Research Article |
Corresponding author: Majid Moradmand ( moradmand.arachnids@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Oana Teodora Moldovan
© 2017 Majid Moradmand.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Moradmand M (2017) Three new species of the subterranean huntsman spider genus Spariolenus (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) in Iran. Subterranean Biology 24: 11-25. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.24.20985
|
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.
New species, Middle East, Cave, taxonomy, huntsman spiders
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 (
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 (2015–2017). 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
The following abbreviations are used throughout the text: AB – anterior band of epigynal field; ALE – anterior lateral eyes, AME – anterior median eyes; BRB – basal retrolateral bulge; C – conductor; CO – copulatory opening; DE – distal part of embolus; EF – Epigynal field; EP – epigynal pit; ET – embolus tip; FC – first coil of vulva; FD – fertilisation duct; LID – lumen of internal duct system; MEP – margin of epigynal pit; PET – prolateral part of embolus; PLE – posterior lateral eyes; PME – posterior median eyes; RET – retrolateral part of embolus; RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD – sperm duct, T – tegulum; SC – second coil of vulva; SD – tissue sample for spider DNA catalogue number deposited in ZMUI; SS – slit sensillum; TC – third coil of vulva; I–IV – 1st to 4th leg.
Depositories.
For description and diagnosis see
Holotype: ♂, IRAN: Khuzestan Province: N of Lali, Pebdeh Cave, 32°26.50'N, 42°13.35'E, 11 April 2015, SD 111, M. Moradmand, F. Moin, Sh. Esmailbegi, A. Bagheri leg. (
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.
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.
Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n., male holotype, Khuzestan, Pebdeh Cave, Iran (
Description. Male: Measurements. Medium-sized Sparassidae; holotype: total length 14.0, carapace length 6.7, width 5.5, anterior width 3.6, opisthosoma length 7.3, width 4.3. Anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior eye row straight (Fig.
Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10–15 intermarginal denticles; retromargin with two bristles at base of fang (Fig.
Eyes. AME 0.27, ALE 0.70, PME 0.48, PLE 0.76, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.17, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.53, AME-PME 0.34, ALE-PLE 0.52.
Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 10.8 [3.6, 1.5, 2.2, 3.5], I 47.0 [12.2, 4.6, 13.5, 13.2, 3.5], II 51.2 [13.8, 4.5, 15.5, 14.2, 3.2], III 38.0 [10.8, 3.7, 11.2, 9.7, 2.6], IV 39.9 [11.1, 3.5, 11.2, 11.3, 2.8].
Spination. Palp 131, 101, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I 222(10), II 222(10), III 1218, IV 3236; Metatarsus I 0004, II–III 2024, IV 3036.
Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n., female paratype, Khuzestan, Pebdeh Cave, Iran (ZMUI). A epigynum, ventral B vulva, dorsal C right vulva, lateral. Abbreviations: CO – copulatory opening; EF – epigynal field; EP – epigynal pit; FC – first coil of vulva; FD – fertilisation duct; LID – lumen of internal duct system; MEP – margin of epigynal pit; SC – second coil of vulva; SS – slit sensillum; TC – third coil of vulva. Scale bar: 1 mm.
Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium 1.5 times longer than tibia, BRB present, RTA short, dRTA pointed and vRTA blunt in retrolateral view, both are blunt and the same length in ventral view, PET shorter than RET, PET cover proximal half of RET partially in ventral view. Conductor hyaline and not extending beyond or roughly the same length of ET (Fig.
Female: Habitus as in Fig.
Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 15–20 intermarginal denticles.
Eyes. AME 0.51, ALE 1.1, PME 0.70, PLE 1.3, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.11, PME-PME 0.48, PME-PLE 0.97, AME-PME 0.67, ALE-PLE 0.95.
Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 19.8 [5.7, 3.0, 4.5, 6.6], I 71.3 [18.2, 8.2, 20.4, 19.5, 5.0], II 79.3 [21.4, 8.9, 22.8, 21.2, 5.0], III 66.6 [18.2, 7.3, 17.2, 17.3, 6.6], IV 68.7 [18.7, 7.3, 17.9, 19.5, 5.3].
Spination. Palp 131, 101, 2221, 2014; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I 101(10), II 111(10), III 2228, IV 2226; Metatarsus I– II 0004, III 2024, IV 3036.
Epigynum. As in diagnosis, with EF as long as wide, AB present but short, MEP extending first half laterad and second half frontad (Fig.
Known only from the type locality, the Pebdeh cave ecosystem (Fig.
The Pebdeh cave suffered from a man-made fire just a few years ago which resulted in a decline of the bat population (Fig.
Holotype: ♂, IRAN: Kohgiluyeh and Bouyer-Ahmad Province: Sarfaryab, Choram, Nezel Cave entrance, at night, 30°47'29.47"N, 50°56'52.25"E, 4 June 2016, Naghsh-e-Jahan Caving club, M. Moradmand and M. Saboohi leg. (
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.
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.
Male: Measurements. Small to medium-sized Sparassidae; holotype: total length 11.0, carapace length 5.2, width 4.1, anterior width 2.6, opisthosoma length 5.8, width 3.2.
Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10–15 intermarginal denticles (Fig.
Eyes. AME 0.27, ALE 0.57, PME 0.36, PLE 0.65, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.12, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.48, AME-PME 0.25, ALE-PLE 0.54. Anterior and posterior eye rows slightly recurved (Fig.
Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 5.7 [2.8, 1.3, 1.6], I 32.8 [8.5, 3.4, 9.1, 9.2, 2.6], II 35.8 [9.6, 3.5, 9.9, 10.1, 2.7], III 28.4 [8.2, 2.8, 7.6, 7.5, 2.3], IV 29.4 [8.4, 2.9, 7.3, 8.3, 2.5].
Spination. Palp 131, 101, 1013; Legs: Femur I 223, II–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–II 131(10), III 2128, IV 2126; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.
Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium 1.5 times longer than tibia, BRB present, RTA short, dRTA 2 times longer than vRTA, both distally rounded in ventral view, PET and RET both pointed distado-prolaterad, PET shorter than RET. Conductor hyaline and extending beyond ET in ventral view (4A–D).
Female: Measurements. Medium-sized Sparassidae; total length 15.4, carapace length 7.6, width 6.1, anterior width 3.7, opisthosoma length 7.8, width 5.2.
Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10–15 intermarginal denticles.
Eyes. AME 0.28, ALE 0.78, PME 0.47, PLE 0.77, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.19, AME-ALE 0.05, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.69, AME-PME 0.57, ALE-PLE 0.63.
Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 8.2 [2.6, 1.4, 1.8, 2.9], I 25.4 [7.2, 3.1, 6.8, 6.5, 1.8], II 27.7 [8.2, 3.3, 7.5, 6.7, 2.0], III 23.6 [7.1, 2.8, 6.2, 5.8, 1.7], IV 25.2 [7.4, 2.9, 6.5, 6.6, 1.8].
Spination. Palp 131, 101, 2121, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101 (000); Tibia I–II 101(10), III 2028, IV 2026; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.
Epigynum. As in diagnosis, with EF wider than long, AB present and elongated, MEP extending in anterior half in posteriorly and posterior half in laterally.
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.
Known from the type locality, the Nezel cave (Fig.
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.
The Pataveh Cave was recently transformed into a tourist attraction and the corridors suffered from man-made constructions, a serious alert for its biodiversity.
Holotype: female, IRAN: Hormozgan Province: Hamag Protected area, Southern Zagros, Kuhe Fareghan, Hamag-e-Paeen, 27°51'52.00"N, 56°28'31.00"E, June 2015, S. Sami leg. (
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.
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.
Male. Unknown.
Female. Measurements. large Sparassidae; total length 23.6, carapace length 11.1, width 10.0, anterior width 5.7, opisthosoma length 12.5, width 8.5.
Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 14.2 [4.6, 2.5, 3.3, 4.8], I 49.4 [13.6, 5.7, 13.3, 13.7, 3.1], II 53.7 [15.3, 6.2, 15.1, 14.0, 3.1], III 45.1 [13.3, 5.2, 12.2, 11.6, 2.8], IV 48.1 [13.7, 5.2, 12.6, 13.5, 3.1].
Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10–15 intermarginal denticles (Fig.
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.
Eyes as Fig.
Spination. Palp 131, 101, 2121, 2013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–II 101(10), III 1018, IV 2026 (2126); Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.
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.
Spariolenus
khoozestanus
Zamani, 2016: 421, figs 1–5 [holotype female (
This single female differs from those of other species in having the anterior half of the FC extend transversally while in other species extend more longitudinally (Fig.
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
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 (
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,
I would like to thanks my colleagues at the University of Isfahan, Dr A. Bagheri, Ms Sh. Esmailbegi, Ms F. Moin and Ms M. Ahmadi for their companionship during sampling in Khuzestan Province. I thank Mr Mahmoodi and Mr Moradi from Lali city for their guidance to the Pebdeh cave location. I acknowledge the Naghsh-e-Jahan caving club members (Isfahan) and special thanks to Mrs Modaresi and Mr Mansouri for their supports of this study. I am thankful to Dr P. Jäger (