Three new species of the subterranean huntsman spider genus Spariolenus ( Araneae , Sparassidae , Heteropodinae ) in Iran

The taxonomy of the genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880 in Iran is revisited by describing three new species: Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n. (male & female) from Pebdeh cave ecosystem (Khuzestan Province), S. mansourii sp. n. (male and female) a more widespread species discovered in the Pataveh and Nezel Caves entrances (Kohgiluye-va-Buyer Ahmad Province), and S. hormozii sp. n. (female) from the Geno Biosphere Reserve (Hormozgan Province). Notes on the current status of the explored caves are given. The recently erected species, S. khoozestanus is redescribed based on the examination of the holotype and an additional diagnosis is provided. The Iranian plateau can be considered as the hotspot diversity for this genus in the world by hosting 8 out of 13 known species.


Introduction
Members of the genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880 are medium to large huntsman spiders living underground both in caves and/or other karstic substrates close to active water stream systems (Moradmand and Jäger 2011, per obs.).These spiders are active hunters in caves or nocturnal hunters close to the cave entrances and karstic regions (pers obs.).Moradmand and Jäger (2011) revised Spariolenus and gave extended diagnosis for a better understanding of its taxonomy in addition to describing four new species.Molecular phylogeny recovered Spariolenus in the "true" Heteropodinae clade and as the sister taxon of Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 (Moradmand et al. 2014).Spariolenus khoozestanus Zamani, 2016 was described from a single female specimen from Iran.It is here redescribed and illustrated.

Materials and methods
The specimens new to science in this paper (except S. hormozii sp.n.) were recently collected by the author from different subterranean habitats in Iran (2015Iran ( -2017)).The male specimens, collected as immatures, were subsequently reared in captivity, in some cases over one year to get mature and ready for description and a more reliable taxonomic decision over their identity as new species.Morphological characters were studied and illustrated using Leitz Wetzlar and Olympus SZX12 stereomicroscopes equipped with a drawing tube.For this purpose, specimens were submerged in 75% ethanol.The description style follows Moradmand and Jäger (2011) and Moradmand (2013).Measurements are given in millimetres.The size classes of specimens follow Jäger (2001) [small (3-10), medium (10-20), large (20-30)].The spination pattern is given according to Davies (1994): sum of all spines (prolateral, dorsal, retrolateral, ventral), the latter is only listed if present.

Family Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872 Subfamily Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873 Genus Spariolenus Simon, 1880
For description and diagnosis see Moradmand and Jäger (2011).Etymology.The species is named in honour of Dr Hossein Fathpour, retired associate professor of Zoology (University of Isfahan), who first perceived and supported the author's enthusiasm for investigating the world of arthropods; genitive case.

Spariolenus fathpouri
Diagnosis.The male can be distinguished from other congeners by its bifurcated ET (similar to S. zagros and S. mansourii sp.n.) but differ from the two later by the crescent shape of the prolateral ET (PET) having a notch (Fig. 1A-D).The female vulva can be distinguished by having unique expansion in EP anteriorly, constructing a marsupial-like structure (Fig. 2B).
Distribution and habitat preferences.Known only from the type locality, the Pebdeh cave ecosystem (Fig. 3B, C).The cave is rich in biodiversity of arthropods in- cluding unidentified species of insects (Fig. 3D, F).A relatively large population of bats inhabit the cave and produce huge piles of guano, a source of energy for a potential food chain inside the cave.
Conservation status of the type locality.The Pebdeh cave suffered from a manmade fire just a few years ago which resulted in a decline of the bat population (Fig. 3E) and of the rest of the diversity of inhabitants (pers.ob.).The cave is fortunately under formal registration as national heritage of Iran because of evidences of earliest date of human occupation inside the cave.Etymology.The species is named in honour of Mr Mohammad Mansouri (Iran: Isfahan), a highly qualified caving instructor.I experienced my first underground adventure with him and I owe him my caving skills; genitive case.

Spariolenus mansourii
Diagnosis.The male is distinguished from other congeners by dRTA 1.5 times longer than vRTA and the shape of ET bifurcated (same as S. zagros and S. fathpouri sp.nov.).It differs from S. zagros by the prolateral ET shorter than retrolateral one (same size in S. zagros) (Fig. 4A-D).The female differ from other Spariolenus spp.by vulva with lateral extension of the first coil continuous to second coil (similar to those of S. manesht, but differ from it by dorsal epigynum lacking continuous ridge anterior to the CO) (Fig. 5A-C).
Remarks.This is the smallest Spariolenus species ever described.Both male and female are small to medium sized (11-15 mm).On the other side, S. iranomaximus Moradmand and Jäger, 2011 is the largest species, , with 18-31 mm body length.
Distribution and habitat preferences.Known from the type locality, the Nezel cave (Fig. 6A, B) and Pataveh (or Deh-Sheikh) cave.The specimens were observed in relatively large population around the karstic regions and entrances of the Nezel cave at night.The Nezel Cave is composed of four deep pits connected by horizontal corridors.The first pit is 43 meters deep (Fig. 6B).
The Pataveh cave has three entrances.Specimens were observed inside the entrance corridors during daytime.In both caves, the more humid parts inside where the walls were covered with a layer of condensed water, no Spariolenus specimens were observed.
Conservation status of the type locality.The Pataveh Cave was recently transformed into a tourist attraction and the corridors suffered from man-made constructions, a serious alert for its biodiversity.
Etymology.The species is named in honour of Mr Parwiz Hormozi who with his colleague Mr Mohammad Dehghani sacrificed their lives and were killed by poachers in 2016 while carrying out their duties as park rangers protecting the Wildlife in the Geno Biosphere Reserve, Hormozgan Province; genitive case.
Diagnosis.This species is distinguished from all other congeners by CO and EP largely widened (CO 1/2 EP width and EP 1/2 EF length) (Fig. 7A).
Eyes.AME 0.48, ALE 1.1, PME 0.67, PLE 1.4, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.37, AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PME 0.53, PME-PLE 0.83, AME-PME 0.57, ALE-PLE 1.0.Epigynum.As in diagnosis, with EF as wide as long, EF quadrate in shape, AB present, MEP extend anterior half posteriorly and posterior half laterally, CO large and partitioned half of EP area (Fig. 7A-C)  Comments.This species is erected on the basis of a single female specimen collected in Lali city, close to the type locality of S. fathpouri sp.n.In the original diagnosis, this species was compared with S. tigris Simon, 1880 from India, occurring far away from the type locality.Nevertheless its closest similar species seems to be S. iranomaximus which is more widespread in Southwest Zagros (per.obs).Both species share the character of widened FC of vulva, the shape of the CO, EP and the pattern of MEP.Since there are variations in the females copulatory structures (in particular the vulva of S. iranomaximus (see Moradmand and Jäger 2011: figs 12, 18, 19), S. khoozestanus is probably a junior synonym of the former species, but until the male is discovered from the type locality the taxonomic decision cannot be made confidently.

Discussion
Before this study ten species of Spariolenus were known worldwide, half of them described from Iran.This study increased the known species to 13.The distribution pattern of Spariolenus is currently known from Iran (eight species), Oman in the Arabian Peninsula (one species), and far South Indian Peninsula (four species).The diversity of Spariolenus spp. in the Iranian plateau seems to be higher than what is known today.Since Iranian species are discovered along the Zagros Mountain Range, thus their evolutionary history may be connected with the orogeny of these mountains (Moradmand and Jäger 2011).
Five out of 13 known species of Spariolenus are described from both sexes.Among known males, the shape of bifurcated ET, previously observed only in S. zagros can be seen in two other males herein described.This could mean that bifurcated ET is more common than simple ones and probably a plesiomorphic character.
In a recent checklist on cavernicolous arthropods in Iran, Malek-Hosseini and Zamani (2017) listed 89 taxa from only 47 subterranean habitats.Since the number of explored caves in Iran is more than 2000 (Raeisi et al. 2012) and the global diversity of cavernicolus species is estimated at 100,000 (Culver and Holsinger 1992).Thus the species richness of Iranian caves is expected to be much higher.The discovery of the three new species herein described supports this assumption.and Mr A. Zamani are acknowledged for providing the specimen from Hormozgan Province.Dr Y. M. Marusik (Turku) kindly sent the holotype of S. khoozestanus, for this, I am very thankful.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3.A Habitus of Spariolenus fathpouri sp.n., paratype female, alive in the type locality B Pebdeh Cave, Iran, the type locality, entrance (arrow) C ditto, Pebdeh Cave D Blattidae E dead Bat suffered from fire F Coleopteran beetles.