Iranotricha lutensis Zamani & Marusik

Zamani, Alireza, Seiedy, Marjan, Saboori, Alireza & Marusik, Yuri M., 2018, The spider genus Pterotricha in Iran, with the description of a new genus (Araneae, Gnaphosidae), ZooKeys 777, pp. 17-41 : 17

Iranotricha lutensis Zamani & Marusik sp. n. Figs 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 a–b, d, 16

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (MMUE), IRAN: Kerman Province: Lut Desert, Rig-e Setareh, 30°15'26.5"N, 58°42'56.6"E, 252 m, 16.11.2016 (A. Zamani & H. Akhani).

Etymology.

The specific epithet refers to the Lut Desert, the type locality of the species.

Diagnosis.

The species can be easily recognized from the Pterotricha species with long spinnerets by lacking a cheliceral keel. The males of this species can be also recognized due to numerous strong spines on the legs (Figure 10d) and a spine on tarsus IV (Figure 11d). Pterotricha species have weak spines and lack a spine on tarsus IV.

Description.

Male. Total length 6.45. Carapace 3.7 long, 3.1 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME: 0.14, ALE: 0.21, PME: 0.12, PLE: 0.17, PME-PME: 0.08. Carapace, sternum, labium, chelicerae, and maxillae light brown without any distinct patterns, with scattered short setae and darkening in the ocular area. Chelicera lacking keel but with two strongly reduced (vestigial) teeth that are separated from each other (Figure 12c); a very long terminal seta (Ts), 2 long mesal setae (Ls), a series of barbed setae (Bs) along the prolateral side of the furrow and bent prolateral serrated seta (Ss). The barbed setae have long plumage making the wider distally (Figure 12b). Abdomen light grey with long grey setae and a light brown scutum anteriorly. Legs yellow, with numerous spines, including one spine on tarsus IV. Scopula on metatarsi and tarsi indistinct; tarsus I with more thick and thin macrosetae than tarsus IV (Figs 11 c–d). Tarsi of all legs with cuticular cracks (pseudosegmented). Leg measurements: I: 15.85 (3.85, 1.9, 3.6, 4.05, 2.45), II: 17.10 (4.0, 2.0, 4.10, 4.30, 2.70), III: 16.41 (3.9, 1.70, 3.95, 4.35, 2.51), IV: 19.1 (4.3, 2.0, 4.1, 6.0, 2.70). Anterior lateral spinnerets almost 6 x longer than wide and almost as long as abdomen width.

Palp as in Figs 13-14; patella and tibia elongate, almost as long as femur and longer than cymbium; patella with very strong and long macrosetae,>1.5 x longer than tibia; tibia cylindrical, unmodified; tibia with relatively small retrolateral apophysis (not longer than diameter of tibia) with tip bent anteriorly, prolateral side with three strong and long macrosetae of equal length to the tibia; cymbium long, approx. 3 x longer than wide with three strong dorsal macrosetae; tegular apophysis elongate, almost cylindrical, with unmodified base; conductor small, partly hidden by embolus; embolus broad at the base, with a strong retrolateral spine (Es); anterior part of embolus modified, widened, with an invagination (Ec) corresponding (fitting) to conductor (Co), tip of embolus stylus-like, looped, directed dorsally and terminating at the tip of the conductor

Female. Unknown.

Comments.

It is unclear whether the opening of the embolus is at the tip or before the loop, and as this is the only specimen available at this time, we did not dissect it.

Ecology.

The holotype was collected wandering on sand dunes in a habitat lacking any vegetation (Figure 15d). Two subadult specimens were also observed (but not collected) in another locality while they were taking refuge under two large stones. Recently, the hottest place inhabited by spiders was reported to be the Death Valley, Inyo, California, with the highest ground temperature measured at 56.7 °C ( Mammola et al. 2017), but the sand surface of the Lut Desert, where the holotype was collected, has been recently measured at temperatures as high as 78.2 °C (Akhani and Aghakouchak pers. comm., Zamani and Marusik 2018).

Records in Iran.

Kerman (Figure 16).

Distribution.

Lut Desert, southeastern Iran.