Dysdera isfahanica sp. nov.

Figs 10A-D, 11A, B, 12A-D, 14A-D

Dysdera erythrina: Roewer 1955: 752 (in part, misidentification).

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (SMF), Iran: Isfahan Province: Pir Bakran, 150 km west of Isfahan, 32°28'N, 51°33'E (H. Löffler). Paratype: 1♀ (SMF), same data as the holotype.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is an adjective, referring to the type locality of the species.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species differs from those of the other species of the Dysdera aculeata group occurring in the region by the very long psembolus (i.e., length of psembolus/length of tegulum = 1.85 in the new species, vs. 1.6 or less in most other species), rounded arch-like ridge (Ar), presence of the notch of posterior apophysis (vs. absent), and median position of the posterior apophysis on the psembolus (vs. close to tegulum). Dysdera persica sp. nov. also bears a long psembolus (i.e., length of psembolus/length of tegulum = 2), but differs from D. isfahanica sp. nov. in the shape of the posterior apophysis. The female of this species can be recognized by its long anterolaterally stretched angles of the receptacle.

Description.

Male. Habitus as in Figs 10A, C, 11A, B. Total length 10.47. Carapace 4.15 long, 3.45 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.17, PME 0.14, PLE 0.15. Carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium, and maxillae orange. Legs yellowish. Abdomen pale beige, without any pattern. Spinnerets uniformly pale beige. Measurements of legs: I: 13.57 (3.77, 2.47, 3.23, 3.21, 0.89), II: 12.83 (3.47, 2.34, 2.96, 3.16, 0.90), III: 9.23 (2.60, 1.39, 1.95, 2.58, 0.71), IV: 12.28 (3.47, 1.91, 2.59, 3.43, 0.88). Spination: I: Fe: 1-2pl. II: no spines. III: Ti: 4pl, 2rl, 4v; Mt: 6pl, 6rl. IV: Fe: 6d; Ti: 2d, 2pl, 2rl, 2v; Mt: 6pl, 5rl.

Palp as in Fig. 12A-D; bulb ca. 2.5 × longer than wide; tegulum bell-shaped, almost as long as wide; psembolus 1.8 × longer than tegulum; median crest rounded, ca. 3.4 × shorter than length of psembolus, ca. 2 × wider than high; posterior apophysis claw-like, 2.3 × longer than wide; incision between tegulum and psembolus absent; retrolateral crest forming right angle.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 10B, D. Total length 9.45. Carapace 3.30 long, 2.55 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.15, PME 0.14, PLE 0.12. Colouration as in male. Measurements of legs: I: 9.74 (2.76, 1.66, 2.31, 2.40, 0.61), II: 8.80 (2.52, 1.50, 2.08, 2.13, 0.57), III: 6.74 (1.94, 1.08, 1.28, 1.90, 0.54), IV: 8.68 (2.47, 1.31, 1.90, 2.46, 0.54). Spination: I: Fe: 3pl. II: Fe: 4pl. III: Fe: 5d, 1rl; Pa: 3pl; Ti: 4pl, 2rl, 6v; Mt: 3pl, 2rl, 6v. IV: Fe: 8-11d, 2pl; Pa: 1pl; Ti: 5pl, 4rl, 6v; Mt: 2pl, 3rl, 6v.

Endogyne as in Fig. 14A-D; length/width ratio ca. 2; receptacle ca. 5 × longer than wide, with long anterior angles (i.e., longer than width of their bases), anterior margin almost straight; dorsal arch trapezoidal; transverse bar straight, 1.6 × longer than receptacle; anterior margin of lateral edge inclined, lateral edge approximately as wide as receptacle; posterior diverticulum almost rectangular, its posterior edge rounded.

Comments.

The material of this species and D. mazeruni sp. nov. (i.e., one male and two females in total) were reported by Roewer (1955); although he indicated that the females were collected in two different localities, they were found preserved in the same vial. The paratype female of D. isfahanica sp. nov. is matched with the holotype male due to their similar spination pattern and colouration.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Isfahan Province, central Iran (Fig. 35).