A revision of the spider genus Raveniola (Araneae, Nemesiidae). I. Species from Western Asia

Abstract

The genus Raveniola Zonstein, 1987 is found to be represented in Western Asia by 16 species: male female R. adjarica sp. nov. (Georgia), male R. anadolu sp. nov. (Turkey), male R. arthuri Kunt & Yagmur, 2010 (Turkey), male R. birecikensis sp. nov. (Turkey), male female R. dunini sp. nov. (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran), male female R. hyrcanica Dunin, 1988 (Azerbaijan),male R. marusiki sp. nov. (Iran), male R. mazandaranica Marusik, Zamani & Mirshamsi, 2014 (Iran), male female R. micropa (Ausserer, 1871) (Turkey), female R. nana sp. nov. (Turkey), male female R. niedermeyeri (Brignoli, 1972) (Iran), male female R. pontica (Spassky, 1937) (Russia, Georgia), female R. sinani sp. nov. (Turkey), male female R. turcica sp. nov. (Turkey), male female R. vonwicki Zonstein, 2000 (Iran) and male female R. zaitzevi (Charitonov, 1948) (Azerbaijan, Georgia) = female Brachythele recki Mcheidze, 1983, syn. nov. Eight species are described as new; others are redescribed from types and/or conspecific material. Males of R. micropa and R. zaitzevi, hitherto unknown, are described for the first time. Data on the variability, relationships, distribution and ecology of all considered species are also provided.