Zodarion tunetiacum Strand 1906

Zodarion tunetiacum Strand, 1906 Figs 97–98, 106 Zodarium tunetiacum Strand, 1906: 669. Zodarium tunetiacum – Strand 1908: 86. Zodarion tunetiacum – Denis 1937: 17, pl. 3 fig. 21. Diagnosis This species can be separated from Z. cyrenaicum by the presence of a horizontally curly brace-shaped protuberance in the middle of epigyne (vs absent in Z. cyrenaicum; cf. Fig. 98A–B and Fig. 46D). Type material examined Neotype (here designated) EGYPT • ♀; Alexandria; MNHN-AR2854. Remarks Examination of material from the Simon collection (MNHN-AR2854) led to the identification of a female specimen belonging to Z. tunetiacum. Although this species has not been listed as a nomen dubium by Nentwig et al. (2020) or World Spider Catalog (2025), our investigation revealed that the original type material was destroyed during World War II (J. Holstein pers. comm.). Therefore, we designate this specimen as the neotype and provide a redescription below to stabilize the taxonomic status of the species. Redescription Female HABITUS (Fig. 97A–B). Carapace dark brown laterally and reddish-brown medially; chelicerae reddish-brown; gnathocoxae greyish basally and yellowish apically, labium greyish, with reddish basal part; sternum greyish, with dark brown marginal part. Cx and Pa of all legs pale except for black Cx I. Fe I and II entirely black, Fe III and IV black on their second half. Ti dark brown, with a pair of longitudinal light stripes. Abdomen dorsum black, venter greyish laterally and slightly lighter medially; PVS present. Spinnerets greyish, with a pale median part. MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.2; carapace 2.25 long, 1.6 wide. Clypeus 0.25 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.1, ALE 0.06, PME 0.05, PLE 0.04, AME–AME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE– ALE 0.51, AME–PME 0.14, PME–PME 0.57, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.38, ALE–PLE 0.25. Legs: I 8.48 (1.93, 0.9, 1.59, 2.46, 1.6), II 8.78 (1.9, 0.95, 1.65, 2.53, 1.75), III 9.24 (2, 1, 1.6, 2.81, 1.83), IV 9.91 (2.11, 1.2, 1.63, 3, 1.97). Palp: 2.4 (0.86, 0.58, 0.46, 0.77). EPIGYNE (Fig. 98A–D). Epigyne comprising a traversed plate, proximally surrounded by undulating, highly sclerotized margins, attached in the middle and covering a horizontal curly brace-shaped protuberance in the middle and a series of membranous folds beneath. Vulva comprising a pair of black, globular bodies situated outwards, attached to medium-sized, lighter bodies, and ending at a pair of rather elongated and voluminous bodies, inclined medially. Male Unknown. Distribution Tunisia was the sole location for the occurrence of Z. tunetiacum. This is the first report of this species from Egypt and represents the easternmost occurrence of this species across its distribution range.