Persiscape caspica, Zamani & Marusik, 2020

Zamani, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2020, A review of Agelenini (Araneae: Agelenidae: Ageleninae) of Iran and Tajikistan, with descriptions of four new genera, Arachnology 18 (4), pp. 368-386 : 373-375

Persiscape caspica sp. n.

( Figs. 1 A–B, 9D, 10E–F, 13A–C, 15B)

Type material: Holotype ♂ and paratype 1♀ ( MMUE), IRAN: Mazandaran Province: Javaher-Deh Vil., 36°52′N 50°28′E, 09 June 2000 (Y. M. Marusik).

Etymology: This species is named after the Caspian region where the specimens were collected.

Diagnosis: Persiscape caspica sp. n. is most similar to P. ecbatana sp. n., but it can be distinguished by having the embolus shorter than the lamellar process ( v. embolus and lamellar process equal in length), relatively shorter patellar apophysis (cf. Figs. 10C and 10E ), elongate tegulum, c. 1.2× longer than wide (v. as long as wide), and by the scape which is c. 1.4× wider than long (v. 2× wider than long) ( Fig. 13A ).

Description of male: Habitus as in Fig. 1B . Total length 5.90. Carapace 2.86 long, 1.94 wide. Eye sizes and PME interdistance: AME: 0.10, ALE: 0.15, PME: 0.12, PLE: 0.16, PME–PME: 0.11. Carapace, sternum, labium, chelicera, and maxilla reddish brown. Carapace with dark margins, two wide, light submarginal bands, two wide, brown lateral bands, and a wide, light median band ( Fig. 1 A–B). Legs the same colour as the carapace, with distinct annulations. Abdomen dark reddish brown, with two distinct dark gray submarginal bands dorsally with numerous small light gray patches, and a dark reddish cardiac mark. Spinnerets dark brown, apical segment lighter. Leg I measurements: 9.48 (2.53, 1.04, 2.08, 2.29, 1.54).

Palp as in Figs. 9D , 10 E–F; tegulum c. 1.2× longer than wide; embolus and lamellar process subequal in length; embolus with triangular extension near the base.

Description of female: Habitus as in Fig. 1A . Total length 6.78. Carapace 2.32 long, 1.90 wide. Eye sizes and PME interdistance: AME: 0.08, ALE: 0.16, PME: 0.11, PLE: 0.15, PME–PME: 0.10. Colouration as in male. Leg I measurements: 7.87 (2.03, 1.0, 1.68, 1.84, 1.32).

Epigyne as in Figs. 13 A–C; scape large, occupies most of the fovea, c. 1.35× wider than long; receptacle with 2 globular chambers.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran ( Fig. 15B ).

Figures

Fig. 1: A Persiscape caspica sp. n., ♀ habitus; B same, ♂ habitus; C Persilena sengleti sp. n., ♀ habitus; D Asiascape parthica sp. n., ♂ habitus; E Gorbiscape gorbachevi sp. n., ♂ habitus; F same, ♀ habitus.

Fig. 10: Male palp. A Persiscape levyi, ventral view; B same, retrolateral view; C P. ecbatana sp. n., ventral view; D same, retrolateral view; E P. caspica sp. n., ventral view; F same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm, if not stated otherwise.

Fig. 13: Epigynes, showing variations.A Persiscape caspica sp. n., ventral view; B same, posterior view; C same, dorsal view; D P. ecbatana sp. n., dorsal view; E same, antero-ventral view; F same, ventral view; G same, dorsal view; HAD same, posterior views. E and F show variation of the scape. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 9: Bulb, ventral view. A Persiscape gideoni; B P. nassirkhanii sp. n.; C P. zagrosensis sp. n.; D P. caspica sp. n.; E P. ecbatana sp. n.; F P. levyi. Scale bar = 0.2 mm, if not stated otherwise.

Fig. 15: Distribution maps. A Agelescape afFnis, A. livida, and Persiscape caucasica; B P. caspica sp. n., P. ecbatana sp. n., P. nassirkhanii sp. n., P. levyi, P. zagrosensis sp. n., Asiascape parthica sp. n., Persilena sengleti sp. n., and Gorbiscape gorbachevi sp. n.; C Persiscape gideoni.