Raveniola tarabaevi Zonstein, 2024, sp. nov.

Raveniola tarabaevi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E4DE9EC3-3D2A-4F4B-9167-3D80A69832E5 Figs 59, 132, 191, 252, 544–546, 613, 759 Diagnosis The new species can be distinguished from other members of the group by having smaller PME (which are about 0.7 times as large as AME) and, correspondingly, by larger interdistances AME–PME and PLE–PME (which are approximately equal to two and one PME diameters, respectively). Within other related species, AME are subequal to PME, and the distances AME–PME and PLE–PME are clearly shorter than two and one PME diameter, respectively. The structure of the spermathecae in R. tarabaevi sp. nov. most closely resembles that in R. kirgizica sp. nov.; both species share a relatively short and subapically constricted spermathetical trunk, combined with a long lateral diverticulum. However, in R. tarabaevi, the main trunk is not so slender as in R. kirgizica (Figs 544–546 cf. Fig. 537). Etymology The specific epithet is given in honour and memory of Chingiz Tarabaev (1951–1999), for his significant personal contribution to the modern study of the Central Asian spider fauna. Material examined Holotype KAZAKHSTAN • ♀; Zhetyzhol Mts, Kastek Ridge, Uzunbulak Gorge, eastern slope of Mt Beriktas; 42°54′ N, 75°33′ E; 1700–1900 m a.s.l.; 12 May 1988; S. Zonstein and S. Ovchinnikov leg.; SMNH. Paratypes KAZAKHSTAN • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; SMNH. Additional material KAZAKHSTAN • 2 ♀♀; Trans-Ili Mts, Turgen Canyon 8 km S of Turgen Town, forest protection area; 43°18′ N, 77°38′ E; 1500 m a.s.l.; 12 Jul. 1993; S. Ovchinnikov and D. Milko leg.; SMNH. Description Female (holotype) HABITUS. See Fig. 59. MEASUREMENTS. TBL 15.75, CL 4.91, CW 4.54, LL 0.47, LW 0.98, SL 2.62, SW 2.36. COLOUR. Carapace, sternum, labium, maxillae, palps and legs uniformly light ginger orange; eye tubercle blackish brown; chelicerae reddish orange; abdomen and spinnerets pale grayish brown; abdomen dorsally with slightly darker grayish cardiac mark followed behind by several very small and almost indistinct brownish chevrons. CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace and chelicerae as shown in Fig. 132. Clypeus and eye group as in Fig. 191. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.12(0.16), ALE 0.27, PLE 0.14, PME 0.08; AME–AME 0.14(0.10), ALE–AME 0.12(0.10), ALE–PLE 0.11, PLE–PME 0.07, PME–PME 0.37. Cheliceral rastellum absent. Each cheliceral furrow with 9 promarginal teeth and 3–4 relatively large mesobasal denticles. Sternum, labium and maxillae as shown in Fig. 252. Maxillae with 22 cuspules each. LEGS. Scopula: entire and distal on metatarsi I–II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II; sparse and widely divided on tarsus III; absent on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 each on tibiae, 14–16 on metatarsi, 11–13 on tarsi, 9 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 4 promarginal teeth. PTC I–IV with 6–8 teeth on each margin. LEG MEASUREMENTS. FemurPatellaTibiaMetatarsusTarsusTotalPalp2.771.431.88–1.637.71Leg I3.432.072.791.941.5811.81Leg II3.242.012.302.081.5911.22Leg III3.051.822.032.651.6711.22Leg IV3.892.032.913.661.9314.42 SPINATION. Femora I–IV with one basodorsal spine and 3 dorsal bristles; palpal femur dorsally with 3 bristles; tarsi I–IV aspinose. Palp: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia v7; tarsus v2. Leg I: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p1(0), v6; metatarsus v7. Leg II: femur pd1; patella p1; tibia p1, v6; metatarsus v7. Leg III: femur pd2, rd2; patella r1; tibia d1, p2, r3, v7; metatarsus d2, p3, r3, v7. Leg IV: femur pd2, rd1; patella p1, r1; tibia d1, p3, r2, v7; metatarsus d2, p4(3), r3, v8. SPERMATHECAE. Each of paired spermathecae Y-shaped with short spermathecal trunk carrying relatively long lateral diverticulum with fairly pronounced terminal fundus (Fig. 544). SPINNERETS. See Fig. 613. PMS: length 0.29, diameter 0.13. PLS: maximal diameter 0.59; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.81, 0.54, 0.48; total length 1.83; apical segment triangular. Male Unknown. Variation Carapace length in females (n =6) varies from 4.37 to 6.25. Abdomen dorsally with a weak brownish chevron-like pattern that ranges from poorly discernible to almost indistinct throughout the specimens. Within the type series, only a minor variation in the structure of the spermathecae is observed, as shown in Figs 545–546. Ecology All spiders were found hiding under stones in small mountain gorges covered with open low forest and shrubs. Distribution Kazakhstan: Northern Tien-Shan (Trans-Ili Mt Ridge, including its western spur, Zhetyzhol Mts). See Fig. 759. Notes Logunov & Gromov (2012: text figure on p. 28) depicted a female belonging to this species as Raveniola sp.