of Kyrgyz and Chu-Ili Mts. See Fig. 759.