We report on the unexpected finding of a new species of the genus Cybaeopsis Strand, 1907, C. lodovicii sp. nov. from the Northern Apennine Mountains in Italy. This is the first documented record of a Cybaeopsis species in Europe. Other currently known species of this genus have been previously recorded in North America, the Russian Far-East and Japan. The new species is illustrated and described based on both sexes. Another species from Portugal, Cybaeopsis theoblicki (Bosmans, 2021) comb. nov., recently described in the genus Callobius Chamberlin, 1947, is hereby transferred to Cybaeopsis on the basis of morphological characters. An updated key to the European genera of Amaurobiidae is provided.

disjunct distribution, endemism, new combination, new record, taxonomy

Cybaeopsis Strand, 1907 is a small genus of cribellate spiders belonging to the family Amaurobiidae Thorell, 1870 currently numbering 10 species (WSC 2022). The majority of the known Cybaeopsis species (9 species) are endemic to North America (Leech 1972; WSC 2022). Among them, Cybaeopsis euopla (Bishop & Crosby, 1935) is the most broadly distributed species covering a wide area ranging from the territories of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia on the Pacific coast to Quebec, Main and Nova Scotland in the east of the continent. Cybaeopsis macaria (Chamberlin, 1947), C. wabritaska (Leech, 1972), and C. spenceri (Leech, 1972) share a distribution covering the northwestern area of North America, from Alaska to the Pacific Northwest in the case of the former two species or limited to western Washington for the third one. Cybaeopsis armipotens (Bishop & Crosby, 1926), C. hoplites (Bishop & Crosby, 1926), C. hoplomacha (Bishop & Crosby, 1926), and C. pantopla (Bishop & Crosby, 1935) are distributed in the southeastern region of the United States, in some areas of North Carolina and along the Appalachian Mountains. The last known American species, C. tibialis (Emerton, 1888), is distributed over the northeastern part of North America, from New England to the easternmost part of Canada (Leech 1972). The only Cybaeopsis currently recorded outside the Nearctic realm is the type species of the genus C. typicus Strand, 1907. This species occurs in northeastern Asia, namely in the Sakhalin and the Kurile islands in the Russian Far-East (Marusik et al. 2012) and in the islands of Hokkaido and Eastern Honshu in Japan (Yaginuma 1987; Shinkai et al. 2022; WSC 2022). So far, no records of Cybaeopsis have been reported in other regions of the Palaearctic or in other zoogeographical realms. Little is also known about the ecology of the members of this genus. Apparently, these spiders live in humid and cool microhabitats in shadowed deciduous forests where they build cribellate lace-webs in the leaf litter or under stones and logs (Leech 1972; Paquin and Dupérré 2003).

While studying spider material collected with pitfall traps in beech forests in Northern Apennines, Italy, we found specimens of an unknown amaurobiid species. Surprisingly, a detailed morphological examination of the samples revealed them as belonging to an undocumented species of the genus Cybaeopsis. This finding represents the first record of Cybaeopsis in Italy and in the whole Western Palaearctic, far outside the supposed natural range of this genus. In addition, while checking information on Cybaeopsis, we realized that another closely related species, Callobius theoblicki Bosmans, 2021, has been recently found in Portugal but described as belonging to another genus (Bosmans 2021). The aim of this study is to revise and survey the taxonomy and geographic distribution of the genus Cybaeopsis in Europe, to describe the new species from Italy and to propose the transfer of Callobius theoblicki to Cybaeopsis.

Spider samples were collected during surveys organized by the Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali “E. Caffi” of Bergamo (MSNBG) in the Northern Apennines. Specimens were sampled using pitfall traps with a preservative solution of vinegar and formalin, and preserved in 75% ethanol in the collections of the same institute. Specimens were examined using an Optika SZM stereomicroscope in the laboratories of the MSNBG. Photographs and measurements were taken at the Systematic Zoology Laboratory, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan (TMU) using a Canon EOS kiss X8i digital camera mounted on a Nikon SMZ 1270 stereomicroscope. Photographs were merged using Helicon Focus v.7 image stacking software (https://www.heliconsoft.com) and edited using Adobe Photoshop CC v.20.0.6 (https://www.photoshop.com/). The left male palp is illustrated. Additional photos were taken using a Jeol JSM-6510LV Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) at TMU. Female genitalia were dissected using a sharp needle and cleared with a 20% solution of KOH before being observed and illustrated with a Nikon Optiphot 2 microscope. All measurements are reported in millimeters. Legs’ measurements are reported as follows: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Terminology follows Marusik et al. (2012).

The following abbreviations are included in text and figures: ALE = anterior lateral eyes; AME = anterior median eyes; PLA = posterior lateral eyes; PMA = posterior median eyes; Cd = copulatory ducts; Cn = conductor; Co = copulatory openings; Da1–4 = dorsal apophyses of tibia; Em = embolus; Ip = internal pockets of the lateral lobes; Ll = lateral lobes; Ma = median apophysis; Pto = prolateral tegular outgrowth; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Rto = retrolateral tegular outgrowth; Sp = spermathecae; St = subtegulum; Te = tegulum; Ti = tibia; Va = ventral tibial apophysis.

The samples used in this study are preserved in the following collections: AMNH = American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA (Curator: Lorenzo Prendini); MSNBG = Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali “E. Caffi” of Bergamo, Italy (Curator: Paolo Pantini).

Cybaeopsis typicus Strand, 1907 (Fig. 4A–F): RUSSIA: 1♂, 1♀, Russian Far-East, Kunashir Island, Y.M. Marusik leg.

Cybaeopsis euopla (Bishop & Crosby, 1935) (Fig. 5A–F): U.S.A.: 1♂, 1♀, Ontario: Island 1024, Lake Temagami, 83°3'W, 46°59'N, 15–25 Aug. 1946, W.J. Gertsch, W. Ivie, T.B. Kurata leg. (AMNH);

Family Amaurobiidae Thorell, 1870

Cybaeopsis lodovicii sp. nov.

https://zoobank.org/FF26EBC0-C226-4264-AC50-EFEC64D7F86A

Figs 1A–H, 2A–F, 3A–D, 5G

Type material

Holotype ♂ ITALY: Liguria: Genova, Mezzanego, Giaiette, 850 m, (44°25'03"N, 9°28'08"E), beechwood, pitfall trap, 31 Oct. 2009–25 May 2010, O. Lodovici, P. Pantini & M. Valle leg.

Paratypes: ITALY: Liguria: 1♂, 4♀♀, same data as the holotype; 2♀♀, same locality, 25 May–18 Aug. 2010 • 1♀, Foresta Demaniale Monte Zatta, ex colonia Devoto, 1050 m, beechwood, pitfall traps 31 Oct 2009–25 May 2010 • 2♀♀, same locality, 25 May–18 Aug. 2010, all O. Lodovici, P. Pantini & M. Valle leg.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of our colleague and friend Omar Lodovici (Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali of Bergamo, Italy).

Diagnosis

Male of the new species can be distinguished from male of C. theoblicki and C. typicus by the different shape and number of the dorsal apophyses of the palpal tibia (Da): four Da with Da2 and Da3 long and Da2 ending wider in C. lodovicii sp. nov. (vs. only three Da in C. theoblicki and Da2 shorter with a sharp end and Da3 very short in both C. theoblicki and C. typicus). In addition, C. lodovicii sp. nov. can be distinguished by the absence of strongly protruding prolateral and retrolateral tegular outgrowths (Pto and Rto) (vs. strongly protruding Pto in C. typicus or Rto in C. theoblicki) (Figs 1A–D, 3A, B cf. Fig. 4A–D and Bosmans 2021: figs 35, 36). Female of C. lodovicii sp. nov. can be distinguished from female of C. theoblicki and C. typicus by the different shape of the internal pockets (Ip) and lateral lobes (Ll): rectangular Ll with comma-like and laterally elongated Ip (vs. shorter, more squared Ll with shorter and stockier Ip in C. theoblicki or more rounded Ll and Ip in C. typicus (Figs 2A, B, D, 3C cf. Bosmans 2021: figs 34–41).

The different number and shape of Da and Ll quickly distinguish male and female C. lodovicii sp. nov. from the American congeners (for comparison see Leech 1972: figs 85–101).

Description

(the specimens are in rather poor condition and the coloration may be different in freshly collected samples). Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 2E. Total length: 3.25. Carapace 1.55 long, 0.95 wide. Carapace brownish with dorsal slightly darker radiating strips, fovea clearly visible. Cephalic area as in Fig. 3D, darker than thoracic part. Chelicerae dark brown, frontally swollen with 3 posterior and 6 anterior teeth. Eyes sizes and their interdistances: AME = 0.07, ALE = 0.1, PME = 0.06, PLE = 0.1, AME–ALE = 0.01, PME–PLE = 0.08. Legs uniformly brownish. Length of legs segments (for legs II–IV only femora are available for the measurements): I (0.96, 0.44, 0.88, 0.83, 0.61), II (0.95, -), III (0.93, -), IV (1.13, -). Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Spination as in Table 1. Opisthosoma brown-greyish with lighter chevrons marks on the dorsal side. Palp as in Figs 1A–H, 3A, B. Palpal femur and patella light brown-yellowish, tibia and tarsus dark brown. Femur approx. 1 and half the length of tibia. Tibia with several long retrolateral setae and 4 dorsal apophyses (Da1–4, Figs 1E, F, 3A). Da1 long and curved heading first retrolaterally and then frontally, proximal part wider and flatter, distal part thin and sharp. Da2 long and thin, headed frontal-retrolaterally and curving ventrally toward the RTA, tip enlarged and with a small notch ending sharply (Fig. 1G). Da3 thin and sharp, headed frontally with an S-shaped course, Da4 short and sharp, headed frontally. RTA elongated and sturdy, approx. as long as tibia, bent dorsally, slightly forked at the tip. Ventral tibial apophysis (Va) short and blunt. Cymbium as long as tibia. Bulb round and dorsoventrally flattened. Median apophysis (Ma) of bulb trapezoid and sturdy with 2 blunt subdivisions headed posteriorly and retrolaterally. Prolateral tegular outgrowth (Pto) inconspicuous. Retrolateral tegular outgrowth (Rto) wide and flat. Both tegular outgrowths only slightly protruding from tegulum. Conductor (Co) wide. Embolus (Em) short and sturdy, ribbon-like, approx. as long as the conductor, distal part with a slightly S-shaped course (Fig. 3A, B).

Table 1.

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Leg spination of male and female C. lodovicii sp. nov. Variability in number of spines among right and left legs is reported in parentheses. Abbreviations: d = dorsal spines, p = prolateral spines, r = retrolateral spines; v = ventral spines.

Male	Femur	Tibia	Metatarsus
I	d1(2) r1	d2 p2 r2 V2-2	d2 p3 r3 v2-2-3
II	d1 p1	p1(2) v2-2	p2 v2-2-3
III	d2 p1 r1	d1 p2 r2 v1-2-2	d2 p3 r3 v2-2-3
IV	d1(2) r1	d2 p2 r2 v1-2-2	d3 p3 r3 v2-2-3
Female	Femur	Tibia	Metatarsus
I	d1 p1	p1 v1-2-1	p1 v2-1-1
II	d1 p1	p1 v1	v1-3
III	d1(2) p1 r1	d1 p2 r2 v1-(1)	d1 p3 r3 v2-3
IV	d1(2)	d1 p1 r2 v1-2-2	p3 r3 v2-1-3

Figure 1. 

Cybaeopsis lodovicii sp. nov. male palp. A prolateral view; B retrolateral view; C ventral view; D dorsal view; E tibial, dorsal view; F SEM image of the tibial apophyses, dorsal view; G SEM image of detail of the RTA tip; H SEM image of detail of the median apophysis, ventral view. Abbreviations: Da 1–3 = dorsal apophyses; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Va = ventral apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–D); 0.1 mm (F); 0.02 mm (G); 0.05 mm (H).

Figure 2. 

Cybaeopsis lodovicii sp. nov., male and female. A epigyne, ventral view; B ditto, ventral view after maceration; C ditto, posterior view; D vulva, dorsal view; E male habitus, dorsal view; F female habitus, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Cd = copulatory duct; Co = copulatory opening; Ip = internal pocket; Ll = lateral lobe; Sp = spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A–D); 1 mm (E, F).

Figure 3. 

Cybaeopsis lodovicii sp. nov., male and female. A male palp, retrolateral view; B ditto, ventral view; C epigyne, ventral view; D cephalic area of female, frontal view. Abbreviations: Cn = conductor; Da 1–4 = dorsal apophyses of Tibia; Em = embolus; Ip = internal pocket; Ll = lateral lobe; Ma = median apophysis; Pto = prolateral tegular outgrowth; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Rto = retrolateral tegular outgrowth; St = subtegulum; Te = tegulum; Ti = tibia; Va = ventral apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm (A–C); 0.5 mm (D).

Figure 4. 

Cybaeopsis typicus, male and female from Kunashir Island. A male palp, retrolateral view; B ditto, prolateral view; C ditto, ventral view; D ditto, dorsal view; E epigyne, ventral view; F ditto, posterior view. Photos by Y.M. Marusik Abbreviations: Co = conductor; Da 1–4 = dorsal apophyses of tibia; Em = embolus; Ll = lateral lobe; Ma = median apophysis; Pto = prolateral tegular outgrowth; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; Rto = retrolateral tegular outgrowth; St = subtegulum; Te = tegulum; Va = ventral apophysis.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 2F. Total length: 3.04. Carapace 1.35 long, 0.83 wide. Coloration as in male, chevrons on the opisthosoma more visible than in the male. Chelicera with 3 posterior and 5 anterior teeth. Eyes sizes and their interdistances: AME = 0.04, ALE = 0.1, PME = 0.07, PLE = 0.12, AME-ALE = 0.02, PME-PLE = 0.13. Length of legs segments (leg III missing): I 2.94 (0.86, 0.4, 0.65, 0.57, 0.46), II 2.68 (0.96, 0.25, 0.57, 0.53, 0.37), III (-), IV 3.04 (0.85, 0.4, 0.67, 0.72, 0.4).

Leg spination as in Table 1. Calamistrum clearly visible, about 2/3 of metatarsus length. Other characters as in male. Epigyne as in Figs 2A–D, 3C. Epigynal plate divided into two lateral lobes (Ll) and a septum. Copulatory openings (Co) located in the antero-median inner part of lateral lobes. Internal pockets (Ip) of lateral lobes wide, comma-like, narrowing laterally, visible by transparency through tegument of epigyne. Copulatory ducts (Cd) short, comma-like, proximal traits parallel to each other in medial part of vulva and then diverging laterally. Spermathecae (Sp) small, separated from each other more than 4 times their diameter, located in anterior side of vulva.

Distribution

Endemic to Northern Apennines, Italy.

Habitat

Litter of mountain beechwoods at mid-elevation (~800 m).

Several new species belonging to the family Amaurobiidae have been described in Europe in recent years, from Northern Apennines in Italy (Amaurobius pesarinii Ballarin & Pantini, 2017), Minorca (A. minorca Barrientos & Febrer, 2018), the Caucasus mountains (A. caucasicus Marusik, Otto & Japoshvili, 2020), and Portugal (Cybaeopsis theoblicki (Bosmans, 2021)) (Nentwig et al. 2022). The majority of the known and newly described species are from Southern Europe and, in particular, from the Mediterranean region. This area represents a hotspot of spider diversity which is still scarcely explored. With this work we add one more genus and species to the European amaurobiid fauna, further increasing the diversity of this family in the Western Palaearctic. Currently, Amaurobiidae in Europe consists of 44 species belonging to 5 genera: Amaurobius C. L. Koch, 1837 (38 species), Arctobius Lehtinen, 1967 (1 species), Callobius Chamberlin, 1947 (2 species), Cybaeopsis Strand, 1907 (2 species), and Ovtchinnikovia Marusik, Kovblyuk & Ponomarev, 2010 (1 species) (Nentwig et al. 2022 and the present paper). The finding of Cybaeopsis in Southern Europe was unexpected, as the new localities are far from the previously known range of the genus and in an unforeseen environment. The updated distribution of Cybaeopsis indicates that the area of distribution of this genus is fragmented between three strongly disjunct areas: North America, North-Eastern Asia and South Europe (see Fig. 5G). This opens the door for new and challenging hypotheses about the origin and historical biogeography of these spiders, which warrant further exploration in the future. The rather uniform general morphology of copulatory organs and the disjunct distribution may suggest that this is a potential relict group once distributed in a wider area. A similar distribution is also shared by other genera of Amaurobiidae (e.g. Callobius, Amaurobius) or even other families (Y.M. Marusik & Z. Zhao, in litteris). Such results may suggest a common evolutionary history as a consequence of long-range dispersions or fragmentations of wider distributions related to ancient climatic and geological events. In addition, Cybaeopsis species have previously been considered to have rather frigophilic preferences, being often associated with shadowed, cool and humid environments (Paquin and Dupérré 2003). In this regard, regions at higher latitudes and localized habitats with relatively cool and uniform conditions throughout the year (e.g. vegetated narrow valleys) may have acted as a refuge for these spiders. Nevertheless, the new records in Portugal and Italy, in areas which are relatively warm and dry during the summer season, challenge this hypothesis. Such findings imply that our knowledge of the habitat preferences of Cybaeopsis is still incomplete and that this genus may have broader environmental tolerance than previously thought. Additional collections and studies on the European Cybaeopsis fauna and the comparison of these species with the North American and Eastern Asia congeners in the future may help to better define the ecology, distribution, evolutionary history and micro-habitat preference of these spiders.

Figure 5. 

Cybaeopsis euopla, male and female from Ontario. A male habitus, dorsal view; B female habitus, dorsal view; C epigyne, ventral view; D male palp, retrolateral view; E ditto, ventral view; F original sample labels; G distribution of the genus Cybaeopsis. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B); 0.5 mm (C–E).

The authors want to thank all the people who helped with this work and, in particular, Marco Valle, Giuseppe and Omar Lodovici for helping with the collection of the new species. We are thankful to Lorenzo Prendini (New York, USA) for the loan of samples of C. euopla and to Yuri M. Marusik (Magadan, Russia) for providing the photos of C. typicus used in this work. Many thanks to Elena Pelizzoli for providing the drawings. We are grateful to Katsuyuki Eguchi (Tokyo, Japan) for allowing us the use of microscopes and other equipment in the laboratories of the Tokyo Metropolitan University, and to Adam Cronin (Tokyo, Japan) for kindly checking the English in an early draft of the manuscript. This work has benefitted greatly from suggestions and comments from Yuri M. Marusik, Alireza Zamani and Zhe Zhao.