Zaitunia persica species group

Remarks

The group unites almost uniformly light-coloured species with females possessing only one pair of receptacles (entire or subdivided). Males and their characters are unknown for this group. Six members are included: Z. afghana (Roewer, 1962) from Afghanistan, and five species from Iran: Z. akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015, Z. alexandri Brignoli, 1982, Z. brignoliana sp. nov., Z. medica Brignoli, 1982 and Z. persica Brignoli, 1982 .

Key to species of the Zaitunia persica species group

(Only females; males of all included species are unknown.)

1. Receptacles long, sinuous and looped (Figs 15 E–G, 18D–E) ……………………………………2

– Receptacles short, without loops (Figs 14 G–K, 16A–B, D–F, 17D, F–J) ………………………3

2. Receptacles longer, with four loops (Fig. 18 D–E); southern Iran ……… Z. persica Brignoli, 1982

– Receptacles shorter, with two loops (Fig. 15 E–G); northern Iran ………………………………… ………………………………………………………………… Z. akhanii Marusik & Zamani, 2015

3. Receptacles undivided (Figs 16 A, D, 17D, F–J) …………………………………………………4

– Receptacles subdivided (Figs 14 G–K, 16D–F) ……………………………………………………5

4. Receptacles longer, sac-shaped (Fig. 16 A–B); southern Iran……… Z. alexandri Brignoli, 1982

– Receptacles shorter, knob-shaped (Fig. 17 D, F–J), central Iran ………… Z. medica Brignoli, 1982

5. Receptacles with stems and subdivided dumbbell-shaped head (Fig. 14 G–K); Afghanistan ……… ………………………………………………………………………… Z. afghana (Roewer, 1962)

– Receptacles without stems, boomerang-shaped (Fig. 16 D–F); Iran ……… Z. brignoliana sp. nov.