A list of spiders is provided (Arachnida: Araneae), collected in April 2019 in the south-west of Turkey (Antalya Province, Kemer doi:10.30963/aramit6204 district). In total 95 species from 28 families have been recorded. Sintula karineae spec. nov. is described based on female specimens. Brigittea innocens (O. ), a relatively unknown and poorly documented species, is redescribed. Besides the newly described member of Sintula, further eight species are new for the fauna of Turkey: Canariphantes nanus (Kulczyński, 1898), Cyclosa algerica Simon, 1885, Hogna effera (O. ), Lepthyphantes magnesiae Brignoli, 1979, Oecobius navus Blackwall, 1859, Phrurolithus azarkinae , Pseudeuophrys rhodiensis and Theridion helena Wunderlich, 2011. One female of Ozyptila Simon, 1864 (Araneae: Thomisidae) is described and illustrated and possibly represents the unknown female of O. spirembola , but no accompanying male was collected. Moreover, the findings of several other species already known from Turkey represent important records for the local fauna: Berinda cooki , Harpactea sturanyi (Nosek, 1905), Heriaeus setiger (O. ), Improphantes turok , Mermessus denticulatus (Banks, 1898), Nomisia orientalis , Philodromus femurostriatus , Tegenaria faniapollinis , Tegenaria vankeerorum Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013 and Zaitunia kunti . Photos and drawings of most of these species are provided.
The araneofauna of Turkey currently comprises 1129 species (Danışman et al. 2021). Although this number might appear to be high, the Turkish spider fauna is still only poorly known and several dozen species (including species new to science) are added to the national checklist every year (Nentwig et al. 2020). The paper presents the results of a survey that took place in spring 2019. Although sampling was limited in time and restricted to a few localities, the results add several new species to the Turkish spider fauna, including a species new to science. Other records concern species that are already documented for Turkey, but are of overall interest because of a very low number of known localities and/or a poorly known ecology.
Material and methods
Sampling was carried out from 13 to 20 April 2019 at several places, mainly near the shoreline (Fig. 1). The sampled localities are located in the province of Antalya (Kemer district), specifically in the municipalities of Beldibi, at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains, Tekirova (archaeological site of Phaselis) and to a lesser extent in Antalya, Beşkonak, Göynük and Taşağıl. Fig. 2 shows the main habitats surveyed.
The main techniques used were hand capture (especially under stones but also in herbaceous layers and on the trunks), beating, as well as pitfalls. Several juvenile specimens were raised in captivity until they reached maturity (see Annex).
All specimens were preserved in alcohol (70% ethanol) for identification purposes. Species were examined by using a Zeiss Stemi 305, a Nikon SMZ1270 stereo microscope or an Olympus CH-2 microscope.
Wherever possible, specimens were photographed in their natural habitat or, if this was not possible, at a different, more suitable place outside. Some photographs were also taken through a stereo microscope ocular with a Samsung S6 smartphone.
Somatic measurements were made with a scaled eye piece in the stereo microscope and are expressed in mm. Measurements of the legs are taken from the dorsal side.
Position and elevation of localities were recorded using a smartphone's GPS; geographic coordinates are presented in the WGS 84 system.
To validate identifications primarily Wesołowska (1986), Deeleman-Reinhold & Deeleman (1988), Bayram et al. (2007), Marusik (2008), Hepner & Paulus (2009), Le Peru (2011), Logunov (2012), Marusik et al. (2015), Uyar & Dolejš (2017), Bosselaers (2018), Varol & Danışman (2018), Bosmans et al. (2019), Nentwig et al. (2020) and Oger (2020) was used.
Type material has been deposited at the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt (SMF). Unless otherwise specified, non-type material is conserved in the private collection of the author.
The nomenclature of species and authors follows the WSC (2020).
Abbreviations
AME – anterior median eyes; AME–AME – distance between AMEs; AME–ALE – distance between AME and ALE; ALE – anterior lateral eyes; Cd – copulatory duct; Co – conductor; des. – description; E – embolus; j – juvenile; Mt – metatarsus; PL – prosoma length; PME – posterior median eyes; PME–PME – distance between PMEs; PME–PLE –distance between PME and PLE; PLE – posterior lateral eyes; PW – prosoma width; SD – sperm duct; SMF – Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt; Sp – spermatheca; TA – tibial apophysis.
Results
The sampling period was short (7 days) and involved both a small number of sampling techniques and a very small variety of habitats. Nevertheless, it allowed the collection of 368 specimens (about a third of which were immature), yielding a total of 95 spider species. Eleven of them (i.e. about 11%) are new for the Turkish fauna (Danışman et al. 2021, Nentwig et al. 2020); three of them have already been mentioned at least once for the country, but are not yet included in the national checklist of Danışman et al. (2021) and one species is new to science and described in detail. This confirms the fact that the spider fauna of Turkey is still poorly known.
The complete list of species is presented in the annex (Tab. I). I present below one species new to science, several new species for the spider fauna of Turkey as well as a number of other interesting records, e.g. recently described species with a poorly known ecology or distribution, or taxa with only a few citations in the WSC (2020).
Description of the new species
Sintula Simon, 1884 (Linyphiidae)
The genus includes 17 species (WSC 2020) of which three are recorded in Turkey (Danışman et al. 2021): Sintula corniger (Blackwall, 1856), Sintula cristatus Wunderlich, 1995 and Sintula retroversus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875).
Sintula karineae spec. nov. (Fig. 3a-f)
Type material. Holotype: 1 ♀, TURKEY: province of Antalya, Kemer district, Beldibi (30.56327°E, 36.70980°N, 8 m a.s.l.) (Fig. 1), pitfall, 14.–20. Apr. 2019, deposited at the SMF. Remarks: opisthosoma slightly damaged and partially discoloured due to the capture method. Paratype: 1 ♀, same locality, same data as the holotype, deposited at the SMF. Remarks: opisthosoma damaged, epigyne detached, right legs fragmented.
Etymology. The species name refers to the first name of my wife Karine, who has supported my scientific projects and my work on spiders for many years.
Diagnosis. The new species shows the typical chaetotaxy and genital characters of the genus Sintula Simon, 1884, according to Bosmans (1991) and Gnelitsa (2012): tibial spination 2-2-1-1; metatarsi I–II with a dorsal spine; metatarsus IV without trichobothrium; epigyne consisting of a large plate extending significantly beyond the epigastric furrow.
By the length and shape of the genital plate and by the dorso-median process of the scape, entering the epigynal cavity (Fig. 3c), this new species does not resemble any other Sintula.
It differs from Sintula penicilliger (Simon, 1884) mainly by the shape of the mid-ventral septum. In S. karineae spec. nov. the terminal part of the septum is clearly narrowed and its anterior part does not extend over the entire width of the epigyne. In S. penicilliger, the terminal part is visibly enlarged; the anterior part is equal to the entire width of the epigyne. Description. Measurements (n = 2): total length 1.9–2.0, PL 0.75, PW 0.57; sternum 0.44 long, 0.40 wide; chelicerae 0.30 long.
Colour (from specimens in alcohol): prosoma brown with darkened blotch in front of the fovea, margin blackish; chelicerae yellowish brown; sternum dark grey; legs yellowish brown, a black mark under articulations (femora, patellae and tibiae); opisthosoma uniformly dark grey.
Prosoma. Eyes: posterior eyes row straight.
Chelicerae: with three promarginal and two retromarginal teeth.
Legs: tibiae I, position of first spine 0.27–0.28, relative length 2.3–2.5, position of second spine 0.76–0.77; position of trichobothrium on Mt I 0.28–0.32; trichobothrium on Mt IV absent.
Opisthosoma. Epigyne (Fig. 3b-e): scape visibly longer than wide, undivided, rather broad at the base, obviously narrowed in its distal part. Vulva (Fig. 3f): copulatory ducts associated with the dorso-median process and consisting of a circular coil forming one loop and a quarter, spermathecae elongated, slightly oblique. See also diagnosis.
Male. Unknown.
Comment. Sintula karineae spec. nov. is the fourth member of the genus in Turkey.
Distribution and habitat. Only known from the type locality in Beldibi (Turkey), grasslands, in an ancient orange grove in peri-urban area (Fig. 2c).
Redescription of a poorly known species
Brigittea innocens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872)
(Figs 4a-i, 5a-h, 6a-e) (Dictynidae)
Dictyna innocens: Pickard-Cambridge (1872): p. 262 (descr. ♀); Kulczyński, (1911): p. 13, pl. 1, fig. 3 (♀); Dictyna aharonii: Strand (1914): p. 174 (descr. ♀); Dictyna jacksoni: Bristowe (1935): p. 778, figs 1-3 (descr. ♀); Hadjissarantos (1940): p. 49, figs 16-17 (♀, descr. ♂); Brigittea innocens: Lehtinen (1967): p. 219, figs 309, 323 (♂, ♀); Dictyna innocens: IJland et al. (2012): p. 5, figs 4-5 (♂, ♀).
Comments. The identification of the specimens from Italy (IJland et al. 2012) is erroneous; they probably belong to Brigittea varians (Spassky, 1952) (IJland pers. comm.). Brigittea varians is known only from South Russia and Central Asia (Nentwig et al. 2020), and it remains questionable if this species is distributed in the Mediterranean region.
The original description of Pickard-Cambridge's female (1872) is insufficient because it is essentially based on the opisthosomal pattern, which is not usable for a reliable identification in Dictynidae.
Kulczyński (1911) described Dictyna innocens based on a female from Beirut (Lebanon) and presented a drawing of the epigyne. His assignment was only tentative, as indicated by a “?” after the species name.
Strand (1914) described Dictyna aharonii, now a junior synonym of B. innocens, and specified that it is related to D. innocens, but nevertheless explained through a diagnosis how his species differs in minor details from the female tentatively assigned to this name by Kulczyński, in particular by its size and the shape of the genital opening.
Bristowe (1935) described Dictyna jacksoni from females from several localities in Greece, but without any further indication about the deposition of the types.
At this time, the only description of the male was the one by Hadjissarantos (1940), whose two drawings (ventral view and tibial apophyses view) show only very a few visible details.
Lehtinen (1967), who potentially had access to the Oxford collection (and therefore to the holotype) as stated in the list of museums in his work, synonymized D. aharonii and D. jacksoni with D. innocens. In addition, he synonymised the male by Pickard-Cambridge (1876) with Brigittea vicina (Simon, 1873). Lehtinen also shows a male pedipalp of B. innocens (Lehtinen 1967; fig. 323) and states that the depicted material is a syntype. The latter is not possible, because Pickard-Cambridge (1872, p. 262) explicitly mentions in the first description that he had no male material available (“Examples (all females) were found on low-growing plants on the plains of the Jordan.”). However, the drawing in Lehtinen agrees with the pedipalp of the male collected together with the female in Turkey and is considered to indeed represent the male of B. innocens.
Given the uncertainties recalled by IJland et al. (2012) with respect to the descriptions of the species in the past (drawings or descriptions that are not sufficiently precise, misidentifications, female and male descriptions of the same author not conspecific), I present a detailed redescription of the species – including the first illustration of the vulva structures – based on both sexes collected from bushes on the same rocky slope (Fig. 2g). The identification of the pair from Turkey agrees with the description in Pickard-Cambridge (1872: p. 262), Kulczyński (1911: p. 13, pl. 1, fig. 3), Bristowe (1935: p. 778, figs 1-3) and Lehtinen (1967: figs 309, 323), as well as the examined female type material of the junior synonym B. aharonii.
Material examined. TURKEY: Antalya (province), Kemer (district), Göynük, 30.56811°E, 36.67889°N, 4 m a.s.l., coastal area, on a rocky slope in thorny dry bushes, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 j, beating, 19. Apr. 2019, deposited at the SMF. Remarks: left male pedipalp detached; female's opisthosoma detached from body, as well as the epigyne.
Other material examined. Holotype female of Dictyna aharonii Strand, 1914 from Israel, Jaffa – Rehoboth, 14. Jul. 1913, 1 ♀ (SMF 2742-94). Remarks: specimen discoloured, pattern not analysable.
Diagnosis. Males of B. innocens are distinguished by the shape of both the conductor and the tibial apophysis and by the size of the tibial apophysis.
Females of B. innocens can be mainly distinguished by the position of the genital openings and by the shape of the spermathecae.
Description. Male. Measurements (n = 1): total length 2.9, PL 1.34, PW 1.10; sternum 0.73 long, 0.67 wide; chelicerae 0.63 long.
Colour: prosoma, chelicerae and sternum dark brown, legs brown, tibiae and Mt distally darkened; opisthosomal pattern consisting of a median dark band which narrows in front, barely widened in the middle, the rear part formed by three blocks of different thickness whose sides converge towards the spinnerets, this dark band bordered on both sides by a whitish band, flanks dark, ventral part formed by a wide brown band reaching the spinnerets and bounded by a lighter area (Fig. 4a-b).
Prosoma. Cephalic part markedly elevated, covered with white flat-lying hairs; chelicerae in frontal view close set (Fig. 4c), posterior margin with one tiny tooth, the anterior margin with a series of five small teeth and outwards (towards the base of the hook) with four bristles inserted on a small chitinous knob.
Legs: covered with both white and black hairs; without spines; the calamistrum extending almost over the entire length of Mt IV.
Opisthosoma. Cribellum divided by thin median line.
Pedipalp: bulb almost round (Fig. 4e); conductor twisted, wide at its base, apically, the outer margin with numerous small indentations (arrow, Fig. 4i), retrolaterally, this part appearing thin and almost straight (arrow, Fig. 4h); tibial apophyses (ctenidia) short, aligned at their bases, the first retrolateral one straight and with broad base, the second prolateral one a little longer and slightly tilted forward (Fig. 6a).
Female. Measurements (n = 1): total length 2.9, PL 1.30, PW 1.07; sternum 0.75 long, 0.63 wide; chelicerae 0.49 long.
Overall very similar to the the male, unless otherwise specified.
Colour: prosoma and sternum dark brown; chelicerae olive brown; legs brown, first half of femorae lighter, tibiae darkened distally, Mt and tarsi yellowish, darkened distally; opisthosomal pattern similar to that of male but the median dark band is visibly widened in the middle on both sides forming 2 lobes (Fig. 5a-b).
Prosoma. cephalic part less visibly elevated than in male.
Opisthosoma. division of cribellum hardly visible.
Epigyne: consisting of two genital openings rounded posteriorly, widening anteriorly with oblique anterior margin (Figs 5c, 6d) or ovoid (Fig. 5h; Kulczyński 1911: pl. 1, fig. 3). Spermathecae partly visible through the genital openings, at their posterior edge (Fig. 6d).
Vulva: spermathecae elongated and turning outwards at an angle of 45°. Copulatory ducts consisting of a semi-circular coil, widening towards their openings (Figs 5d-e, 6e).
Distribution. Eastern Mediterranean species, known from Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Israel and from Kazakhstan; to be removed from the Italian species list (see above).
Documentation of an unknown specimen of the genus
Ozyptila Simon, 1864
Ozyptila sp. (Fig. 7a-j) (Thomisidae)
Material examined. TURKEY: Antalya (province), Kemer (district), Tekirova, site of Phaselis, scattered pine forest by the sea, under a stone (30.56811°E, 36.67889°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Following recent taxonomic changes that have affected several genera of crab spiders including Xysticus, Ozyptila, Bassanioides and Psammitis (Breitling 2019), and pending consistent morphological definition of the genera involved, I have compared the specimen from Turkey to available diagnoses of these and other crab spider genera.
The specimen does not have the characteristics of the genus Cozyptila, and lacks in particular a massive outgrowth of the epigynal plate (Marusik et al. 2005), neither it has an unpaired central epigynal cavity like in Psammitis (Lehtinen 2002) and also lacks the characters of the genus Psammitis defined by Pocock (1903), namely the spine armature of the anterior legs and the disposition of the eyes. The specimen also has no posteriorly concave, well sclerotized anterior hood like in Bassanioides (Lehtinen 2002).
I attribute the specimen to the genus Ozyptila based on the description by several authors including Dondale & Redner (1978). I excluded the species of the rauda group, as the specimen does not display the characteristics of this group defined by Hippa & Koponen (1986), especially a”pit-like epigyne” (Fig. 2a-b).
I also excluded most of the species for which only males are known and that do not converge with the female specimen presented herein. The only exception is O. spirembola Wunderlich, 1995, with which it has many similarities (e.g. PL/PW ratio, leg spination, general colouration, nature and distribution of the opisthosomal bristles). Thus, the specimen from Turkey could be the unknown female of O. spirembola or a related species not yet described. This will remain to be confirmed with the collection of both sexes.
Diagnosis. The species differs distinctly from other Ozyptila species by the form, simple structure (see description) and the arrangements of the epigynal (no anterior process – scape or hood – neither any groove) and spermathecal structures.
Description. Measurements: female (n = 1): total length 4.3; PL 2.10, PW 2.00, ratio PL/PW = 1.05; sternum 1.00 long, 0.87 wide; opisthosoma length 2.93; median ocular quadrangle, slightly longer than wide (0.38 long, 0.33 wide), eye inter-distances: AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.29, PME spaced 3 times their diameter. Colour (from specimens in alcohol): prosoma dark brown, the longitudinal median band lighter (yellowish) in its posterior part, marked by a thin brown median line (Fig. 7b); lighter, orange ring around the eyes, AME underlined with a thick brown mark (Fig. 7d); sternum yellowish, provided with a broad V-shaped brown pattern on the rear side; maxillae and labium brown, clearer in the anterior part; chelicerae brown, the basal part with darker patches; opisthosoma dark brown with small lighter spots; legs brown to brown-yellowish, leg I: femora, patella and tibia noticeably darker, leg II: idem but less distinct shade, coxae, trochanters and femorae II-III-IV with dark brown patches (Fig. 7b), tibia IV basally with a wide dark brown ring.
Prosoma. Chelicerae: on the anterior margin, a series of 5 bristles inserted on a small chitinous knob, the size of the bristles increases towards the base of the hook.
Legs: robust, with few spines, mainly: tibiae I–II, 2 pairs of ventral spines; Mt I–II, 3 pairs of ventral spines and 1 prolateral, Mt I with 1 additional retrolateral spine.
Opisthosoma. Wrinkled dorsum and sides, with a few clavate setae (a few sharp spines at the back) and very sparse, short, plated bristles (Fig. 7e).
Epigyne: simple, not very legible, formed by a discrete, sclerotized transverse structure between the 2 small lateral copulatory openings (Fig. 7i). These are only visible in the vulva, on the ventral view. See also diagnosis.
Vulva: massive, bean-shaped spermathecae, barely longer than wide (Fig. 7h).
New species and new interesting records for the spider fauna of Turkey
Berinda cooki Logunov, 2012 (Fig. 8a-b) (Gnaphosidae)
Identification. Logunov (2012): p. 375, figs 1-2.
New records. Beldibi, under a stone, on the edge of the meadow of an ancient orange grove (30.55252°E, 36.52397°N, 9 m a.s.l.), 1 subad. ♂ (raised to maturity), hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, pine forest, on the ground on a grassy slope (30.56293°E, 36.70976°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 2 subad. ♂♂ (raised to maturity), hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Berinda cooki has only recently been described, from a single male; so far the species is only known from the type locality (near Kalkan, Antalya Province, Turkey). During the time of the survey, the species were collected twice, at two localities, suggesting that it might be locally well distributed.
Canariphantes nanus (Kulczyński, 1898) (Fig. 30a-c)
(Linyphiidae)
Identification. Gnelitsa (2009: 191, fig. 1a-g); Nentwig et al. (2020).
New record. Beldibi, on a stony path at the edge of the pine forest (30.56226°E, 36.70926°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 16. Apr. 2019. Beldibi, grasslands, in an ancient orange grove (30.56327°E, 36.70980°N, 8 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, pitfall, 20. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The species is known from Central to Eastern Europe and from Israel (WSC 2020). Canariphantes nanus is a species of the epigean fauna that appears to be quite rare throughout its range (Grbić et al. 2021). It colonises grasses and litter in a fairly wide variety of habitats (open to shrubby and forested areas), suggesting that its ecological valence is fairly broad (see also Gnelitsa (2009) and Grbić et al. (2021) for notes on the habitat). Canariphantes nanus is new to Turkey and it is the only species of the genus currently known for the country.
Cheiracanthium pelasgicum group (Fig. 9a-c)
(Cheiracanthiidae)
Records. Beldibi, on the perimeter wall of a hotel park (30.56581°E, 36.71052°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 3 ♂♂, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The number of teeth (7) on the posterior margin and the small size (4–4.3 mm) exclude C. pennyi O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1873. A high number of teeth is typical for a complex of species near C. pelasgicum, but specimens from Turkey are quite unusual (Dolanský pers. comm.), i.e. they have a very wide cymbium spur (without a thin end) and the bifurcation on the tip of the RTA is more significant. According to Dolanský, the description of the characteristic male pattern of C. pelasgicum is that defined by Koch (1839, fig. 436) and seems to correspond to Simon's (1932) description of C. pennatum. Simon's (1932) description of the pattern of C. pelasgicum could correspond to the specimen from Turkey. According to Simon (1932), C. abbreviatum Simon, 1878 would be a local form of C. pelasgicum, but smaller in size. Moreover, the opisthosomal band does not extend beyond the middle, which does not correspond to the pattern of the specimens from Turkey. Thus, it appears that C. pelasgicum and related species merit extensive revision and it is possible that a single polymorphic species or complex of many closely related species are present in the Mediterranean region (Dolanský pers. comm.). In the meantime, I assign the specimens collected in Turkey to the pelasgicum group.
Cyclosa algerica Simon, 1885 (Fig. 10a-d) (Araneidae)
Identification. Levi (1977): p. 79, figs 34-37.
New records. Göynük, coastal zone, in tall grass in a meadow, in a pine forest clearing (30.56939°E, 36.68153°N, 2 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, beating, 19. Apr. 2019; Göynük, coastal zone, on a rocky slope, in dry, young coniferous bushes (30.56811°E, 36.67889°N, 4 m a.s.l), 1 ♀, beating, 19. Apr. 2019. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, pine forest, under rocks (30.55277°E, 36.52342°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, 1 subad. ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019; Göynük, pine forest, in holly boughs (30.55071°E, 36.67889°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, beating, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Cyclosa algerica is a Mediterranean species whose records for Europe so far concern only Portugal, Spain, France and Bulgaria (Nentwig et al. 2020). The species is new to Turkey. It seems to be locally well distributed. The new records suggest a preference for open and xerothermophilic habitats.
Dysdera longimandibularis Nosek, 1905 (Fig. 11a-g)
(Dysderidae)
Identification. Deeleman-Reinhold & Deeleman (1988): p. 163, figs 39-41.
New record. Beldibi, under a stone, on the edge of a country lane (30.56321°E, 36.70945°N, 5 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 15. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The species is only known from Cyprus and Turkey. Le Peru (2011) stated that this species is usually found in the forest, under stones. This is consistent with my observation and with Bosmans et al. (2019). Found in altitudes up to 1300 m.
Evarcha jucunda (Lucas, 1846) (Fig. 12) (Salticidae)
Identification. Logunov (2015)
New record. Beldibi, shrub, on the edge of a man-made path on a wasteland (30.56277°E, 36.70944°N, 8 m a.s.l.), 1 subad. ♀ (raised to maturity), beating, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Evarcha jucunda is not yet included in the national checklist (Danışman et al. 2021), but has already been mentioned several times for Turkey (Logunov 2015). For differentiation from the closely related species Evarcha patagiata (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), see Logunov (2015).
Heriaeus setiger (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (Fig. 13a-c)
(Thomisidae)
Identification. Loerbroks (1983): p. 110, figs 41-42; Levy (1985): p. 49, figs 65-66.
New records. Göynük, coastal area, in coniferous branches (thuyas) (30.56939°E, 36.68153°N, 2 m a.s.l.), 1 subad. ♀(raised to maturity), beating, 19. Apr. 2019. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, pine forest (30.55277°E, 36.52342°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 subad. ♀ (raised to maturity), hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The distribution of Heriaeus setiger is currently under discussion, e.g. with regard to its presence in Romania and in Ukraine (Nentwig et al. 2020). In addition, Loerbroks (1983) demonstrated that literature records of H. setiger from North Africa belong to Heriaeus numidicus Loerbroks, 1983. According to Levy (1973), H. setiger is quite common in the northern and central parts of Israel. Specimens examined by Loerbroks (1983) are only known from Israel and Lebanon. Demircan & Topçu (2016) reported the first record of the species for Turkey (locality of Tekirdağ: Saray).
Very little data are available on its ecology. Only Pickard-Cambridge (1872) provides the following indication of a habitat: “found on the ground in barren places near the sea”. The two recent observations from Turkey were made in beach-side environments, found on coniferous branches.
Hogna effera (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (Fig. 14a-c)
(Lycosidae)
Identification. Logunov (2020): p. 354, figs 39-43.
New record. Antalya, on the parking area of an urban building, at the foot of a hedge under a stone (30.66100°E, 36.87953°N, 32 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, 1 subad. ♀, hand collecting, 17. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The taxonomy of several species of the genus Hogna and in particular H. effera has been clarified recently by Logunov (2020), who also specified that this species is very close to H. ferox. The author's diagnosis of H. effera allows assigning the specimen observed in Antalya to this species. The species seems to be relatively widespread, from the eastern Mediterranean to Western Asia (Iran) and the United Arab Emirates (Zamani et al. 2020). The species is new to Turkey. Errata: a specimen from Crete recorded under Hogna ferox (Lucas, 1838) (Lecigne 2016) should be assigned to H. effera; its citation in the WSC (2020) and in Nentwig et al. (2020) needs to be corrected. Another specimen from Spain was initially recorded as Hogna cf. ferox (Lecigne 2012, figs 3, 10-11; Fig. 41a-b). It appears to be close to Hogna effera; I propose to list this record for the moment as Hogna sp. (close to effera/ ferox) until both sexes can be sampled and the distribution of H. ferox is clarified.
Improphantes turokTanasevitch, 2011 (Fig. 15a-g)
(Linyphiidae)
Identification. Tanasevitch (2011): p. 69, figs 65-69; Bosmans et al. (2019): p. 18, figs 9g-k, 10c-g.
New records. Beldibi, grove of a park hotel, in the litter of pine needles (30.56720°E, 36.71018°N, 5 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019; Beldibi, pine forest, in the litter of pine needles (30.56277°E, 36.70944°N, 8 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019. Beşkonak, under a rock by the river “Köprüçay“(31.19735°E, 37.13813°N, 173 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 16. Apr. 2019.
Comments. So far, Improphantes turok is only known from Turkey (one record) and Cyprus from where the female has been described recently (Bosmans et al. 2019). Most of the records (including a new one from Turkey) comes from (pitfall traps, sifting) litter or under stones in pine forest. It was also caught occasionally in the following habitats: peat marsh, former carob plantation, mixed Pinus and Quercus forest, deciduous wood. Found on altitudes up to 1900 m.
Lepthyphantes magnesiae Brignoli, 1979 (Fig. 16a-d)
(Linyphiidae)
Identification. Brignoli (1979), Thaler (1986)
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, undergrowth of a pine forest, on the ground under a stone ledge in a dark place of a ruined stone troglodyte shelter (30.55071°E, 36.52772°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Lepthyphantes magnesiae, currently known only from Albania and Greece, is new to Turkey.
There are very few records for this species, which is close to L. notabilis. Brignoli (1979) and Thaler (1986) each reported two observations of L. magnesiae in caves, and the new record for Turkey in an artificial underground environment suggests that the species may be troglophilic. Several other records correspond to dark and/or shaded (micro-)habitats: Thaler (1986) also indicated one observation of the species on a forest edge (pines, firs) in mountainous areas, under stones in a limestone environment and Helsdingen & IJland (2015) mention its presence both on very steep slopes with unstable stony debris and coniferous trees, and in a stony riverbed with a vegetation belt (Platanus orientalis). Found on altitudes up to 1200 m.
Mermessus denticulatus (Banks, 1898) (Fig. 17)
(Linyphiidae)
Identification. van Helsdingen (2009)
New record: Antalya, on the ground, in parking areas (30.67963°E, 36.88474°N, 55 m a.s.l., 1 ♂, hand collecting, 17. Apr. 2019; Antalya, same habitat (30.66100°E, 36.87953°N, 32 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 17. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Recently, Mermessus denticulatus has been mentioned for the first time from Turkey (Muğla Province, in a garden) (Danışman & Coşar 2019). The new records are the first for the province of Antalya. Mermessus denticulatus is an alien species that continues to expand its range since its introduction to Europe.
Nomisia orientalis Dalmas, 1921 (Fig. 18) (Gnaphosidae)
Identification: Seyyar et al. (2009): 65, figs 19-20.
New record: Tekirova, site of Phaselis, undergrowth of a pine forest, in pine needles (30.55277°E, 36.52342°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, 1 subad. ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019; Tekirova, site of Phaselis, same habitat (30.55071°E, 36.52772°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Nomisia orientalis is a poorly known species. It is so far only mentioned from Turkey and the only available records (WSC 2020) are those of Dalmas (1921) for which no locality nor habitat is specified, and those of Seyyar et al. (2009). The latter reported the occurrence of N. orientalis in the provinces of Osmaniye, Mersin and Adana. The new record extends the known range of the species towards the south-west of the country. Concerning its ecology, there is very scarce information to assess possible ecological preferences; the species has already been found among litter under oaks, under stones, among litter under pines. Found on altitudes up to 1200 m.
Oecobius navus Blackwall, 1859 (Fig. 19) (Oecobiidae)
Identification. Roberts (1995)
New record: Beldibi, on the perimeter wall of a hotel park (30.56581°E, 36.71052°N, 6 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Oecobius navus is a widely distributed species with a still expanding range. It is already known from several countries close to Turkey (e.g. Greece, Cyprus, Georgia, Azerbaijan) (Nentwig et al. 2020). The species is new to Turkey.
Philodromus femurostriatus Muster, 2009 (Fig. 20a-c)
(Philodromidae)
Identification. Muster (2009): 152, figs 12a-c, 29a-b.
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, coastal area, on the trunk of a pine tree (30.55277°E, 36.52342°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. To date, Philodromus femurostriatus is only known from northern Greece and Turkey (provinces of Muğla, Adana and Mersin; holotype from 1964, no further details for the other material mentioned) and had not been cited again since. It is a cryptic species (Fig. 20a) and possibly rare, but perhaps also undersampled. As with the type material, the specimen found at the Phaselis site was observed on Pinus bark.
I noted a difference with the description given by Muster (2009): the specimen found at the Phaselis site shows conspicuous prolateral-ventral parallel black stripes that are not limited to the femora but, although they are less contrasted and less broad, they extend down to the metatarsi.
Phrurolithus azarkinae Zamani & Marusik, 2020
(Fig. 21a-j)
(Phrurolithidae)
Identification. Zamani & Marusik (2020): p. 313, figs 1A-F, 2A-F, 3A-D.
New records. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, on the banks of a reed bed (30.55016°E, 36.52669°N, 0 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. The species has recently been described from Iran and Azerbaijan where it is relatively widely distributed (Zamani & Marusik 2020); the new record greatly extends its known range eastwards. To date, there is insufficient data to characterize its ecology. Found on altitudes up to 2000 m. The species is new to Turkey.
Pseudeuophrys rhodiensis Schäfer, 2018 (Fig. 22a-c)
(Salticidae)
Identification. Schäfer & Breitling (2018): p. 65, figs 1-3, 4a-b, 5a-c, 6b, 7b.
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, scattered pine forest by the sea, on a stone (30.55277°E, 36.52342°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Pseudeuophrys rhodiensis, which has only recently been described (Schäfer 2018) from the male, was so far only known from Greece (Rhodes). The species is new to Turkey; the new record extends its range eastwards. The female remains unknown.
Tegenaria faniapollinis Brignoli, 1978 (fig. 23a-e)
(Agelenidae)
Identification. Deltshev (2008): p. 40, figs 9-16.
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, undergrowth of a pine forest, on the ground under a stone ledge in a dark place of a ruined stone troglodyte shelter (30.55071°E, 36.52772°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Tegenaria faniapollinis is probably a troglophilic species, so far only known from caves or artificial cavities in Greece (East Rhodopy Mountains) (Deltshev 2008), Italy (Sicilia, Catania) (Nicolisi & Isaia 2017), Northern Macedonia (Galichitsa Mountain) (Deltshev et al. 2013) and Turkey (Province of Hatay: surroundings of Harbiye, Harbiye cave; Province of İstanbul: İstanbul, Fatih, Yedikule Dungeon) (Brignoli 1978, Demircan & Topçu 2016). The discovery in the Osogovo Mt. Range is the only record of this species outside caves (one specimen captured in a xerophytic steppe-like vegetation on limestone, by pitfall traps) (Komnenov 2014). Bolzern et al. (2013) did not specify any localities or habitats for their observations from Greece and Turkey. The new record for Turkey confirms the preference of this species to caves and similar habitats. Found on altitudes up to 1000 m.
Tegenaria vankeerorum Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013 (Fig. 24a-g) (Agelenidae)
Identification. Özkütük et al. (2017): p. 179, figs 2b, 2d, 4a-d.
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, undergrowth of a pine forest, between boulders and on a pine trunk (30.55071°E, 36.52772°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♀, 1 subad. ♂ (raised to maturity), hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Tegenaria vankeerorum is only known from Greece (Rhodes: Aghia Nikolaos Fountoukli) and Turkey (provinces of Antalya: Patara and Geyikova Island and Muğla: Kıyıkışlacık) The female was recently described by Özkütük et al. (2017). To date, the species is infrequently recorded; the area of its current range is very small, extending at most about 300 km from the Turkish locality of Kıyıkışlacık (district of Marmaris) in the west, the historical site of Phaselis (district of Kemer) in the east and Rhodes in the south.
Its ecology remains poorly known; the only available description of the habitat is the one provided by Bolzern et al. (2013; “crevices in caves”) and that of the new record, which both suggest that the species may prefer dark and shaded environments.
Theridion helena Wunderlich, 2011 (Fig. 25a-c) (Theridiidae)
Identification. Nentwig et al. (2020)
New records. Beldibi, in a hotel park, on a metal cupboard (30.56890°E, 36.70985°N, 5 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, 1 ♀, hand collecting, 13. Apr. 2019. Beldibi, under the rim of a hotel perimeter wall (30.56581°E, 36.71052°N, 6 m a.s.l.), 7 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 1 j, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019. Göynük, coastal area, in tall grass of a meadow, in a pine forest clearing, under pine bark (30.56939°E, 36.68153°N, 2 m a.s.l.) and in bushes (30.57016°E, 36.68408°N, 0 m a.s.l.), 4 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, beating and hand collecting, 19. Apr. 2019. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, pines and shrubs on the edge of a reed bed (30.55016°E, 36.52669°N, 3 m a.s.l.) and under a pine bark (30.55071°E, 36.52772°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 2 ♀♀, beating and hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Until now, Theridion helena was only known from Greece (Crete) (Lecigne 2016, WSC 2020) and Cyprus, where it is very common (Bosmans et al. 2019). The species is new to Turkey. The numerous records suggest that the species is quite common in Turkey as well, colonizing a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic habitats. It is closely related to several species of the melanurum group (and particularly T. melanurum) and was most likely previously misidentified in many cases.
Xysticus thessalicoides Wunderlich, 1995 (Fig. 26a-c)
(Thomisidae)
Identification. Wunderlich (1995): p. 753, figs 8-15.
New record. Beldibi, on the edge of an alleyway in a hotel park, near a lawn (30.57077°E, 36.70955°N, 1 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 14. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Xysticus thessalicoides is also a species whose previously known distribution is limited to Greece (Chios, Crete, Lesbos, Santorin and Greek mainland) (Wunderlich 1995, Logunov & Demir 2006, Bosmans et al. 2009, Russel-Smith et al. 2011) and Turkey (Antalya Province, Kalkan; Ballidag Gecidi, Kastamonu; Bolu Province, Abant Mountains; Trabzon, Hamsikoy) (Logunov & Demir 2006). Xysticus thessalicoides appears to be very common on Chios and Lesbos. Found on altitudes up to 1270 m.
Zaitunia kunti Zonstein & Marusik, 2016 (Fig. 27a-c)
(Filistatidae)
Identification. Zonstein & Marusik (2016): p. 20, figs 10I-J, 43C.
New record. Tekirova, site of Phaselis, pine forest, on a stone, on a grassy slope (30.55252°E, 36.52397°N, 3 m a.s.l.), 1 ♂, hand collecting, 18. Apr. 2019.
Comments. Zaitunia kunti is only known from Cyprus (mainly from Pinus forests) and Turkey (Zonstein & Marusik 2016, Bosmans et al. 2019). In Turkey its distribution appears to be limited (Province of Antalya, Alanya and Kemer districts), but there is only a small number of records.
Conclusion
The Turkish fauna currently includes 1129 spider species in 54 families (Danışman et al. 2021). The survey, carried out in April 2019 over a very short period (7 days) and a very reduced area in Kemer district, recorded nearly one hundred species from 28 families. Among them:
– two species are new to science: Sintula karineae spec. nov. described in the present manuscript and Philodromus musteri Lecigne & Oger, 2020 (see Lecigne & Oger 2020). A third species, in the genus Canariphantes, requires verification and comparison with other material and might therefore be the subject of a later paper;
– some appear to be very infrequently found or even rare.This is probably the case for Berinda cooki, Improphantes turok or Heriaeus setiger which are possibly well distributed on a local scale, but whose distribution is still unclear. The case of Cyclosa algerica is somewhat different. This species also seems to be locally well distributed, but is already known from several western European countries; the first record for Turkey extends its range considerably eastward. Several other cases concern recently described species such as Pseudeuophrys rhodiensis or Phrurolithus azarkinae, for which the already known range extends from southwestern Turkey to Azerbaijan and Iran.
For such species, undersampling, difficult detection due to rather effective camouflage (e.g. Philodromus femurostriatus) or confusion with closely related species may partially explain this apparent rarity.
Other species are probably indeed rare, mainly because of a very narrow ecological valence in relation to a strong habitat specialization. This concerns for example Lepthyphantes magnesiae (whose known range appears to be limited) or Tegenaria faniapollinis, both species which are probably of troglophilic affinity, Tegenaria vankeerorum which could be at least trogloxenic, Nomisia orientalis and Zaitunia kunti, both species of forest environments. These hypotheses might be confirmed when more data can be analysed and in particular when the survey efforts can be considered sufficient.
The new findings give an impression of the still incompletely known richness of the spider fauna of Turkey. New species as well as new species records still remain to be found. The diversity in Turkey is probably very high, at the junction between Europe and Asia. This is caused by several geographical and geological characteristics of the country (e.g. by the diverse relief, sheer size, different altitude levels, and the length of coasts) and the great diversity of biogeographical units.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to Pierre Oger for providing the photos used to illustrate the species as well as for his help and the identification or confirmation of several species, among which are C. nanus, I. turok, L. magnesiae, P. roscai, T. vankeerorum and Z. cingarus. I am also grateful to Robert Bosmans for confirming the identification of several species, to Sergei Zonstein for confirming Z. kunti and to Michael Schäfer for confirming P. rhodiensis.Thanks are also due to Julia Altmann for the loan of SMF material, to Jan Dolanský for the exchanges on Cheiracanthium of the pelasgicum group, Christa Deeleman, to Kadir B. Kunt, Steven IJland and Andrei Tanasevitch for help with specimens respectively of the genera Dysdera, Brigittea, Canariphantes and Sintula, to Yuri Marusik and Dmitri Logunov for their opinion on several specimens and to Maria Chatzaki for translations from Greek. My thanks also go to the members of the editorial and publishing board, especially to Tobias Bauer, for making the publication of this work possible.
References
Appendices
Annex: species list
The species are presented in alphabetical order of family and genus. The name of the locality, number, sex, developmental stage and habitat of the species are also specified.
The marked species are those which are new for the fauna of Turkey (*) and those which have already been mentioned at least once for the country but not yet included in the national list (Danışman et al. 2021)(#).