Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009

Azarkina, Galina N. & Zamani, Alireza, 2020, The first description of the female of Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009 (Araneae: Salticidae) from Iran, Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (1), pp. 21-25 : 21-24

Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009

Figs 1-13

Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009: 905 , figs 13-17.

Material examined: MMUE G7635.1 ; 1 male, 1 female; IRAN, Ilam Province, Darrekh Shank, Kabirkuh , c. 32°54’N, 47°44’E; III.2015; collector unknown. – ISEA 001.8437 ; 1 male; IRAN, Markazi Province, Tafresh County, c. 8 km SW of Tafresh, river valley, 34°37’30-37”N, 49°56’46-49”E, 2300-2312 m a.s.l.; 29.V.2017; leg. O.E. Kosterin.

Extended diagnosis: The female copulatory organs of H. xerxesi are similar to those of H. forcipifer Kulczyński, 1895 , but differ in having larger epigynal wings ( Fig. 1 cf. Rakov & Logunov, 1997: fig. 81) and markedly smaller spermathecae ( Fig. 3 cf. Rakov & Logunov, 1997: figs 82-83). For the diagnosis of the male, see Logunov (2009).

Description:

Male: See Logunov (2009). The studied male is illustrated in Figs 1-5 , 9-10 .

Female: Carapace 1.70 long, 1.30 wide, 0.75 high at PLE. Ocular area 0.75 long, 1.05 wide anteriorly and 1.05 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.35. Abdomen 2.70 long, 1.90 wide. Cheliceral length 0.50. Clypeal height 0.05. Length of leg segments: I 2.65 (0.80 + 0.50 + 0.55 + 0.45 + 0.35); II 2.45 (0.80 + 0.40 + 0.50 + 0.45 + 0.30); III 3.00 (0.90 + 0.50 + 0.55 + 0.65 + 0.40); IV 3.85 (1.15 + 0.55 + 0.85 + 0.80 + 0.50). Leg spination: I: Fm d 1-1-1; Tb pr 0-1, v 2-0; Mt v 2-2 ap. II: Fm d 1-1-1; Tb pr 0-1, v 1-0; Mt v 2-2 ap. III: Fm d 1-1-2; Tb pr and rt 0-1, v 2 ap; Mt pr 2 ap, rt 2 ap, v 2 ap. IV: Fm d 1-1-1; Tb pr and rt 1-1, v 2 ap; Mt pr and rt 1-2 ap, v 1-0-2 ap. Coloration: Carapace dark brown, almost black, shiny, covered with sparse white scales ( Fig. 11 ). Sternum dark brown ( Fig. 12 ). Labium and endites brown, with pale apexes. Chelicerae dark brown. Clypeus and cheeks brown, covered with short white hairs. Abdomen brown ventrally, covered with white scales; dorsum dark brown, covered with white and iridescent scales ( Fig. 11 ). Book-lung covers brown. Spinnerets dark brown. Palps yellow, covered with white hairs. Palpal coxa dark brown, palpal tibia covered with brown hairs. All legs yellow. Coxa IV dark brown retrolaterally. Fm I with four stridulatory hairs. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 6-8 : copulatory openings hidden under C-shaped epigynal wings ( Fig. 6 ), spermathecae small, with two short accessory glands ( Fig. 8 ).

Distribution: Heliophanus xerxesi is an Iranian endemic, known from Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari, Ilam, Isfahan, Markazi and Kerman provinces, western to southeastern Iran ( Fig. 13 ) ( Logunov, 2009; Zamani et al., under review; present data).

Figures

Figs 1-8. Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009. (1-2) Male palp, ventral and retrolateral view. (3-5) Male palpal femur, prolateral (3-4) and retrolateral (5) view. (6) Epigyne, ventral view. (7) Diagrammatic course of insemination ducts. (8) Vulva, dorsal view. (1-3, 5) Specimen from Markazi Province. (4, 6-8) Specimens from Ilam Province. Scale bars 0.1 mm.

Figs 9-12. Habitus of Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009. (9-10) Male from Ilam Province, dorsal and ventral view. (11-12) Female, dorsal and ventral view. Scale bars 1 mm.

Fig. 13. Collection localities of Heliophanus xerxesi Logunov, 2009 in Iran. Type locality marked with red dot.