Scotophaeus elburzensis, Zamani & Chatzaki & Esyunin & Marusik, 2021

Zamani, Alireza, Chatzaki, Maria, Esyunin, Sergei L. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2021, One new genus and nineteen new species of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Iran, with other taxonomic considerations, European Journal of Taxonomy 751 (1), pp. 68-114 : 100-101

Scotophaeus elburzensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:CD564644-82B1-4E91-974E-9C6BEEB5CBA3

Figs 19D–F, I , 20

Diagnosis

The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the atrium which is trapezoidal posteriorly and anteriorly an open dome, and by the peculiar placement of the two pairs of receptacles, one vertical to the other. As in the similar S. anahita sp. nov., the posterior part of the epigynal atrium is most similar to that of S. nanus (see Wunderlich 1995: figs 6–8), but the rest of the epigynal characters are unique enough to consider it a new species. This species can be further diagnosed from the related S. anahita sp. nov. by the lateral ducts being relatively straight and slightly curved outward (vs spiraled) and the terminal lobes being larger than the basal lobes and located posteriorly (vs smaller than basal lobes and located anteriorly).

Etymology

The specific epithet is an adjective and refers to the Elburz Mountain Range, from where the specimens have been collected.

Type material

Holotype IRAN • ♀; Zanjan Province, Gheydar ; 36°06′ N, 48°34′ E; 25 May 2017; L. Karami leg.; ZMMU.

Other material examined

IRAN • 1 ♀; Tehran Province, Koolak (= Kolakchal); 2400–2500 m a.s.l.; 25 May 1978; J. Martens and H. Pieper leg.; SMF .

Description

Female (holotype)

Habitus as in Fig. 20A–B . Total length 10.8. Carapace 5.25 long, 3.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistance of PMEs: AME = 0.17, ALE = 0.15, PME = 0.14, PLE = 0.17, PME–PME = 0.13. Carapace yellowish brown, covered with dark, short setae. Chelicerae ( Fig. 20C ) brown, with 3 promarginal teeth. Sternum yellowish brown with dark borders, covered with black setae. Maxillae and labium yellow-brown with white tips. Legs yellowish brown with lighter femora. Abdomen gray, covered with white plumose hairs and dark setae dorsally, and grayish white with dark setae ventrally. Spinnerets yellowish brown and uniform in color. Measurements of legs: I: 12.20 (3.50, 1.95, 2.85, 2.30, 1.60), II: 12.00 (3.50, 1.95, 2.70, 2.30, 1.55), III: 11.50 (3.30, 1.70, 2.40, 2.55, 1.55), IV: 15.25 (4.00, 2.00, 3.45, 4.05, 1.75). Spination: I: Fe: 2d, 1pl; Ti: 4v; Mt: 2v. II: Fe: 2d, 2pl; Ti: 3v; Mt: 2v. III: Fe: 3d, 2pl, 2rl; Ti: 1d, 3pl, 3rl, 6v; Mt: 5pl, 5rl, 6v. IV: Fe: 3d, 2pl, 2rl; Ti: 2d, 3pl, 3rl, 6v; Mt: 5pl, 5rl, 6v.

Epigyne as in Fig. 19D–F, I . Atrium bordered by lateral margin (Lm); lateral ducts (Ld) slightly curved outward, originating posteriorly to the atrium, forming a chitinized ʻridgeʼ to the prolateral side of the lateral margin (rLD); each receptacle consists of two spherical lobes (Bl and Tl) connected by large copulatory ducts.

Male

Unknown.

Comments

There are differences in the size and position of the receptacles between the type specimen from Zanjan ( Fig. 19F, I ) and the additional material examined from Tehran ( Fig. 19D–E ), which are considered intraspecific variations.

Distribution

Known only from the listed localities in Zanjan and Tehran Provinces, northwestern and northern Iran.

Figures

Fig. 19. A–C, G–H. Scotophaeus anahita sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (ZMMU). A, H. Epigyne, ventral view. B–C. Epigyne, dorsal view. G. Chelicera, posterior view. – D–F, I. Scotophaeus elburzensis sp. nov., ♀ (D–E = specimen from Tehran Province, SMF; F, I = holotype, ZMMU). D, I. Epigyne, ventral view. E–F. Epigyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: Bl = basal lobe; Ld = lateral duct; Lm = lateral margin; rLd = ridge of lateral duct; Tl = terminal lobe. Scale bars: A, C, F, H–I = 0.1 mm; D–E = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 20. Scotophaeus elburzensis sp. nov. (A, C = ♀ from Tehran Province, SMF; B = holotype, ♀, ZMMU). A–B. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Chelicerae, posterior view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise.