Spariolenus zagros, Moradmand, Majid & Jäger, Peter, 2011

Moradmand, Majid & Jäger, Peter, 2011, A review on the huntsman spider genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880 (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae) in Iran with description of four new species, Zootaxa 2910, pp. 46-62 : 55-56

Spariolenus zagros spec. nov.

Figs 27–38

Type material. Holotype: male, IRAN: Kermanshah Province: Kermanshah, Kenesht cave, Kenesht valley, North of Kermanshah plain, central western Zagros Mountains, Iran. N 34˚29', E 47˚09', altitude 1900 m, 3 August 1973, A. Senglet ( MHNG).

Paratypes: 13, 4Ƥ, IRAN: Kermanshah Province: with same data as for holotype (3 Ƥ MHNG, 1 3 1 Ƥ SMF).

Etymology. The species name refers to Zagros , the great mountain chain in western and central Iran, which orogeny might be associated with the speciation of the current Spariolenus species in Iran; noun in opposition.

Diagnosis. Males can be easily recognised by bifurcated embolus tip ( Figs 28, 30 ). Embolus and conductor longer than in S. tigris but shorter than in S. iranomaximus spec. nov. Female epigyne similar to those of S. manesht spec. nov. ( Fig. 20 ) but differing from it by two separate eyebrow-like ridges at anterior side of each copulatory openings ( Fig. 31 ).

Description. Male (n=2) [holotype first, with measurements of paratype in parentheses]

Males medium sized. Prosoma length 7.7(7.3), prosoma width 6.5(6.4), anterior width of prosoma 3.8(3.0), opisthosoma length 8.3(7.8), opisthosoma width 4.8(4.6). Eyes: AME 0.36, ALE 0.67, PME 0.48, PLE 0.80, AME- AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.29, PME-PLE 0.50, AME-PME 0.41, ALE-PLE 0.42, clypeus height at AME 0.72, clypeus height at ALE 0.42.

Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 5–6 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with denticles scattered, most of them close to the three anterior teeth. Leg formula: 2 1 4 3. Measurements of palp and legs (holotype): Palp 9.0 [4.4, 1.8, 2.8], I 53.8 [14.6, 5.1, 15.2, 15.5, 3.4], II 58.6 [15.8, 5.3, 17.4, 16.6, 3.5], III 43.6 [12.1, 4.1, 13.0, 11.6, 2.8], IV 47.3 [13.4, 4.1, 13.5, 13.2, 3.1].

Spination. Palp 131, 101, 2111; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–II 231(10), III 1218 - 3218, IV 2226; Metatarsus I–II 1014, III 2024, IV 3036.

Palp. Pedipalp as in diagnosis with embolus strong and bent, conductor medium sized, embolus not reaching the tip of conductor ( Figs 27–30 ).

Female (n=4): Prosoma length 9.3–10.3, prosoma width 7.8–9.2, anterior width of prosoma 4.1–5.2, opisthosoma length 12.5–18.3, opisthosoma width 7.2–13.4. Eyes of one female paratype: AME 0.45, ALE 0.73, PME 0.51, PLE 0.80, AME-AME 0.24, AME-ALE 0.07, PME-PME 0.36, PME-PLE 0.74, AME-PME 0.55, ALE-PLE 0.67, clypeus height at AME 0.98, clypeus height at ALE 0.87.

Chelicerae with 3 anterior and 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with denticles scattered, most of them close to the three anterior teeth ( Fig. 37 ). Legs formula: 2 1 4 3. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 14.9 [4.5, 2.3, 3.3, 4.8], I 45.6 [12.8, 5.4, 13.2, 11.4, 2.8], II 49.7 [14.5, 5.9, 14.0, 12.1, 3.2], III 41.6 [12.4, 5.0, 11.4, 10.3, 2.5], IV 44.4 [12.7, 4.8, 12.1, 12.0, 2.8]. Female palpal claw with first tooth longer than five secondary teeth ( Fig. 35 ).

Spination. Palp 131, 101, 2111; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–II 231(10), III 1218 – 3218, IV 2226; Metatarsus I–II 1014, III 2024, IV 3036.

Epigyne/vulva. Female copulatory organ as in diagnosis with epigynal field slightly longer than wide, anterior bands of epigynal field present but not attached to epigynal field, posterior margin of epigyne with a distinct median slit, central epigynal rims extend laterally beyond copulatory openings ( Fig. 31 ); windings of internal duct system wide and compact, first coil connected to second at middle of first coil, second coil straight and less twisty ( Figs 32–34, 38 ).

Colouration [inferred from specimens in ethanol]. Pale yellowish brown with indistinct marking dorsally.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality

Life history and habitat preferences. The specimens were collected from a dry cave system, adults were recorded in August.

Figures

FIGURES 27 – 30. Spariolenus zagros spec. nov., holotype male from Iran, Kermanshah Province, Kenesht cave. 27 – 29 Left palp (27 prolateral, 28 ventral, 29 retrolateral); 30 Tip of embolus and conductor, ventral.

FIGURES 31 – 38. Spariolenus zagros spec. nov., paratype female. 31 Epigyne, ventral; 32 Vulva, dorsal; 33 Vulva, lateral; 34 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal (not scaled from left duct of vulva figure 33); 35 Left female palpal claw, retrolateral; 36 Eye arrangement, dorsal; 37 Left chelicera, ventral; 38 Variation of vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 20 – 26. Spariolenus manesht spec. nov., holotype female from Iran, Ilam Province, Karezan, Manesht. 20 Epigyne, ventral; 21 Vulva, lateral; 22 Vulva, dorsal; 23 Schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal; 24 Left female palpal claw, retrolateral; 25 Eye arrangement, dorsal; 26 Left chelicera, ventral.