Persiscape, Zamani & Marusik, 2020

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2020, A review of Agelenini (Araneae: Agelenidae: Ageleninae) of Iran and Tajikistan, with descriptions of four new genera, Arachnology 18 (4), pp. 368-386 : 372-373

Persiscape gen. n.

Type species: Agelescape levyi Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005 from Azerbaijan .

Etymology: A combination of Persia and scape, referring to the similarity with Agelescape . The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis: Persiscape gen. n. differ from Agelescape by the number of the teeth on the promargin of the chelicera, 2 in the new genus and 3–4 in Agelescape . Males of this genus differ from those of Agelescape by having a complex embolus with a thumb-like base, a short embolus proper (stick- like portion) (not longer than tegular apophysis), an embolar lamellar process (Pe), conductor twisted around its axis with a thumb-like base and rounded tip ( v. embolus unmodified, filamentous, longer than tegular apophysis, conductor gradually tapering, untwisted, with a sharp tip) and by the shape of the tegular apophysis in lateral view: apophysis straight, longer than wide, with parallel lateral margins and an abrupt tip ( v. apophysis with diverging margins and rounded tip) ( Figs. 6 A–C, E, I, 7B–C, 9A–F, 10A–F, 11A–F). Females of the two genera differ by the presence of wide and straight copulatory ducts and the receptacles subdivided into 2–3 globular chambers in the new genus (v. tube-like, bent, true copulatory ducts and an undivided receptacle in Agelescape ) ( Figs. 12 A–O). Persiscape gen. n. differs from Asiascape gen. n. by the presence of an embolar process (Pe) ( v. absent ) and globular receptacles subdivided into 2–3 chambers ( v. tubular receptacles).

Description: Total length: male 5.30–8.55, female 6.78– 11.20. Carapace length: male 2.50–4.25, female 2.30–4.30, width: male 1.60–3.00, female 1.90–3.00. Chelicera with 2 prolateral and 3 retrolateral teeth.

Carapace and abdomen with distinct pattern ( Figs. 1 A–B, 2A–C, 3C–D). Yellowish to reddish-brown, with two wide submarginal bands and a thin gray margin. Sternum grayish with yellow median stripe. Legs usually the same color as carapace, with obscure annulations in some species. Abdomen dark gray with a pattern of lighter spots dorsally, ventrally light gray. Spinnerets yellowish.

Male palp ( Figs. 6 A–C, E, I, 7B–C, 9A–F, 10A–F, 11A– F) with one patellar and one tibial apophysis. Tegular apophysis strongly sclerotized, broad, with abrupt or rounded tip in lateral view; conductor complex, with thumblike base and roundly bent lamellate terminal part (Ct); embolus complex, with thumb-like base wider than base of conductor, with a lamellar process and short or stick-like embolus proper.

Epigyne ( Figs. 12 A–O) with distinct fovea (atrium) and subdivided scape that is wider than long; copulatory opening hidden, originating laterad of scape, anterior portion of copulatory duct membranous, as long as wide; other part of copulatory duct straight, broad; receptacle subdivided into several globular chambers.

Included species: Persiscape caspica sp. n., P. caucasica ( Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005) , P. ecbatana sp. n., P. gideoni ( Levy, 1996) , P. nassirkhanii sp. n., P. levyi , and P. zagrosensis sp. n. Based on the shape of the embolus, we consider two species groups in this genus: the levyi -group and the gideoni -group. Members of the former have a short spine- or claw-like embolus and include P. levyi , P. ecbatana sp. n., and P. caspica sp. n., and the latter have a stick-like embolus and include P. gideoni , P. nassirkhanii sp. n., and P. zagrosensis sp. n.

Distribution: The genus is known from Lesbos, Central Anatolia, and Israel to Iran (western, northern, and southeastern) ( Fig. 15 ).

Figures

Fig. 6: SEM micrographs of male palps. A Persiscape gideoni, bulb, ventral view; B P. ecbatana sp. n., bulb, ventral view; C P. levyi, bulb, ventral view; D Agelescape cf. livida, from Israel, bulb, ventral view; E P. ecbatana sp. n., bulb, retrolateral view; F Gorbiscape gorbachevi sp. n., bulb, ventral view; G Agelescape cf. livida, from Israel, whole palp with removed bulb; H same, bulb, anterior view; I Persiscape gideoni, bulb, anterior view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm, if not otherwise indicated. Abbreviations: Be = base of embolus, Cb = base of conductor, Co = conductor, Em = embolus, Pe = embolar process.

Fig. 12: Epigynes, different specimens showing variation.A Persiscape levyi, ventral view;B same, dorsal view; C same, ventral view;D same, dorsal view; E same, ventral view; F same, posterior view; G same, dorsal view; H P. gideoni, ventral view; I, D same, posterior views; K, L same, dorsal views; M P. caucasica, ventral view; N same, posterior view; O same, dorsal view. E–G, H–I, L–O after Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen (2005). Scale bars = 0.2 mm, unless otherwise indicated.

Fig. 1: A Persiscape caspica sp. n., ♀ habitus; B same, ♂ habitus; C Persilena sengleti sp. n., ♀ habitus; D Asiascape parthica sp. n., ♂ habitus; E Gorbiscape gorbachevi sp. n., ♂ habitus; F same, ♀ habitus.

Fig. 15: Distribution maps. A Agelescape afFnis, A. livida, and Persiscape caucasica; B P. caspica sp. n., P. ecbatana sp. n., P. nassirkhanii sp. n., P. levyi, P. zagrosensis sp. n., Asiascape parthica sp. n., Persilena sengleti sp. n., and Gorbiscape gorbachevi sp. n.; C Persiscape gideoni.