Iranothyas circularis ( Schwoerbel & Sepasgozarian, 1976 )

Pesic, Vladimir, Gerecke, Reinhard & Smit, Harry, 2009, A redefinition of Iranothyas Bader, 1984 with the description of a new species from Oman, Zootaxa 2290, pp. 59-64 : 60-62

Iranothyas circularis ( Schwoerbel & Sepasgozarian, 1976)

( Fig. 1A–D )

Type series. Holotype, Ƥ, Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt, Panisopsis circularis , P.J/12, Brook near Delijan, 8.10.1974, coll. Schwoerbel.

Morphology. Female (in parentheses measurements taken from original description, Schwoerbel & Sepasgozarian, 1976): Idiosoma L (930), W (732), frontal shield nearly circular, outline equally rounded ( Fig. 1 A ), L 366 (320), W 356 (344); Dc-2 not fused to frontal shield; chelicera ( Fig. 1C ) total L 437 (432), H 84, ratio L/H 5.2, basal segment L 287, claw L 155, ratio L basal segment/claw 1.85; capitulum L 296 (288); palp: total L 476 (408), L: P-1 56 (44), P-2 134 (132), P-3 72 (52), P-4 166 (140), P-5 48 (40); genital flaps in the slide-mounted specimen somehow distorted ( Fig. 1B ), L 244 (248); with strongly protruding posteromedial extensions bearing a group of fine medial setae at the level of Ac-3 visible as insertion pores under the flaps, Ac-1 and -2 each on a small basal sclerite, Ac-1 lost, but sclerotized base elongate; Ac-2 longish oval, approached to Ac-3, Ac-3 more roundish, maximum diameter 43, enclosed in the posterior part of the genital field, line of densely-arranged long and fine setae extending from the anterior edge to the area lateral to Ac-3; IV-Leg ( Fig. 1D ) slender, terminal segment distally widened, claws relatively slender, L (in parentheses L/H ratio): IV-L-1, 216, IV-L-2, 153, IV-L-3, 215, IV-L-4, 344 (4.6), IV-L-5, 281 (5.1), IV-L-6, 231 (5.6); IV-L total L 1440 (1370).

Remarks. Some of the information given in the original description of this species are obviously misleading and need correction. This applies in first place for the gender of the specimen (Ƥ, not 3, see above), but also for the shape of Ac- 1 and -2 (longish, not round as depicted in the original description) and for several measurements. As some measurements agree well with our observations, but others not, there is obviously not a general mistake in the original description. Differences may be explained as follows: (1) Schwoerbel and Sepasgozarian (1976) measured the frontal shield from the undissected specimen where it may appear shorter in many thyadines due to its inclined position; (2) palp segments were measured not in their total extension, omitting parts covered by neighbouring segments and the dorsodistal projection of P-4. The Iranothyas circularis female differs from those of I. marismortui in the position of acetabula in the genital field (Ac-2 far distant from Ac-1, located close to Ac-3, in I. marismortui halfway between Ac-1 and Ac-3). Further differences are found in major dimensions ( I. marismortui in parentheses) of capitulum (238–243), chelicerae (341–369), and palp (total L 335–369).

Distribution. Iran, only known from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A – D: Iranothyas circularis (Schwoerbel & Sepasgozarian, 1976), holotype female: A = dorsum; B = genital field; C = chelicera; D = IV-L. Scale bars = 100 µm.