Epeorus (Caucasiron) zagrosicus Hrivniak & Sroka, 2020

Hrivniak, Ľubos, Sroka, Pavel, Bojkova, Jindriska & Godunko, Roman J., 2020, Identification guide to larvae of Caucasian Epeorus (Caucasiron) (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae), ZooKeys 986, pp. 1-53 : 1

Epeorus (Caucasiron) zagrosicus Hrivniak & Sroka, 2020 Figs 45 , 46 , 47

Type locality.

Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Dimeh village, Chehme-Dimeh River, 32°30'11.62"N, 50°13'04.45"E; 2220 m a.s.l.

Distribution.

South-western Iran. Known only from few sites in the central Zagros (Fig. 45 ).

Habitat.

Larvae inhabit streams and rivers at high altitude, 1721-2402 m a.s.l. (Fig. 45 ).

Main morphological diagnostics of larvae.

(i) abdominal sterna II-VI with a pair of anteriorly widened oblique stripes (Fig. 46B, I , arrows); (ii) abdominal terga V-VII with triangular, stripe-like or crown-like medial macula (Fig. 46G, H ), often with lateral stripes extended dorso-posteriorly (Fig. 46H , arrows); (iii) tergum X with postero-lateral projections (Fig. 47L, M , arrows); (iv) femora with medial hypodermal spot (Fig. 46F ); (v) setae on abdominal terga hair-like (Fig. 47E ); (vi) gill plates III with well-developed projection (Fig. 47G ); (vii) gill plates VII (in natural position from ventral view) relatively wide (Figs 46J, K , 47H-K ).

Remarks.

Taxonomy.

This species was described based on larvae collected from Zagros Mts. ( Hrivniak et al. 2020a). Imagines not described. The type series is currently deposited in SMNS, IECA, and MMTT_DOE. The lineage Caucasiron sp. 2 detected by Hrivniak et al. (2020b) is distributed in Turkey (Taurus Mts.) and morphologically corresponds to E. (C.) zagrosicus . Therefore, E. (C.) zagrosicus may represent a species complex.

Figures

Figure 45. Geographical (left) and vertical (right) distribution of Epeorus (Caucasiron) zagrosicus.

Figure 46. Epeorus (Caucasiron) zagrosicus, larva: A habitus in dorsal view B habitus in ventral view C habitus in lateral view D head of male in dorsal view E head of female in dorsal view F middle leg in dorsal view G, H abdominal terga (arrows point on dorso-posteriorly extended lateral stripes) I abdominal sterna II-VI J, K gills VII (in natural position from ventral view).

Figure 47. Epeorus (Caucasiron) zagrosicus, larva: A labrum (left half in dorsal view right half in ventral view) B incisors of left mandible C incisors of right mandible D setae on dorsal surface of femora E surface and posterior margin of abdominal tergum VII F gill I G gill III H gill VII (flattened on slide) I-K gill VII (in natural position from ventral view) variability in shape L, M abdominal segments VIII-X in lateral view (arrow point on postero-lateral projections) N sternum IX of female.