Raveniola ornatula Zonstein, 2024, sp. nov.

Raveniola ornatula sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5B8115AD-5059-44AC-80CB-5B4CA05A8158 Figs 12, 47, 94, 121, 148, 179, 213, 240, 270, 299–300, 362, 415–417, 517–519, 581–583, 674, 753 Diagnosis The new species shares with R. ornata sp. nov. a rich dorsal abdominal pattern, a wide roundish sternum, small PMS and a more or less densely ornamented ventral surface of the abdomen, but can be distinguished from the latter in possessing an even denser ventral abdominal pattern (Figs 12, 47, 213, 240, 581–583 cf. Figs 11, 45–46, 212, 239, 577–580). Males of R. ornatula sp. nov. differ from males of the latter species in having a shorter and wider basal section of the embolus (Figs 415–417 cf. Figs 412–414). The conspecific females can be distinguished from females of R. ornata in possessing larger but less numerous maxillary cuspules, as well as shorter and stouter basal (inner) branches of the spermathecae (Figs 240, 517–519 cf. Figs 239, 513–516). Etymology The specific epithet is a Latin adjective meaning ‘decorated’; the name refers to a very dense maculate dorsal and ventral abdominal pattern; it should also emphasize the similarity of this species to a closely related congener, Raveniola ornata sp. nov. Material examined Holotype TAJIKISTAN • ♂; Hazratisho Mts, Yahsu Canyon, Sangdara Gorge; 38°22′ N, 70°10′ E; 1450 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 1987; S. Zonstein leg.; SMNH. Paratypes TAJIKISTAN • 1 ♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 1450–1800 m a.s.l.; SMNH. Description Male (holotype) HABITUS. See Fig. 12. MEASUREMENTS. TBL 11.35, CL 4.27, CW 3.94, LL 0.30, LW 0.81, SL 2.12, SW 2.01. COLOUR. Carapace, palps and legs medium brownish orange (all appendages gradually lighten toward apices); eye tubercle with AMEs widely bordered and other eyes emarginated with blackish coloured cuticle, chelicerae reddish orange; sternum, labium and maxillae pale brownish yellow; abdomen yellowish brown with numerous brownish marks forming well-developed reticulate pattern on both dorsum and side; book-lungs and spinnerets pale yellowish brown. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 94. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 148. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.20), ALE 0.26, PLE 0.14, PME 0.14; AME–AME 0.14(0.08), ALE–AME 0.09(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.10, PLE–PME 0.07, PME–PME 0.34. Anterior cheliceral edge with unmodified setae; rastellum not developed. Each cheliceral furrow with 7 promarginal teeth and 5–6 relatively large and raised mesobasal denticles. MIT indiscernible. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 213. Maxillae with 30–31 cuspules each. LEGS. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Figs 270, 299. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; narrowly divided with setae on tarsus II; absent on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 11–13 on metatarsi, 11–12 on tarsi, 7–8 on cymbium. PTC I–II and III–IV with 8–10 and 9–11 teeth on each margin, respectively. SPINATION. Palp: femur d3, pd2; patella pd1; tibia d2, p3, r2, v6; cymbium d6(4). Leg I: femur d4, pd3, rd3(2); patella p1; tibia p2, pv2, rv2+2M; metatarsus v1(0). Leg II: femur d4, pd3; patella p1; tibia p3, v7(6); metatarsus v5(4). Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3(2); patella p2, r1; tibia d2, p3(2), r4(3), v7; metatarsus d2, p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, pd3, rd2; patella p1, r1; tibia d2, p3, r3, v7; metatarsus d3, p4, r4, v9. Tarsi I–IV aspinose. PALP. Tibia, cymbium and copulatory bulb as shown in Fig. 362. Embolus with short and conical basal portion lacking keel, and with even shorter and twisted apical part (Figs 415–417). SPINNERETS. See Fig. 581. PMS: length 0.31, diameter 0.10. PLS: maximal diameter 0.38; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.58, 0.43, 0.42; total length 1.43; apical segment shortly digitiform. LEG MEASUREMENTS. ♂(♀) FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.60 (2.41)1.44 (1.40)1.99 (2.02)–0.70 (1.43)6.73 (7.26)Leg I4.28 (3.32)2.19 (2.16)3.14 (2.33)3.60 (1.98)2.15 (1.35)15.36 (11.14)Leg II3.85 (3.07)2.13 (1.98)2.89 (2.07)3.29 (1.96)2.11 (1.33)14.27 (10.41)Leg III3.23 (2.67)1.59 (1.82)2.25 (1.70)3.34 (2.24)2.08 (1.49)12.49 (9.92)Leg IV4.37 (3.44)1.91 (1.99)3.16 (2.58)4.65 (3.15)2.33 (1.74)16.42 (12.90) Female (paratype) HABITUS. See Fig. 47. MEASUREMENTS. TBL 12.50, CL 4.32, CW 3.90, LL 0.37, LW 1.04, SL 2.08, SW 2.07. COLOUR. As in male, but carapace and legs paler yellowish brown. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 121. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 179. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.14(0.20), ALE 0.27, PLE 0.16, PME 0.12;AME–AME 0.16(0.10), ALE–AME 0.09(0.06), ALE–PLE 0.08, PLE–PME 0.08, PME–PME 0.32. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 7 long promarginal teeth and 4–6 relatively large mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 240. Maxillae with ca 35 cuspules each. LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus; widely divided on tarsi I–II; absent on tarsi III–IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 7–8 each on tibiae, 8–10 on metatarsi, 10–11 on tarsi I–IV, 8 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 6–7 promarginal teeth. PTC I–II and III–IV with 6–7 and 8–9 short teeth on each margin, respectively. SPINATION. Palpal femur and femora I–II with 1 basodorsal spine and 3–4 dorsal bristles; palpal patella, patella I, and tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; tibia v7; tarsus v2. Leg I: femur pd1; tibia p1, v3; metatarsus v6(4). Leg II: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p1, v5(4); metatarsus v7. Leg III: femur d4, pd3, rd3(2); patella p2, r1; tibia d1, p2, r1, v7; metatarsus p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur d4, rd1; patella p1(0), r1; tibia p2, r3, v7; metatarsus p3, r2, v7. SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae Y-shaped with relatively short and wide basic (inner) branch and diverging from this structure long outer branch (Fig. 517). SPINNERETS. See Figs 582–583. PMS: length 0.32, diameter 0.09. PLS: maximal diameter 0.43; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.85, 0.39, 0.38; total length 1.62; apical segment short digitiform. Variation Carapace length in the only male paratype is 4.18, in the female paratypes (n=5) it ranges from 3.98 to 4.83. Variation in the structure of the metatarsus I in male and the spermathecae as shown in Figs 300, 518–519. Ecology Raveniola ornatula sp. nov. was found in the midland mountain zone of Hazretisho Mts. where it inhabits (sympatrically with R. cucullata sp. nov. and R. ignobilis sp. nov.) shrubs and fragmentary broad-leaved woodlands dominated by Acer spp. and Juglans regia (Fig. 674). All spiders were found under stones. Distribution Known only from the type locality. See Fig. 753.