A new Chaetopelma species from the Eastern Mediterranean (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Ischnocolinae)

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1 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society A new Chaetopelma species from the Eastern Mediterranean (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Ischnocolinae) Richard C. Gallon*, Ray Gabrielº & Guy Tansley *23a Roumania Crescent, Llandudno, North Wales, LL30 1UP. ºHope Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW. 19 Popplewell Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, NE9 6TU. Summary A new large Chaetopelma species from the Eastern Mediterranean is described, figured and diagnosed from its congeners. The species closely resembles Chaetopelma olivaceum (C. L. Koch, 1841) a widespread species in the region. With the description of this new species the genus Chaetopelma now comprises five species. Introduction The genus Chaetopelma Ausserer, 1871 was revised recently, leaving the genus with four species, three of which are represent ed in the Eastern Mediterranean (Guadanucci & Gallon, 2008; Gallon, 2008). These Mediterranean species comprise: Chaetopelma olivaceum (C. L. Koch, 1841), widely distributed along the eastern Mediterranean coast from Egypt to Turkey, including Cyprus; Chaetopelma karlamani Vollmer 1997, apparently endemic to Cyprus; Chaetopelma concolor (Simon 1873), from Turkey, Syria and Egypt. Chaetopelma olivaceum is a large species with mature males reaching a body length of c.35 mm, although some males mature at a smaller size. Both C. karlamani and C. concolor are consistently small species with mature male body lengths of c.12 mm. Several years ago Volker von Wirth provided the first author with a batch of exuviae and preserved Chaetopelma specimens collected by Vladimir Sjena from Turkey and Syria. Within this collection was a series of exuviae from a distinctly hirsute large Chaetopelma from Ra s al-basīt, Syria. However, alcohol-preserved material of this taxon was unavailable for description, so in early 2009 a fieldtrip was organised with members of the Turkish Arachnological Society to locate this species near the Turkish-Syrian border and secure research specimens. This new species is described here. Methods Methods follow Gallon (2002), except ocular and somatic measurements which were obtained microscopically using an eyepiece graticule (±0.01 mm and ±0.1 mm respectively). All measurements are in millimetres. Spermathecae were partially cleared in lactic acid due to their fragility. Abbreviations: Eyes: AME = anterior median, ALE = ant erior lateral, PME = posterior median, PLE = posterior lateral. Leg spines: DPV = distal proventral; DRV = distal retroventral; MPV = medial proventral; MRV = medial retroventral; PRV = proximal retroventral; PPV = proximal proventral; DRD = distal 128

2 August 2012, 27 (4) British Tarantula Society Journal Figs. 1 5: Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. 1 left tibial apophyses, ventral view; 2 left tibial apophyses, prolateral v iew; 3 left palpal bulb, prolateral view; 4 left palpal bulb, retrolateral view; 5 spermathecae, dorsal view (1 4 holotype male, 5 paratype female). Scale lines = 1 mm

3 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society A B Plate 1a b: Exuv iae comparison between hairiness of female Chaetopelma olivaceum (A; Israel) and Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. (B; Syria). R. Gallon. retrodorsal; MPD = medial prodorsal; MRD = medial retrodorsal; PPD = proximal prodorsal; PRD = proximal retrodorsal; DRL = distal retrolateral; DPL = distal prolateral; MPL = medial prolateral; MRL = medial retrolateral; PRL = proximal retrol ateral; PPL = proximal prolateral. R = right, L = left. Spinnerets: DS = distal segment. Collections: BMNH = Natural History Museum, London, UK; CUMZ = University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge; OUMNH = Hope Museum, Oxfo rd, UK; ZMB = Mus eum für Naturkund e d er Humboldt- Universität, Berlin, Germany. Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. (Plates 1b 9a, Figs. 1 5) Type material: Holotype (OUMNH ) from Turkey, Yayladaği, Hatay Province, 475 m a.s.l. [35 53'N, 36 04'E], 29 April 2009 (R ay Gabriel, Richard Gallon, Altuğ Kiziltuğ, Kadir Kunt and Guy Tansley). Paratype 1, 30 April 2009, with the same collection data. Etymology: A patronym honouring both Mr. Kadir Buğaç Kunt and Mr. Altuğ Kiziltuğ, whose efforts were instrumental in securing material of this species for description. Diagnosis: The presence of distinct single apical lobes on the sperm athecae readily distinguish females of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. from the much smaller females of C. concolor and C. karlamani. Females of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. are readily distinguished from those of C. olivaceum by the presence of much longer emergent setae on the limbs (Plate 1)

4 August 2012, 27 (4) British Tarantula Society Journal Plate 2: Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. holotype male. Richard Gallon. Plate 3: Ocular tubercle, holotype male Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Scale = 1 mm. Richard Gallon

5 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society Palpal bulb morphology readily distinguishes males of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. from the much smaller males of C. concolor and C. karlamani (see Guadanucci & Gallon, 2008). The embolus of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. is more elongated (in relation to the tegulum) than in m ales of C. concolor and C. karlamani. In C. concolor the embolus emerges more ant eriorally from the tegulum, in C. karlamani more posteriorally. The male of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. resembles that of C. olivaceum in terms of size and palpal bulb morphology, but di ffers in the proportions of metatarsus to tibia on leg I. In males of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. metatarsus I is 82% the length of tibia I, but this value ranges between % in males of C. olivaceum. Description: Holotype male (OUMNH ): Total length 31.0 (Plates 2 5). Carapace profile low, slightly raised at caput, length 13.0, width Abdomen length 13.8, width 9.4. Fovea deep transverse pit. Ocul ar tubercle length 1.23, width 1.58 (Plate 3). Clypeus Eye sizes: AME 0.33, ALE 0.40, PME 0.29, PLE Sternum with three pairs of oval sigilla: anterior pair submarginal, medial and posterior pairs larger and more remote from sternal margin (Plate 4). Labium with 55 cuspules. Maxilla with c.230 cuspules. Paired flattened glabrous labiosternal areas present on labiosternal suture. DS of posterior spinneret digitiform. Chelicerae with 14R, 12L teeth on promargin. Femoral scopulae (not plumose): leg I PL 50% proximal. Remaining femoral surfaces without scopulae. Leg and palp segment lengths in Table 1. Palpal tibia slightly swollen proximoventrally. Metatarsus I straight. Femur III not incrassate. Tarsal scopulae: tarsus I divided longitudinally not by setae; tarsus II divided longitudinally by weak line of setae; tarsi III IV divided longitudinally by band of setae. Metatarsal scopulae: leg I 83%, leg II 83%, leg III 66%, leg IV 50% (I IV integral). Paired claws smooth, third claw absent. All tarsi with paired claw tufts. Clavate trichobothria: restricted to U-shaped region on apical half of all tarsi (tarsus I, 24R, 27L). Spination: palp tibia 1MPL; leg I tibia 1PRL, 1PRV, 1PPV, 1PPL, 1MRV, 1DRL, 1DRV, 1PPL, 1MPL, 1DPL, metatarsus 1DMV; leg II tibia 1PRL, 1PRV, 1PPV, 2MRV, 1PPD, 1MPD, 1DRV, 2DPV, metatarsus 2MRV (1R), 1DMV; leg III tibia 1PRL, 1PRV, 1PPV, 1PPL (0L), 1MRL, 1MRV, 1MPV, 1DRV, 1DPV, 1PPD, 1PRD, 1MPD, 1MRD (0R), 1DPD, 1DRD, Table 1. Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Lengths of leg and palp segments of holotype male (OUMNH ). Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta I II III IV Palp

6 August 2012, 27 (4) British Tarantula Society Journal Plate 4: Sternum, holotype male Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Scale = 1 mm. Richard Gallon. metatarsus 2PRV, 1PPV, 1PPL, 1MRV (0L), 1MPV (0R), 1DRV, 1DMV, 1DPV, 1MPL, 1MRD, 1DPD, 1DRD; leg IV tibia 2PRV (1L), 1PPV, 1MRL, 1MRV, 1MPV, 1MPL, 1DRL (0L), 1DPL, 1DRV, 2DPV (1R), 1PRD, 1MRD, metatarsus 1PRL, 1PRV, 1PPV, 1PPL, 1MRL, 1MPV, 1DRV, 1DMV, 1DPV, 1MRD, 1MPL, 1DPD, 1DRD. Remaining leg segments aspinose. Tibial spur (Plate 5; Figs. 1 2): with two apophyses: larger curved ventral apophysis with distal comb of spines (18R, 19L); smaller prol ateral apophysis with large merged ventral spine. Metatarsus I closes against comb of spines on ventral apophysis. Coloration: legs, palps and chelicerae greyish beige-brown with longer emergent pale setae. Emergent leg setae not as thick as in female. Abdom en darker brown with pale shaggy long emergent setae. Carapace with pinkish-brown woolly setae. Palpal bulb (Figs. 3 4): tegulum ovoid. Embolus acuminate, extremely elongated and sub-circular in cross-section. Embolic keels absent. Description: Paratype female (OUMNH ): Total length 41.0 (Plates 6 8). Carapace profile slightly raised at caput, length 15.8, width Abdomen length 19.1, width Fovea deep transverse pit. Ocular tubercle length 1.51, width 2.10 (Plate 7). Clypeus Eye sizes: AME 0.47, ALE 0.42, PME 0.37, PLE Sternum with three pairs of oval sigilla: ant erior pair sub-marginal, medial and posterior pairs larger and more remote from sternal m argin (Plate 8). Posterior pair of sternal sigilla deep-set into sternum. Labium with 73 cuspules. Maxilla with c.220 cuspules. Paired flattened glabrous labiosternal areas present 133

7 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society Plate 5: Left leg I, holotype male Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. prolateral view. Richard Gallon. on labiosternal suture. DS of posterior spinneret digitiform. Chelicerae with 15R, 16L teeth on promargin. Leg and palp segment lengths in Table 1. Tarsal scopulae: tarsi palp, I II integral; tarsi III IV divided longitudinally by band of setae. Metatarsal scopulae: leg I 80%, leg II 80%, leg III 66%, leg IV 50% (I IV integral). Paired claws smooth, third claw absent. All tarsi with paired claw tufts. Clavate trichobothria: restricted to U-shaped region on apical half of all tarsi (tarsus I, 30R, 26L). Spination: palp tibia 1MPV, 1DRV, 2DPV (1R); leg I tibia 1MRV (0R), 1DPV, metatarsus 1DMV; leg II tibia 1MRV, 1DPV, metatarsus 1MRV, 1DMV; leg III tibia 1PPV, 1MRV, 1DRV, 1DPV, 1MPL (0R), 1MRD (0R), metatarsus 1MPV, 1MRV, 1DRV, 1DMV, 1DPV, 1PPL (0R), 1MPL, 1MRD (0L), 1DPD, 1DRD; leg IV tibia 1PRV, 1MRV, 1MPV, 1DRV, 1DPV, 1PRD, 1MRD, metatarsus 1MRV, 2MPV, 1DRV, 1DMV, 1DPV, 1PPL (0R), 1MPL, 1MRD, 1DPD, 1DRD. Remaining leg segments aspinose. Coloration: legs, palps and chelicerae greyish beige brown with longer emergent pale setae. Table 2. Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Lengths of leg and palp segments of paratype female (OUMNH ). Fe Pa Ti Mt Ta I II III IV Palp

8 August 2012, 27 (4) British Tarantula Society Journal Plate 6: Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. paratype female. Richard Gallon. Plate 7: Ocular tubercle, paratype female Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Scale = 1 mm. Richard Gallon

9 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society Long emergent leg setae protrude around entire limb circum ference, as in bottlebush bristles. Abdomen dark brown with pale shaggy long emergent setae dorsally and laterally, and with shorter emergent orangey-brown setae vent rally; booklung covers orange. Carapace with pinkish-brown setae, but not as woolly as in male. Sternum and ventral surfaces of coxae grey-brown. Spermathecae (Fig. 5): paired, narrow, elongated and curved divergently, with single apical lobe. Termini more heavily scelerotised. Basal section flattened in cross-section, apical area and lobe circul ar in cross-section. Setal fringe on posterior margin of epigastric scutum composed of irregular long inwardly curved setae. Distribution: Yayladaği, Turkey and Ra s al-basīt, Syria. Ecology: At its type location Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. was found within burrows (up to 50 cm in depth) in light pine forest. Burrows were often observed in association with rotten pine stumps, with the burrow excavated along the decaying remains of the stump s root system. The paratype female was discovered, with spiderlings, in a densely silk-lined retreat beneath a concrete building block forming the edge of a footpath. The male is mature in April. Additional material examined: Chaetopelma olivaceum: CYPRUS: BMNH (dry ), 1, Cy prus; BMNH (dry); 1, Nicosia, Cy prus; BMNH, 1, Dali (D. Mcgowan); BMNH, 2, 2 imm., Larnaca (C. Glasznes); BMNH, 1, 17 February With oranges from Cy prus. St. Helier, Jersey, C. I (R. Le Sueur); Plate 8: Sternum, paratype f emale Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. Scale = 1 mm. Richard Gallon

10 August 2012, 27 (4) Table 3. Body measurements of male Chaetopelma olivaceum and C. altugkadirorum sp. n. Specimen Carapace length (mm) Metatarsus I (mm) Tibia I (mm) % Metatarsus I is to Tibia I Chaetopelma o livaceum Cyprus, Lapta Cyprus, Lapta Cyprus, Lapta Cyprus, Nicosia Cyprus, Nicosia Egypt Israel, Haifa Israel, Haifa Israel, Jer usalem Israel, Jer usalem Israel, Latrun Israel, Shoham Jordan, Amman Lebanon, Amioun Lebanon, Amioun No data Turkey, Cevli k Turkey, Cevli k Chaetopelma altugkad irorum sp. n. Turkey, Yayladaği BMNH, 2, 1, 2 imm., 3 imm., St. Hilarion, Nicosia, August 1938 (Department of Agriculture C.I.E ); BMNH, 2, 1, Nicosia (Henry Guillemard); BMNH, 2, 1, Nicosia (Henry Guillemard); BMNH , 1, Solea Valley, Asprokromnos (T. R. R. Stebbing); BMNH, 1 (no abdomen), Paphos (Paul Mason). EGYPT: BMNH (dry ), 1 (James Burton); BMNH (dry ), 1 (James Burton); BMNH , 1, Cairo, 13 April 1937 (Lt. Col. A. G. Biggam, Roy al Army Medial Collection, Millban k); BMNH , 1 (Key serling Collection); BMNH , 1 (Key serling Collection); BMNH , 1, nr. Cairo, 1911 (A. R. Gough). ISRAEL: BMNH, 1, Old City (probably from a garden), Jerusalem, 29 May 1962 (W. Wermuth); BMNH , 1, Haifa (A. S. Woodward); CUMZ, 1, 1, Acca, 30 August 1899 (registration date) (J. Cropper). JORDAN: BMNH , 1, Amman, Transjordania, December 1911 (Lt. Sr. J. B. Philly, Dr L. H. Gough, SS Flower). LEBANON: BMNH , 1 imm., 1, Amioun, May 1944 (Major H. B. Cott); BMNH , 2, 1 imm., Amioun, 1944 (Major H. B. Cott); BMNH , 2, Amioun, 1944 (Major H. B. Cott); BMNH, 1, 1, Amioun,

11 Journal British of the Tarantula British Tarantula Society Journal Society (Major H. B. Cott). SYRIA: BMNH (dry ), 1 ; BMNH (dry ), 1 ; OUMNH (dry ), 1, Syria, 1863 (Hensederer Hope-Westwood tray Arachnida 16). TURKEY: BMNH , 1, Aintab, Asia Minor (J. H. Leech). OUMNH, 1, Cevlik, 50 m a.s.l. [36 07'N, 35 55'E], 28 April 2009 (Ray Gabrie l, Ric hard Ga llo n, A ltuğ Kiziltuğ, Kadir Kunt and Guy Tansley ). NO DATA: BMNH 36 (dry), 1, Africa; BMNH 36 (dry ), 1 ; BMNH 36 (dry ),1, Africa; BMNH 64/02 (dry), 1 ; BMNH, 1, No data. Chaetopelma karlamani: CYPRUS: ZMB 31464, paraty pe, 1 Lapithos, Besparmak Mountain (P. Vollmer). Chaetopelma co ncolor: TURKEY:, severa l loca tio ns (wor k in preparation). Discussion The distribution of Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. falls within the much wider range of C. olivaceum. Consideration was given as to whether C. altugkadirorum sp. n. was simply a variant of C. olivaceum, however examination of a wide range of museum specimens, from across the known range of C. olivaceum, failed to identify female specimens with intermediate hairiness. The male of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. was compared morphologically with males of C. olivaceum from across this species range. In C. olivaceum it was discovered that the length of metatarsus I was between % of tibia I (n18), whereas this value was only 82% in the holotype of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. (Table 3, Graph 1). When additional males of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. become available it would be worthwhile testing this morphological difference. Fieldwork in Turkey provided further evidence for treating C. altugkadirorum sp. n. as a separate species. Populations of Chaetopelma olivaceum were discovered within 30 km of the type location of C. altugkadirorum sp. n., with no intermediate specimens encountered. During the Turkish fieldtrip Chaetopelma olivaceum was observed to be somewhat opportunistic, occupying cracks in limestone gorge walls, recesses in cave walls and cave floor rubble. One specimen was observed living in a rough burrow amongst rocks, occupying gaps between the stones themselves. By contrast most specimens (except the paratype female) of C. altugkadirorum sp. n. were found in well-formed burrows in deep soil. Chaetopelma altugkadirorum sp. n. and Chaetopelma olivaceum are undoubtedly closely related species, sharing similar spermathecal and palpal bulb morphology. However there are morphological and ecological di fferences between the two which support their recognition as separate species

12 August 2012, 27 (4) A B C Plate 9: Size comparison of mature male Chaetopelma from Turkey: A = C. altugkadirorum sp. n.; B = C. olivaceum; C = C. concolor. Richard Gallon. Acknowledgements Special thanks go to Kadir Kunt and Altuğ Kiziltuğ for arranging Turkish collection permits and organising a successful and highly enjoyable fieldtrip along the Southern Turkish coastline. Darren Mann, James Hogan, Amoret Spooner and Zoë Simmons (OUMNH) are thanked for loaned material and providing a secure depository for the type specimens. Yinnon Dolev, Kobi Orin and Volker von Wirth are acknowledged for supplying useful research specimens. Jan Beccaloni (BMNH), R. Symmonds (CUMZ) and Jason Dunlop (ZMB) are also thanked for loans and access to important comparative material. References Gallon, R. C : Revision of the African genera Pterinochilus and Eucratoscelus (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Harpactirinae) with description of two new genera. Bull. Br. arachnol. Soc. 12(5): Gallon, R. C. 2008: On some poorly known African Harpactirinae, with notes on Avicuscodra arabica Strand, 1908 and Scodra pachypoda Strand, 1908 (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Bull. Br. arachnol. Soc. 14(5): Guadanucci, J. P. L. & Gallon, R. C. 2008: A revision of the spider genera Chaetopelma Ausserer 1871 and Nesiergus Simon 1903 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Ischnocolinae). Zootaxa, 1753: