Spariolenus fathpouri Moradmand

Moradmand, Majid, 2017, Three new species of the subterranean huntsman spider genus Spariolenus (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) in Iran, Subterranean Biology 24, pp. 11-25 : 11

Spariolenus fathpouri Moradmand sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 3A

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, IRAN: Khuzestan Province: N of Lali, Pebdeh Cave, 32°26.50'N, 42°13.35'E, 11 April 2015, SD 111, M. Moradmand, F. Moin, Sh. Esmailbegi, A. Bagheri leg. (SMF). Paratypes: 1♂ and 2♀ ♀ with same data as for holotype (1♂, 1♀ ZMUI; 1♀ SMF)

Etymology.

The species is named in honour of Dr Hossein Fathpour, retired associate professor of Zoology (University of Isfahan), who first perceived and supported the author’s enthusiasm for investigating the world of arthropods; genitive case.

Diagnosis.

The male can be distinguished from other congeners by its bifurcated ET (similar to S. zagros and S. mansourii sp. n.) but differ from the two later by the crescent shape of the prolateral ET (PET) having a notch (Fig. 1 A–D). The female vulva can be distinguished by having unique expansion in EP anteriorly, constructing a marsupial-like structure (Fig. 2B).

Description. Male: Measurements. Medium-sized Sparassidae ; holotype: total length 14.0, carapace length 6.7, width 5.5, anterior width 3.6, opisthosoma length 7.3, width 4.3. Anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior eye row straight (Fig. 1F).

Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10-15 intermarginal denticles; retromargin with two bristles at base of fang (Fig. 1E).

Eyes. AME 0.27, ALE 0.70, PME 0.48, PLE 0.76, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.17, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.53, AME-PME 0.34, ALE-PLE 0.52.

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 10.8 [3.6, 1.5, 2.2, 3.5], I 47.0 [12.2, 4.6, 13.5, 13.2, 3.5], II 51.2 [13.8, 4.5, 15.5, 14.2, 3.2], III 38.0 [10.8, 3.7, 11.2, 9.7, 2.6], IV 39.9 [11.1, 3.5, 11.2, 11.3, 2.8].

Spination . Palp 131, 101, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I 222(10), II 222(10), III 1218, IV 3236; Metatarsus I 0004, II–III 2024, IV 3036.

Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium 1.5 times longer than tibia, BRB present, RTA short, dRTA pointed and vRTA blunt in retrolateral view, both are blunt and the same length in ventral view, PET shorter than RET, PET cover proximal half of RET partially in ventral view. Conductor hyaline and not extending beyond or roughly the same length of ET (Fig. 1 A–D).

Female: Habitus as in Fig. 3A. Measurements. Large-sized Sparassidae ; total length 27.6, carapace length 13.6, width 11.7, anterior width 6.5, opisthosoma length 14.0, width 8.0.

Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 15-20 intermarginal denticles.

Eyes. AME 0.51, ALE 1.1, PME 0.70, PLE 1.3, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.11, PME-PME 0.48, PME-PLE 0.97, AME-PME 0.67, ALE-PLE 0.95.

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 19.8 [5.7, 3.0, 4.5, 6.6], I 71.3 [18.2, 8.2, 20.4, 19.5, 5.0], II 79.3 [21.4, 8.9, 22.8, 21.2, 5.0], III 66.6 [18.2, 7.3, 17.2, 17.3, 6.6], IV 68.7 [18.7, 7.3, 17.9, 19.5, 5.3].

Spination . Palp 131, 101, 2221, 2014; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I 101(10), II 111(10), III 2228, IV 2226; Metatarsus I– II 0004, III 2024, IV 3036.

Epigynum. As in diagnosis, with EF as long as wide, AB present but short, MEP extending first half laterad and second half frontad (Fig. 2 A–C).

Distribution and habitat preferences.

Known only from the type locality, the Pebdeh cave ecosystem (Fig. 3B, C). The cave is rich in biodiversity of arthropods including unidentified species of insects (Fig. 3D, F). A relatively large population of bats inhabit the cave and produce huge piles of guano, a source of energy for a potential food chain inside the cave.

Conservation status of the type locality.

The Pebdeh cave suffered from a man-made fire just a few years ago which resulted in a decline of the bat population (Fig. 3E) and of the rest of the diversity of inhabitants (pers. ob.). The cave is fortunately under formal registration as national heritage of Iran because of evidences of earliest date of human occupation inside the cave.