Less is more: eight new synonyms in Mediterranean spiders (Araneae), with a new Pelecopsis species from Tunisia (Linyphiidae)

Abstract. The following eight new synonyms are proposed: Araneus arganicola Simon, 1909 = Neoscona subfusca (C. L. Koch, 1837) syn. doi: 10.30963/aramit6109 nov.; Drassus nugatorius Karsch, 1881 = Odontodrassus mundulus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881) syn. nov.; Drassus sockniensis Karsch, 1881 = Poecilochroa pugnax (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874) syn. nov.; Drassus tarrhunensis Karsch, 1881 = Megamyrmaekion caudatum Reuss, 1834 syn. nov.; Prosthesima kerimi Pavesi, 1880 = Zelotes tragicus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) syn. nov.; Prosthesima quadridentata Strand, 1906 = Scotophaeus quadridentatus Caporiacco, 1928 = Setaphis mollis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874) syn. nov.; Steatoda erigoniformis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) = Euryopis albomaculata Denis, 1951 syn. nov. The position of Drassus obscurus Lucas, 1846 in Drassodes is confirmed and the first figures of the female epigyne and vulva are given. The citation of Dactylopisthes digiticeps (Simon, 1881) from Tunisia by Pavesi (1884) is a misidentification and concerns Thaumatoncus indicator Simon, 1884. A new species is described: Pelecopsis pavesii spec. nov. from Tunisia, erroneously identified by Pavesi (1884) as Pelecopsis parumpunctata (Simon, 1881).

Comments. Araneus arganicola was described from Morocco by Simon (1909). In his description, Simon thought it was closely related to Neoscona dalmatica, now a junior synonym of N. subfusca. Differences to N. subfusca or to the related N. adianta were not given. Examination of what we here select as the type material of Neoscona arganicola ( Fig. 1a-g) reveals it is a synonym of N. subfusca. In the male palp, there is one terminal spike in the median apophysis (two in N. adianta) and the female epigyne has a relatively wide scape (narrow in N. adianta). Araneus arganicola also has the same opisthosomal pattern as N. subfusca, thus it does not differ morphologically from Neoscona subfusca and becomes its junior synonym. Morano & Bonal (2018) also examined material of A. arganicola deposited in the MNHN, but they only saw subadult specimens. In their opinion, A. arganicola was a probable synonym of A. subfusca, which is confirmed here.
In Algeria, Neoscona adianta was only found in coastal regions, whereas N. subfusca occurs in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, as well as in the southern parts, including oases in the Sahara Desert (see examined material below). The type locality of N. arganicola is in the south of Morocco, therefore its habitat preferences are the same as those of N. subfusca. Comments. Drassus obscurus was described from Algeria and the species has never been studied since. Roewer (1955) considered it a nomen nudum. In the WSC (2021), it is listed under Drassodes. The discovery of the holotype shows it is indeed a Drassodes species, belonging to the D. lutescens group, which is evident from the structure of the vulva shown in the Fig. 2a. The placement of the species in the genus Drassodes is confirmed here. A revision of the North African species of this genus has to be undertaken to establish its exact taxonomic status. The holotype female was examined and is in a poor condition but the epigyne is intact. It shows a large, lenticular pit with an anterior hood and two pairs of receptacula at each side of the depression (Fig. 2b-c). This type of epigyne shows strong similarities to that of Megamyrmaekion caudatum and we consider Drassus tarrhunensis a junior synonym of that species.

Setaphis mollis
It must be pure coincidence that Strand (1906: 613) gave the same species name, Prosthesima quadridentata, to a species he described from Tunisia. In Strand (1908: 76) the epigyne was described as follows: "Epigyne bildet in Fluidum gesehen ein abgerundet viereckiges, bräunliches Feld, das ein wenig länger als breit ist". Not only the shape of the epigyne but also the size of the spider and the yellowish brown general colour are similar. Since the type specimens no longer exist, it is our opinion this species should be considered a junior synonym of Setaphis mollis as well. Nentwig et al. (2020) suggested the species was a nomen dubium, but we are of the opinion that the arguments above are sufficient to consider it a junior synonym of Setaphis mollis. Distribution. Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Description. See Levy (1998b) andFitzPatrick (2007). Comments. Prosthesima kerimi was described more than 100 years ago by Pavesi (1880), but has never been illustrated nor clearly diagnosed. The type series could be examined and it is composed of one male, without palps, and one female, with the epigyne present (Fig. 2f ). The female is therefore selected as the lectotype. It appears to be identical to Zelotes tragicus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), a common species in North Africa. Distribution. Tunisia, Libya, Chad, Ethiopia, Israel.

Family Linyphiidae
Pelecopsis pavesii spec. nov. (Figs 3a-g, 4a-  Comments. Pelecopsis parumpunctata was described by Simon (1881a) from France and recorded in Tunisia by Pavesi (1884). Denis (1964: 345) synonymized it with Pelecopsis mengei (Simon, 1884). Allthough Pelecopsis parumpunctata was described before P. mengei and should have priority, the name P. parumpunctata was apparently suppressed for lack of usage (see WSC 2021). In their revisions of North African Pelecopsis species, neither Denis (1962), nor Bosmans & Abrous (1992) mention P. mengei from North Africa. Examination of the specimen cited by Pavesi (1884) reveals that it is not P. mengei but an unknown species described below. Diagnosis. By the presence of a basal cymbial tubercle, the species is similar to Pelecopsis kalaensis Bosmans, 1992, P. laptevi Tanasevitch & Fet, 1986, P. odontophora (Kulczyński, 1895, P. paralleloides Tanasevitch & Fet, 1986, P. pavida (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872 and P. susannae (Simon, 1915). Of these, only Pelecopsis kalaensis occurs in North Africa and this species differs from the new species by the palp with a rectangular dorsal tibial apophysis, which is triangular in P. pavesii spec. nov. (Figs 3d, 4c) and also by the elongated palpal femur (Fig. 3b) in P. pavesii spec. nov. Etymology. The species is dedicated to Pietro Pavesi, author of two important contributions to the arachnofauna of Tunisia. Description. Measurements: Total length 1.5; prosoma 0.85 wide, 0.63 wide. Legs (Tab. 1). Colour: The specimen is too faded to give information on this feature. Carapace (Figs 3a-c, 4a-b): With large cephalic elevation carrying PME, a transverse frontal groove, oval postocular sulci, twice the diameter of the PLE and two lines of impressed dots between the PME; AME separated by 2.5 times their diameter, from ALE by 2.5 times their diameter; PME separated by 4 times their diameter.
Opisthosoma: Covered with opaque scutum. Legs: No spines or trichobothria observed in this old, faded specimen, probably detached and no sign of attachment places. Palp (Figs 3d-g, 4c-e): Femur elongated, three times longer than wide; tibia with three triangular apophyses, two small retro-and prolateral and a pointed median apophysis. Cymbium with basal tubercle; protegulum protruding; embolus ribbon-like, semi-circular, terminally bent in anterior direction as seen in retrolateral view.