Turanobius tadzhikus (Andreeva and Tyshchenko, 1969) comb. n.

(Figures 1, 2, 8–10, 2 3–28)

Oecobius tadzhikus Andreeva and Tyshchenko, 1969: 376, fig. 3 (♂ ♀).

Oecobius tadzhikus: Andreeva 1976: 22, figs 19–22 (♂ ♀); Marusik et al. 2015: 198, figs 1– 12 (♂ ♀); Fomichev 2022: 104, fig. 2A–E (♂).

Type material. Holotype ♀ (ZISP), TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Region: Chiluchor Chashma, 37.294194°N, 68.039306°E, under stones on slope, 8 May 1965 (E. Martynova) . Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀ 3 juv . (ZISP), same data as for the holotype [examined].

Other material. TAJIKISTAN: Khatlon Region: 1♂ (MMUE), Shaartuz district, Babatag Mt . ridge, 37.075806°N, 68.019611°E, 427 m, under bushes, 20 April 2015 (Y.M. Marusik).

Diagnosis. The male of T. tadzhikus differs from those of the congeners by the mesal arm of the radix shorter than the thin prolateral one (vs both arms of equal lengths and/or broad), and by having the longest prolateral loop of the spermophor (3 times longer than wide, vs <3) (see Figures 9, 15, 17, 19 and 10, 20–22). The female of T. tadzhikus differs from that of T. leptonychus sp. n. by the length/width ratio of the area formed between the insemination ducts (ca. 3, vs 5; see Figures 23, 29).

Description. See Marusik et al. (2015).

Distribution. Confidently known only from the south-western part of Khatlon Region in south-western Tajikistan (Andreeva and Tyshchenko 1969; Andreeva 1975, 1976; present material) (Figures 35, 36). In our opinion, the records of this species from Turkmenistan by Mikhailov and Fet (1994) are misidentifications and may belong to T. ferdowsii comb. n. (see also Marusik et al. 2015; Fomichev 2022). The record from Gandzhina (Tajikistan) by Andreeva (1976) is based on juvenile specimens and is therefore also doubtful; it is possible that these specimens belong to T. leptonychus sp. n., which has been collected from a nearby locality (Figure 36).