Scotophaeus Simon, 1893

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 : 98

Genus Scotophaeus Simon, 1893

Comments

The two new species described below are tentatively placed in Scotophaeus due to the absence of males and the general taxonomic uncertainty surrounding this genus. According to Levy (1999: 437), Scotophaeus is a “cumulative taxon for medium-sized robust gnaphosids”, a problem that has not been resolved; the genus requires a full revision ( Murphy 2007: 51). However, the similarity of most of the somatic characters of the new species with Scotophaeus (e.g., habitus, shape of maxillae, cheliceral dentition, eye configuration [as illustrated in Murphy 2007: fig. 374], presence of scopulae on metatarsi I and II [a diagnostic character of the genus, according to Levy 1999: 437]) as well as the form of the genital organs, with a wide epigynal depression and multi-chambered receptacles, indicate that this genus is the best candidate for generic assignment.