Iraponia, Kranz-Baltensperger & Platnick & Dupérré, 2009

Kranz-Baltensperger, Yvonne, Platnick, Norman I. & Dupérré, Nadine, 2009, A New Genus of the Spider Family Caponiidae (Araneae, Haplogynae) from Iran, American Museum Novitates 3656, pp. 1-12 : 2-3

Iraponia , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Iraponia scutata , new species .

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is a contraction of ‘‘Iranian Caponia ’’ and is feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can easily be distinguished from those of all other known caponiids by the presence of an extensive postepigastric scutum on the abdominal venter (figs. 1, 2, 8–10, 23–25) and the absence of the posterior median pair of spinnerets (figs. 2, 40). Members of both sexes can be distinguished from the nopine genera ( Nops MacLeay , Nopsides Chamberlin , Orthonops Chamberlin , Nyetnops Platnick and Lise , and Tarsonops Chamberlin ) by having entire, rather than subsegmented tarsi, and from most of the other caponiine genera by having six eyes (members of Calponia Platnick and Caponina have eight eyes, members of Notnops Platnick have four eyes, and members of Diploglena , Laoponia , Taintnops Platnick , and Tisentnops Platnick have only two eyes). Only some species of the New World genus Caponina Simon have six eyes, and females of those species lack the posteriorly extended epigastric region found in those of Iraponia (figs. 4, 18, 21, 46).

DESCRIPTION: Moderate-sized caponiids (figs. 1–4, 8, 9, 17, 18, 23–25) with six eyes, four lateral eyes with distinct lenses (fig. 19), although those of posterior lateral pair less elevated than those of anterior, especially in males (figs. 28, 29). Carapace broadly oval, anteriorly narrowed to less than half its maximum width, pars cephalica depressed behind ocular area, with elevations extending toward coxae, pars thoracica short, sloping; cuticle with small hexagonal cells; few dorsally directed strong bristles on clypeus; scattered needle-like hairs on carapace; thoracic groove short, almost obsolete (figs. 26, 27). Six eyes, medians dark, separated by their radius, set back from anterior margin of clypeus by about three times their diameter, surrounded by oval ring of black pigment, laterals white, with high, rounded lenses on anteriors, lenses lower on posteriors (especially in males). Cheliceral paturon with long, strong bristles, overlapping medially; base of fang unmodified; median lamina long, with sharply pointed anteromedian tip (fig. 34); most of space between lamina and base of fang occupied by white membranous lobe; lateral surface with stridulatory ridges (figs. 31–33), pick on prolateral side of palpal femur, situated at about one-fifth of femur length (figs. 53, 59). Endites convergent, acuminate, covered with many long setae (figs. 20, 22), with strong distal serrula consisting of single tooth row (fig. 35). Labium triangular, fused to sternum (fig. 30), slightly invaginated at base, covered with few scattered setae, anterior surface with transverse rows of tiny teeth (fig. 37); labrum long, narrow, triangular, distally elevated (fig. 36). Sternum as wide as long, microsculpture consisting of hexagonal cells, without radial furrows between coxae, covered with scattered setae, not fused to carapace (fig. 11); cephalothoracic membranes without epimeric sclerites, but long triangular sclerites extend from sternum between coxae I and II, II and III, and III and IV, shorter triangles extending to each coxae. Leg formula 4213; legs without spines; metatarsi and tarsi entire, without subsegmentation or membranous processes; tarsi with three claws; paired claws with about six teeth (more on leg I), distal teeth largest; unpaired claw shorter than paired ones, without teeth. Tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi with trichobothria in single row, bases ridged (fig. 38); tarsal organ exposed (fig. 39); female palpal tarsus elongated, prolateral surface densely covered with setae. Abdomen of males with extensive postepigastric scutum covering anterior three-quarters of venter, extending dorsally on both sides, not completely surrounding pedicel; epigastric region slightly protruding, with two pairs of respiratory spiracles; posterior spiracles connected by rebordered groove extending farther back at middle than at sides (fig. 46), leading to two large tracheal trunks extending anteriorly into cephalothorax, single narrower trunk extending posteriorly for most of abdominal length, and few short, small trachaeoles extending posteriorly (fig. 13); postepigastric scutum not fused to epigastric scutum; two small platelets visible in oval, unsclerotized male epigastric area (figs. 2, 10, 12). Males with only four spinnerets (fig. 40), posterior medians lacking; anterior laterals with single, presumably major ampullate gland spigot (fig. 41), posterior laterals with about seven aciniform gland spigots (fig. 42); females with six spinnerets (fig. 54), anterior laterals as in male (fig. 55), posterior medians with large, flattened minor ampullate gland spigot (figs. 56, 57), posterior laterals as in male (fig. 58). Male palpal patella and tibia short, unmodified; cymbium ovoid, prolateral surface densely covered with strong setae; bulb stout; embolus broad ribbon, slightly bent distally at about half its length, tip directed retrolaterally (figs. 5–7, 14–16, 43–45). Female genitalic area with postepigastric scutum represented only by pair of triangular sclerites at posteromedian corners (figs. 4, 21). Internal female genitalia consisting of long, posteriorly directed receptacular sac (figs. 47, 48), copulatory opening narrow (fig. 49), surface of sac with pores for secretory glands (figs. 50–52).

Distribution: Known only from Kohgiluyeh Province, Iran.