BIHAREAN BIOLOGIST 11 (2): 121-122 ©Biharean Biologist, Oradea, Romania, 2017 Article No.: e162208 http://biozoojournals.ro/bihbiol/index.html
The first record of genus Rhomphaea L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae, Theridiidae) from Turkey
Zafer SANCAK1,*, Halil KOC2, Esra ETIRLI2 and Melek ERDEK3
1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Kastamonu, 37100 Kuzeykent, Kastamonu, Turkey 2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Arts, University of Sinop, Sinop, Turkey 3. Gökkuşağı St., 1163rd Ave., Apt. Kardelen, 10/10, TR-06450, Dikmen, Ankara, Turkey *Corresponding author, Z. Sancak, E-mail: [email protected]
Received: 29. July 2016 / Accepted: 08. December 2016 / Available online: 13. January 2017 / Printed: December 2017
Abstract. Rhomphaea hyrcana (Logunov & Marusik, 1990) is recorded for the first time for araneofauna of Turkey. The characteristic features and photographs of this newly recorded species are presented.
Key words: Rhomphaea hyrcana, Araneae, Theridiidae, New record, Taxonomy, Turkey.
Theridiidae is one of the large spider families with 2462 spe- Rhomphaea hyrcana (Logunov & Marusik, 1990) (Figs. 1-2) cies in 122 genera and has a worldwide distribution (World Material examined: 1♀, Turkey, Bartın Province, Amasra Dis- Spider Catalog, 2016). Genus Rhomphaea L. Koch, 1872 is rep- trict, (41°43’47”N, 32°22’14”E, 900 m a.s.l.), 19.09.2011, leg. resented by 33 species in the Afrotropical, Nearctic, M. Erdek; 4♀, Turkey, Sinop Province, Gerze District Neotropical Oriental and Palaearctic regions. Until now, 79 (41°44’21.9” N, 35°13’53.1” E 1150 m a.s.l.), 17.05.2014, leg H. cobweb spider species belonging to 31 genera have been re- Koc. corded from Turkey (Bayram et al., 2016). This paper deals Description of female: Body length: 8.5, Prosoma: length with the characteristic features and distribution of Rhom- 1.9, width 0.7. Opisthosoma: length 6.6, width 1.1. Prosoma phaea hyrcana (Logunov & Marusik, 1990) adding a new ge- (Fig.1) is yellowish brown laterally dark brown, with two nus and species to the araneo-fauna of Turkey. dark brown stripes from ocular area to clypeus. Ocular area posteriorly receding (Fig. 2). Clypeus protruding forwardly. The specimens of R. hyrcana were collected on bushes with a sweep Opisthosoma thin, long and triangular; become narrow pos- net during the daytime. Specimens were preserved in 70 % ethanol teriorly, with thick and dark brown line laterally. Spinnerets and studied using a Leica S8APO microscope by means of a Leica elongated ventrally. Opisthosoma anteriorly greyish yellow, DC 160 camera, and deposited in the collection of the Arachnological Museum of Kastamonu University (KASUAM). Logunov & Marusik, middle dark brown and posteriorly light brown with whitish (1990) and Yoshida, (2001 & 2009) were used for identification. All speckles dorsally. Epigynum with membranous protrusion measurements are given in millimeters (Table 1). and narrow recess anteriorly. Pedipalps tarsi yellow, other parts dark brown, with a dark brown stripes. Legs are whit- Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833 ish light brown with dorsally thin brown stripes. Leg for- Rhomphaea L. Koch, 1872 mula: I-IV-II-III (Table 1).
Figure 1. Female of R. hyrcana A- Habitus, dorsal view, B- Habi- tus, lateral view, C, D- Epigyne, ventral view, (scales = 5 mm).
122 Z. Sancak et al.
Figure 2. Female of R. hyrcana A- carapax, B- ocular area.
Table 1. Measurements of the legs of the female R. hyrcana. Rhomphaea genus is recorded for the first time for araneo- fauna of Turkey. Leg Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total
I 9.5 0.4 6.2 3.1 1.9 21.1
II 4.1 0.4 3.4 1.5 1.0 10.4 III 1.9 0.4 1.4 0.9 0.4 5.0 References IV 5.6 0.4 3.9 1.9 0.6 12.4 Bayram, A., Kunt, K.B., Danışman, T. (2016): The checklist of the spiders of
Turkey. Version 2016, online at
[accessed 29.11.2016] Distribution: Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Japan (World Logunov, D.V., Marusik, Y.M. (1990): The spider genus Argyrodes (Aranei, Spider Catalog, 2016), Turkey (present paper). Theridiidae) in the USSR. Zoologicheskiĭ Zhurnal 69(2): 133-136. The genus Rhomphaea are mainly known as araneophagic Platnick, N.I. (2016): World Spider Catalog, version 17.0. Natural History Museum Bern, online at