taxonID	type	description	language	source
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	materials_examined	Material (studied). P. acuticollis (Reitter, 1887) (Figs 5, 6): China, Xinjiang (N Kunlun Mts.): 4 ♂♂ (ZIN): “ Polu 1 / VI 90 Gr. ” [Kunlun Mts. E Keria, 1. vi. 1890, leg. B. L. Grombchevsky]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZIN): “ Raskem, 30 / IX 89 Gr ” [Raskem-Darya River, 30. ix. 1889, leg. B. L. Grombchevsky]; 1 ♀ (ZIN): “ Ur. Karasay (khr. Russk) V- 90 Pevtsov ” [Russian label: natural boundary Karasay (Russky ridge), v. 1890, leg. M. V. Pevtsov]. P. tzaidamicus (Bogatchev, 1951) (Fig. 7): lectotype, ♂ (ZIN), designated here: “ Tsaidam r. Boming-gola 25 – 26. VI. 1895 ex. Kozlova ” [handwritten; now in China, Qinghai Province, Qaidam Prefecture], “ Coll. Semenov-Tian- Shansky ” [print], “ Lobodera acuticollis tzaidamica subsp. n. typ. ABogačev det. ” [hanwritten]. Paralectotypes, 4 specimens (ZIN) with the same first label. Bogatchev (1951) included five specimens in the type series.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Body slender, shiny, brown or black, dorsally covered with short recumbent setae entirely (Fig. 5 A, B, D) or partially (Figs 7 A, B). Eyes separated by lateral margin of genae only to their midlength; narrowest portion consists of 2 – 3 ommatidia in width (Fig. 3 A). Lateral outline of head with sharp emargination between gena and epistoma (Fig. 5 E). Pronotum with acute, projected antero- and posterolateral angles with pointed tip; basal margin slightly serrate, not margined (Figs 5 E, 7 A); disc without transverse impressions along base at each side. Prothoracic hypomera finely densely wrinkled or without wrinkles, with small sparse granules, not flattened laterally (Fig. 5 C). Elytral interstriae granulated et least basally, each granule with short recumbent seta; rest surface of elytra can be punctured or interstriae with very small sparse tubercles. Protibiae narrow, curved, with deeply emarginated apical margin (Fig. 5 F, 7 A, B). Parameres narrow, acute at apex, almost straight, basal piece approximately 1.7 times as long as parameres (Fig. 6 A). Spiculum gastrale with oval blades (Fig. 6 C). Spiculum ventrale with thick stem and very short setation (Fig. 6 D). Ovipositor with strongly elongate and acute lobes of coxite IV, paraproct large, campanulate, with rouded walls; coxite almost completely nested in paraproct in folded position (Figs 6 E, F). Composition. Penthicus acuticollis (Reitter, 1887), Penthicus tzaidamicus (Bogatchev, 1951). Formally Myladion includes 46 species and subspecies listed in the catalogue (Iwan et al. 2020) (except for P. pavlovskyi (Reichardt, 1935) and P. truncatus Reitter, 1896), P. belutschistanicus (Kaszab, 1961), P. pakistanicus sp. nov. and Penthicus sp. from Upper Dir (Pakistan).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Central Asia from Southern Siberia and Eastern Kazakhstan to China and Mongolia, Pakistan. Notes. Central Asian species of the subgenus (from eastern Kazakhstan to Mongolia and N China) have usually robust body and eyes divided by more than half length; dorsal and ventral portions of eyes are connected by very narrow bridge of one line of ommatidiae. Bogatchev (1972) believed that this subgenus is polyphyletic and only two species (P. acuticollis and P. tzaidamicus) should remain in Myladion s. str., and the rest should be revised and included to other subgenera. Subgenus Discotus Type species Opatrum dilectans Faldermann, 1836, subsequent designation (Medvedev 1990).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Basal margin of pronotum not serrated. Pronotum with widely flattened and raised lateral margins which are granulated or coarsely wrinkled. Hind wings present, species able to fly. Parameres narrow, acute and subulate in apical two thirds. Ovipositor with moderately widened rounded lobes of coxite IV and well-expressed gonostyli. Composition. Five species, listed in the catalogue (Iwan et al. 2020).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. From North Africa and the Afrotropic (Sahel) to Mongolia and North China. Subgenus Penthicus	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Pronotum with basal margin serrate laterally. Parameres slightly shorter than or same long as basal piece of aedeagus, almost straight, strongly narrowed in apical half. Ovipositor with triangularly pointed apical lobes of coxite IV, gonostyli very small granular or rudimentary, some species (P. pinguis, P. germanni sp. nov.) have not triangular but narrow, apically rounded lobes of coxite IV. Composition: At least P. pinguis (= P. auliensis) with five subspecies, P. kirgizicus (Bogatchev, 1961), P. rufescens (Mulsant & Rey, 1859) with two subspecies, P. samgarensis Reitter, 1896, P. oblongopunctatus (Reitter, 1904), P. rugosicollis (Bogatchev, 1951), P. zhenzhuristi (Bogatchev, 1951) with two subspecies, P. mesopotamicus sp. nov. and P. germanni sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. From Levant region through Southern Anatolia, Transcaucasia and plains of Central Asia to N Tian-Shan, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Subgenus Stonavus Reitter, 1904, subgen. resurr. Type species Penthicus alaensis Reitter, 1896, by subsequent designation (Iwan & Löbl 2007)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Eyes entirely divided into dorsal and ventral halves, except for some species and specimens of the corpulentus species-group. Base of pronotum not serrate. Humeral angles slightly projected or not. Parameres usually much or, rarely, slightly shorter than basal piece of aedeagus, strongly or moderately widened (Fig. 8). Ovipositor with wide or moderately rounded coxite lobes IV and with well expressed gonostyli. Notes. We resurrect this subgenus which distinctly differs from the nomynotypical one in the not serrated base of pronotum, the shape of the ovipositor and parameres. Other seven species included in the subgenus Penthicus (Iwan et al. 2020) must be revised: P. granuliferus (Reichardt, 1936), P. granulosus Ménétriés, 1849, P. lenczyi (Kaszab, 1968), P. lindbergi (Kaszab, 1970), P. netuschili (Reitter, 1904), P. winkleri Schuster, 1915. We do not include them in any subgenus until a revision. 1. remotus species-group. Base of pronotum entirely margined; lateral margins of pronotum not flattened or, rarely, very narrowly flattened; elytra at apex and lateral margins of pronotum without visible setae; aedeagus moderately widened, parameres moderately narrow, slightly or strongly S-shaped (Figs 7 A – E, 51 A, 53 A, 58 A, 64 A, 68 A). Composition: At least P. adustus (Bogatchev, 1951), P. alaensis Reitter, 1896, P. bam sp. nov., P. bogatshevi (Kaszab, 1970), P. captiosus sp. nov., P. curtus (Kaszab, 1970), P. grabantae sp. nov., P. iranensis sp. nov., P. khorasanicus sp. nov., P. kermanicus sp. nov., P. medvedevorum (Bogatchev, 1970), P. pazukii sp. nov., P. remotus Reitter, 1896 with two subspecies, P. telnovi sp. nov., P. zarudnyi sp. nov. 2. corpulentus species-group. Body robust, usually large (length up to 18.5 mm). Dorsal and ventral portions of eyes connected by very narrow bridge of one ommatidia width or one isolated ommatidium can be between dorsal and ventral halves of eye, or eyes entirely narrowly divided by connected gena and temple; sometimes left eye with bridge of ommatidia, and right eye entirely divided (or vice versa). Pronotum with obtuse, not projected antero- and posterolateral angles with narrowly or widely rounded tip; base entirely margined; lateral sides of pronotum widely obliquely or rarely horizontally flattened (only P. farsistanus has not flattened lateral sides of pronotum); disc slightly transversely impressed along base at each side; basal edge of pronotum not serrated. Elytra at apex and sometimes on lateral margins of pronotum with very short but distinct setae; aedeagus strongly widened ar median portion, parameres strongly narrowed from base towards apex, straight laterally (Figs 8 F – H). Composition: P. corpulentus Reitter, 1896, P. farsistanus sp. nov., P. persicus (Schuster, 1919), P. shokhini sp. nov., P. villiersi (Kaszab, 1969). 3. iners species-group. Base of pronotum medially not margined (existing margin can be only shortly interruptred at midllength; sides of pronotum flattened or not; elytra at apex and lateral margins of pronotum without visible setae; parameres wide, subparallel in basal ¾ and obliquely truncate at apex (Figs 8 I – O). Composition: P. achaemenus sp. nov., P. ardoini (Kaszab, 1969), P. fartilis Reitter, 1899, P. flatilatus sp. nov., P. freyi (Schuster, 1937), P. horni (Schuster, 1922), P. iners (Ménétriés, 1832), P. kasatkini sp. nov., P. similis (Schuster, 1937), P. turcomanicus (Medvedev, 1964).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE48218FF0A26BBFDDD6C7F.taxon	distribution	Distribution. SE Anatolia, Iraq, Transcaucasia, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (N slopes of Alay Mts.), Western China. Subgenus Allomyladion Bogatchev, 1972 Type species Penthicus poricollis Reitter, 1896, original designation (Lobothorax poricollis in the original description of the subgenus). Notes. Species of this subgenus characterized by slender body with coarse sculpture of dorsal surface (Bogatchev 1972). Composition. Bogatchev (1972) included the following similar species in this subgenus, which were listed in the differential diagnosis of P. kaszabi Bogatchev, 1972: P. poricollis Reitter, 1896, P. zoltani G. S. Medvedev & Iwan, 2006 (= P. kaszabi, nom preocc.), P. pavlovskyi (Reichardt, 1935) and P. truncatus Reitter, 1896. The two latter were erroneously placed in the subgenus Myladion in the catalogue (Iwan et al. 2020). Distribution. Southern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Subgenus Aulonolcus Reitter, 1904 Type species Pedinus altaicus Gebler, 1830, by monotypy. Notes. A monotypical subgenus, characterized by not margined lateral edges of pronotum and deep, groove-like impression along pronotal base. Distribution. Southern Siberia, Mongolia, North China (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia). Subgenus Pseudopenthicinus Bogatchev, 1972 Type species Penthicus medvedev Bogatchev, 1972, original designation. Notes. A monotypical subgenus, characterized by almost straight base of pronotum and incompletely divided eyes. Distribution. South Tajikistan. Species from Iraq, Iran and Pakistan Subgenus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE28205FF0A21BAFBF26D68.taxon	description	(Figs 9 – 10)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE28205FF0A21BAFBF26D68.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (HMIM) and paratypes, 6 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀ specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khuzestan Prov., Shushtar city, Kushkak Ridge, H = 100 m, 32 ° 4 ʹ 52.97 ʺN, 48 ° 50 ʹ 18.438 ʺE, 28. viii. 2023 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad). Paratypes: 5 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khuzestan Prov., Zagros Mts., Gotvand city, Kiars Ridge, H = 270 m, 32 ° 22 ʹ 7.869 ʺN, 48 ° 56 ʹ 22.586 ʺE, 23. vi. 2023 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 7 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khuzestan prov., Zagros Mts., Masjed Soleyman city, Moradabad village, H = 300 – 350 m, 32 ° 3 ʹ 16.377 ʺN, 49 ° 15 ʹ 20.038 ʺE, 10. iii. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 8 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khuzestan Prov., Zagros Mts., Saland city, Abolhasan village, H = 800 – 900 m, 32 ° 35 ʹ 55.967 ʺN, 48 ° 50 ʹ 20.671 ʺE, 31. iii. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 7 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khuzestan prov., Dezful city, Shevi waterfall Rd., H = 1300 – 1400 m, 32 ° 43 ʹ 37.786 ʺN, 48 ° 53 ʹ 35.072 ʺE, 25. iv. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE28205FF0A21BAFBF26D68.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 9 A, B). Body robust but elongated, moderately convex in dorsal aspect, opaque, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae rounded, converging from widest portion to epistome. Widest area of gena located at midlength of eye. Head dorsally coarsely and moderately densely punctured by rasp-like punctures, epistoma with simple circular punctures. Eyes dorsally small, slightly transverse, 1.2 – 1.3 times as wide as long. Head ventrally with dense granulation around mouthparts and puncturation around eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.61 – 1.65 times as wide as long), trapezoid, widest across base, 1.62 times as wide as head, strongly converging from its widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base and anterior angles 17: 11.3. Anterior margin widely emarginated near angles. Lateral margins slightly rounded, shortly sinuous near anterior angles. Base rounded at middle and slightly bisinuate at each side, median portion protruded backwards. Anterior angles acute, projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles right-angled, tip widely rounded. Lateral edges narrowly margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted at middle; base not margined, finely serrated laterally. Disc of pronotum moderately convex, not flattened on sides, with narrow groove along lateral margin. Median portion sparsely and finely punctured with circular punctures (interpuncture spaces about 3 – 4 times as wide as punctures), lateral sides covered with coarser and denser reniform and slightly raduliform punctures; without visible secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera not flattened, with sparse small granules and (at base) smooth wrinkles; each granule bears short erect setae. Prosternum with dense rasp-like rugose granulation and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process moderately convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, widest behind midlength (1.55 times as long as wide), 1.81 times as wide as head, 1.11 times as wide and 2.87 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique laterally, humeral angles obtuse, tip widely rounded, lateral margin of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures large, circular and depressed, transformed to elongate punctures in grooves on apical third; interstriae moderately convex, punctured by moderately coarse sparse punctures. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.86 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely rugose and granulated, mesepisterna with merged foveae in apical and sparse granules in basal portion, metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and sparse rugose punctures at middle, all granules setose. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides, medially coarse granulated among longitudinal wrinkles; ventrite 4 with simple puncturation, ventrite 5 with sparse, finer, slightly raduliform puncturation, not margined at apex. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 10 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly emarginated with almost pointed lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with S-shaped right and almost straight left rod, with oval, moderately elongated blades rounded at apex. Parameres narrow, rounded at apex, regularly constricted from base towards apex; lateral margins very slightly emarginated. Basal piece 1.38 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs short, profemora slightly extended beyond prothoracic margin, mesofemora not extending, and metafemora distinctly extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae narrow, profemur 1.2 times as wide as apical width of protibia, 3.3 times as long as wide. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex, outer angle acute. Protarsomeres long, combined length of tarsomeres 1 – 2 equal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 9 C). Body more robust, base of pronotum laterally emarginated near posterior angles, lateral margins of elytra stronger rounded; pro- and metafemora comparatively shorter. Ovipositor (Figs 10 D, E). Valvifer strongly widened from base to rounded apical portion, baculi distinct distinct, curved at apex; coxite lobes 4 not triangular and not acute, moderately wide, obliquely truncated at apex, gonostyli granuliform, well-expressed; coxite lobes 3 + 4 laterally with long sparse setae. Baculi of paraproct widened, strongly bent, S-shaped. Body length (both sexes) 12 – 14 mm, width 5.5 – 5.9 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFE28205FF0A21BAFBF26D68.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new species is named in honour of Dr Christoph Germann, curator of Life Sciences at Natural History Museum Basel (Switzerland) supporting several taxonomic revisions of the first author with co-authors, including the present paper, with images of type material deposited in NHMB. Comparative diagnosis. The new species is most similar to P. mesopotamicus sp. nov. (CS = compared species) in the trapezoidal pronotum with very fine and sparse puncturation on median portion, the elongate elytra, the moderate body (not a small species as P. rufescens (Mulsant et Rey, 1859), P. oblongopunctatus and P. zhenzhuristi afghanus), but differs from the latter in the following characters: the pronotum wider (1.61 – 1.65 times as wide as long vs 1.51 – 1.52 in CS (Fig. 11 D )), stronger trapezoid (the base 1.5 wider than the width at anterior margin vs 1.36 in CS) (Figs 9 D, E); the anterior angles of the pronotum acute with narrowly rounded tip (Fig. 9 D) (right-angled and widely rounded tip in CS (Fig. 11 D )); the lateral margins of the pronotum shortly sinuous near anterior angles (Fig. 9 D) (rounded in CS (Fig. 11 D )); the base of the pronotum not margined (finely margined from the posterolateral angles towards the protruded median portion in CS); the elytra widest behind middle (Figs 9 A, C) (at middle in CS (Figs 11 A, C )), much longer than the pronotum (Fig. 9 A) (2.87 – 3.06 times as long vs 2.5 – 2.64 in CS (Fig. 11 A )); the elytral interstriae distinctly convex in both male and female (very slightly convex in male, flat in female in CS); the metaventrite stronger elongate (Fig. 9 B) (2.5 times as wide as long vs 2.76 in CS); the parameres wider, rounded at apex, regularly constricted from the base towards the apex (Fig. 10 A) (the parameres narrower, almost pointed at apex, strongly narrowed in the apical half in CS (Fig. 12 A )). The ovipositor differs from that in all Middle East species of the nomynotypical subgenus: the lobes of coxite 4 not triangular and not acute, moderately wide, obliquely truncated at the apex, the gonostyli small, granuliform, well-expressed (very small, sometimes invisible in CS (Fig. 12 D )) (Figs 10 D, E). Both, P. germanni sp. nov. and P. mesopotamicus sp. nov. are externally similar to P. pinguis, from which they differ by the shorter metaventrite, which is 2.3 times as wide as long in the latter species and the pronotum. Disc of the pronotum is not narrowly flattened along lateral edges.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFF8203FF0A20ACFC2168C5.taxon	description	(Figs 11, 12) Reichardt 1936: 150 (as Lobodera oblongopunctata from Ziaret-Seid-Hasan in “ distribution ”).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFF8203FF0A20ACFC2168C5.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ and paratype, ♀ (ZIN): “ Зиарет-Сеид-Хасан, МесопотамиЯ, 1.13. IV 914 Нестеров ” (Russian Cyrillic labels; Ziaret-Seid-Hasan, Mesopotamia, 1 – 13. iv. 1914, leg. P. V. Nesterov; now Iran, Ilam Prov., tomb of Seyyed Hasan, 33 ° 05 ʹ 50 ʺN, 46 ° 11 ʹ 31 ʺ), “ L. oblongopunctata Rtt. Reiçhardt det. ”. Paratype (NHML), 1 specimen, sex unknown (abdomen is absent): “ 345 ” [handwritten], “ Lobothorax sp. [handwritten] det. K. G. Blair. [printed] ”, “ Mesopotamia. W. E. Evans. 1920 - 264 ” [printed; Iraq: W. E. Evans collected invertebrates near Amarah], “ Lobothorax oblongopunctatus Rtt. ” [handwritten], “ det. K. G. Blair. ” [printed].	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFF8203FF0A20ACFC2168C5.taxon	description	Description. Male (Fig. 11 A, B). Body moderately slender, elongated, moderately convex in dorsal aspect, opaque, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae rounded converging from widest portion to epistoma. Widest area of gena located at basal level of eye. Head dorsally finely and sparsely punctured by rasp-like punctures, only lateral sides of frons with dense coarse puncturation, epistoma with simple circular punctures. Eyes dorsally small, subequal in width and length. Head ventrally with fine granulation; surface around cardo smooth. Prothorax. Pronotum slightly transverse (1.51 times as wide as long), trapezoid, widest across base (but not across of posterolateral angles), 1.53 times as wide as head, slightly converging from its widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base and anterior angles: 28.7: 21. Anterior margin widely emarginated near anterolateral angles and straight in middle. Lateral edges very slightly evenly rounded. Base rounded at middle and widely shortly on sides of middle and straight to posterior angles, middle portion protruded backwards. Anterior angles right-angled (90 °), moderately projected, with rounded tip, posterior angles slightly obtuse (97 °), tip widely rounded. Lateral edges narrowly margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted at middle; base very finely margined from posterior angles to protruded portion in middle, finely serrated laterally. Disc of pronotum moderately convex, not flattened on sides, but with narrow groove along lateral edge. Middle portion sparsely and finely punctured with circular punctures (interpuncture spaces near 3 – 4 times as long as puncture diameter), lateral sides covered with coarser and denser elongate reniform raduliform punctures; without visible secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera not flattened, only slightly obliquely separated from other surface, with sparse small granules and smooth wrinkles; each granule bears short erect setae. Prosternum with dense imbricated sculpture and recumbent setation. Prosternal process moderately convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, widest at midlength (1.51 times as long as wide), 1.74 times as wide as head, 1.09 times as wide and 2.5 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique laterally, humeral angles obtuse, tip narrowly rounded, lateral margins of elytra not emarginated near angles. Strial punctures large, circular and depressed from base to apex; interstriae flat, punctured by moderately coarse sparse punctures. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.57 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite with coarse imbricate sculpture, mesepisterna with smooth large foveae. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and sparse simple punctures at middle, all granules setose; metepisterna sparsely granulated. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and coarse granulated among longitudinal wrinkles in middle; ventrite 4 with simple puncturation, ventrite 5 with sparse but finer slightly raduloform puncturation, not beaded at apex. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 12 A, B). Spiculum gastrale with asymmetrical rods, slightly curved at apical third left and S-shaped right ones; blades elongate, with separately narrowed apical portion, outer margin widely emarginate. Parameres very wide in basal half and narrow in apical half very narrowly rounded at apex; lateral margins widely emarginated. Basal piece 1.33 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs comparatively long, profemora slightly extended beyond prothoracic margin, mesofemora slightly extending, and metafemora far extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae narrow, profemur 1.36 times as wide as apical width of protibia, 3.4 times as long as wide. Outer angle of protibia slightly projected and acute, lateral outer margin slightly sinuate near apex. Protarsomeres long, combined length of 1 – 2 equal to apical width of protibia. Body length 11 mm, width 5 mm. Female (Fig. 11 C). Body slightly more robust, lateral margins of elytra more rounded; elytra 2.64 times as long as pronotum; metafemora shorter. Ovipositor (Figs 12 C, D). Valvifer widened from base to widely rounded apical portion, baculi distinct, curved at apex; coxite lobes 4 trianglular and acute, gonostyli very small, poorly visible, granuliform; coxite lobes 3 + 4 covered with long sparse erected setae laterally. Apical margin of proctiger acute at apex. Baculi of paraproct narrow, strongly bent, C-shaped. Body length 10.8 mm, width 5 mm. The paratype from NHML has length 8.8. mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFF8203FF0A20ACFC2168C5.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to the ancient region Mesopotamia (modern territory of Iraq and some bordered countries within the Tigris-Euphrates river system). Comparative diagnosis. See for Penthicus germanni sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF88201FF0A2289FD34686A.taxon	description	(Figs 13 – 14) Reitter 1904: 164 (Lobothorax (s. str. )); Schuster 1935: 21 (Lobothorax); Reichardt 1936: 144, 149 (Lobodera (i. sp.), part.); Gridelli 1954: 287, 288 (Lobodera); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera); Kaszab 1969: 451 (Lobodera); Kaszab 1970: 158, 160; Soldati 2009: 60; Grimm 2015: 315.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF88201FF0A2289FD34686A.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotypus (HNHM) ♀, designated here: “ Transcaspia ”, “ Ahnger ”, “ Coll. Reitter ”, “ Holotypus 1904 Lobothorax oblongopunctatus Reitter ”, “ Lobothorax oblongopunctatus m. ”. Paralectotypus (HNHM), sex unknown: “ Transcaspia ”, “ Ahnger ”, “ Coll. Reitter ”, “ Paratypus 1904 Lobothorax oblongopunctatus Reitter ”. Material (only from Iran). 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀ (ZIN): Iran, Semnan Prov., Schahrud, 1. iv. 1914, 22 – 24. v. 1914 (leg. A. N. Kirichenko); 1 specimen (HNHM): “ Belutschistan Coll. Zugmayer 1911 ”; 1 ♂ (ZIN): “ Khorasan, Sunny- Khane, 4 – 5. V. [18] 98 N. Zarudny ” (Cyrillic Russian label; now Iran, South Khorasan, near Chah-e Zard, 32 ° 00 ʹ 58 ʺN, 60 ° 24 ʹ 36 ʺE according to the route of Zarudny’s expedition (Zarudny 1903 )); 1 ♀ (HMIM): Iran, South Khorasan, Birdjand, 21. iv. 1965 (Saf.); 3 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Prov., NW of Iranshahr, dry river bed [originally “ trockental ”], 31. iii. 1954 (uncknown collector); 1 ♂ (HNHM): Iran, Iranshahr, 14. IV. 1965 (uncknown collector); 1 specimen (NHML): “ 9674 ” [handwritten on a car with the specimen], “ Underbush desert at Kuhpa nr Isfahan PERSIA. 17.11.34 Coll. H. E. J. Biggs. ” [handwritten; month can also read ‘ ii’; now Iran, Isfahan Prov., Kuhpayeh, 32 ° 42 ′ 50 ″ N, 52 ° 26 ′ 11 ″ E], “ L. oblongopunctatus Rtt ex ... K. G. B. ” [handwritten, in part illegible].	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF88201FF0A2289FD34686A.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Israel (ZIN), Jordan, Arabian Peninsula (Gridelli 1954, Kaszab 1982, Soldati 2009), Turkmenistan (Kopetdag), Eastern Iran (from North Khorasan and Semnan to Sistan and Baluchistan provinces) (based on ZIN collection), Afghanistan (Kaszab, 1970), Qatar (Soldati 2009). Records for Pakistan (Grimm 2015, Iwan et al. 2020) probably belong to P. zhenzhuristi afghanus (Gridelli, 1954). The erroneous record from Iraq (Reichardt 1936) belongs to Penthicus mesopotamicus sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFA8200FF0A2289FD396D00.taxon	description	(Figs 3 B, 15, 16) Faldermann 1836: 386; Reitter 1896: 168; Reitter 1904: 163 (Lobothorax (s. str. )); Reichardt 1936: 144, 148, fig. 83 (Lobodera (i. sp. )); Gridelli 1954: 286 (Lobodera); Kaszab 1970: 158, 160, taf. XXII, fig. 2 (Lobodera); Medvedev & Nepesova 1985: 135; Medvedev & Nepesova 1990: 27 – 28; Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko 2011: 245.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFA8200FF0A2289FD396D00.taxon	materials_examined	Material (only from Iran). 1 ♀ (ZIN): “ ASTRBD ” (Astrabad, now Iran, Gorgan), “ KARELIN ” (ZIN).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFFA8200FF0A2289FD396D00.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan (from Mangystau Prov. to Alakol Lake), Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan (Skopin 1964, Kaszab 1970, Iwan et al. 2020, Bekchanov et al. 2023), Iran (Medvedev & Nepesova 1990, Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko 2011).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF5820DFF0A26D4FD876B9D.taxon	description	(Figs 17 – 18) Schuster 1929: 236 (Lobothorax oblongopunctatus); Gridelli 1954: 287, 289 (Lobodera afghana); Kaszab 1960: 160 (as a synonym of P. zhenzhuristi (Bogatchev, 1951 )); Kaszab 1970: 161, tf. XXII, fig. 3 (Lobodera (s. str. )).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF5820DFF0A26D4FD876B9D.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ (ZMUC): “ 3. Danske exp. til Centralasien Pirzada 18 / 5 1948 Afghanistan N. Haarløv St. 11. ” [gray-blue, print, date and number of station handwritten], “ TYPUS ” (red), “ Lobodera (s. str.) afghana mihi det. Gridelli 1952 ”, “ zmuc 00020098 ”. Paratypus, 1 specimen (NHML): “ Belutschistan Coll. Zugmayer 1911 ” [printed], “ Bayer St. Mies. ” [handwritten], “ oblongopunctat. ” [handwritten], “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ” [printed], “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 449 ” [printed], “ Lobodera (s. str.) afghana mihi [handwritten] det. Gridelli 1952 [printed] ”, “ Lobodera afghana Grid. [handwritten] det. H. Kulzer 195 [printed] ”, “ 9 ” [handwritten], “ Syntype ” [printed, label circular, pale blue frame]. Material (only from Pakistan). 1 specimen (NHML): “ Belutschistan Coll. Zugmayer 1911 ” [printed], “ 533 ” [handwritten], “ Lobothorax oblongopunctat. Rtt. ” [handwritten], “ Sammlung H. Gebien ” [printed], “ Lobodera oblongopunctatus Rttt [handwritten] det. H. Kulzer 195 [printed] ”, “ 9 ” [handwritten].	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF5820DFF0A26D4FD876B9D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Afghanistan, Pakistan: Balochistan: Bela, Kalat (Schuster (1929), as Lobothorax oblongopunctatus), Quetta (Gridelli 1954, Kaszab 1970). Subgenus Discotus Reitter, 1904	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF7820BFF0A26DCFD796BE7.taxon	description	(Figs 3 C, 19 – 20) Faldermann, 1937: 389, t. 8, fig. 2; Reitter 1896: 163; Reitter 1904: 161 (Lobothorax (Discotus )); Reichardt, 1936: 141 (Lobodera (Discotus )); Kaszab 1961: 116 (Lobodera (Discotus )); Medvedev & Nepesova 1985: 133. Full references for the Caucasus up until 2010 see in Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko (2011).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF7820BFF0A26DCFD796BE7.taxon	materials_examined	Material (only from Iran). 4 specimens (ZIN): Iran, Khorasan (leg. N. Zarudny); 1 specimen (ZIN): Iran, Khorasan, 24 – 27. XI (leg. N. Zarudny); 2 specimens (ZIN): Iran, Khorasan, Ne-i-Bendan country (leg. N. Zarudny); 1 specimen (ZIN): Iran, Seistan [= Sistan] (leg. N. Zarudny).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF7820BFF0A26DCFD796BE7.taxon	distribution	Distribution and bionomics. This species is widely distributed from European part of Russia (Caspian depression) and eastern Turkey to western China and Mongolia; from North Kazakhstan to Afghanistan and southern Iran (Reichardt 1936, Ren & Tang 2006, Iwan et al. 2020, Nabozhenko et al. 2022, Bekchanov et al. 2023). The species was recorded from Sistan and Khorasan by Reichardt (1936) and from Tehran by Kaszab (1961). Subgenus Stonavus Reitter, 1904, subg. resurr.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF1820BFF0A277DFD61682A.taxon	description	(Fig. 21) Reitter 1896: 163; Reitter 1904: 162 (Lobothorax (Penthomegus )); Schuster 1919: 32 (Lobodera (Penthomegus), in diagnosis); Reichardt 1936: 143, 146 (Lobodera (i. sp. )); Gridelli 1954: 285 (Lobodera); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF1820BFF0A277DFD61682A.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, sex unknown (SDEI): “ Persia settentl 1862 - 63 Coll. Doria ” (handwritten, yellowish), “ Hyd. 2. ” (handwritten, green), “ R. ” (handwritten, pink), “ Holotypus ” (red, print), “ P. corpulentus m ” (handwritten by E. Reitter), “ Lobothorax corpulentus Rtt. Type! det. Schuster ” (handwritten by A. Schuster), “ SDEI Coleoptera # 304559 ” (white, print). Notes. Schuster (1919), who studied the holotype, correctly interpreted this species after the original description. Record of P. corpulentus from Isfahan (Kuh-räng ”) (Kühnelt 1957) probably refers to erroneous determination.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF1820BFF0A277DFD61682A.taxon	distribution	Distribution. North Iran (without localities).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF38209FF0A2289FB8368F2.taxon	description	(Figs 4 A, 22)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF38209FF0A2289FB8368F2.taxon	materials_examined	Type material (ZIN). Holotype (♀) and paratype (♀) with Cyrillic (Russian) labels: “ 25 км СВ ШираЗа Баму Г. С. Медведев 25. X. 74 ” (Iran, Fars Province, 25 km SE Shiraz, Bamou National park, 29 ° 42 ʹN / 52 ° 42 ʹE, leg. G. S. Medvedev).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF38209FF0A2289FB8368F2.taxon	description	Description. Body robust, convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous (Figs 22 A, B). Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistoma at apical half and widely rounded at basal half. Widest area of gena located ahead of eye. Head moderately and sparsely punctured by circular punctures, sparser in median portion of frons and denser on epistoma and genae. Eyes dorsally slightly transverse (1.05 times as wide as long), with at least one separate or connecting ommatidia between dorsal and ventral portions (Fig. 4 A). Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area and sparse fine granules around mouthparts and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.85 – 1.86 times as wide as long), widest little behind middle, 1.7 times as wide as head, moderately converging from widest portion to apical margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 22.7: 24: 15.5. Anterior edge widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges evenly rounded. Base bisinuate, median portion protruded backwards. Anterior angles right-angled, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles slightly obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base finely entirely margined. Disc of pronotum convex, punctured by sparse, moderately coarse circular punctures medially and along lateral edges (interpuncture spaces near 3 times as long as puncture diameter); punctures on the sides from median portion round, slightly coarser and denser than on other surface (interpuncture spaces near 1.5 – 2 times as long as puncture diameter); secondary micropuncturation fine, but visible between large punctures. Lateral side of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flattened portion converging from base to anterior margin, punctured. Other surface of hypomera with sparse small granules and several smooth longitudinal wrinkles in middle; each granule bears long suberect seta. Prosternum with flattened separated granules (each bears short seta). Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra wide, with strongly rounded lateral edges, widest at middle (1.18 – 1.19 times as long as wide), 1.9 times as wide as head, 1.1 times as wide and 2.54 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tipe widely rounded, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures round, slightly impressed, the same in size as interstrial ones; flattened interstriae sparsely punctured by moderate in size punctures. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with comparatively long recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely granulated, mesepisterna with the same but sparser granules. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and smooth sparse puncturation at middle. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely granulated on sides and punctured by fine and sparse punctures medially; ventrite 5 with simple fine puncturation, entirely finely margined at apex. Setation on abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 22 G, H). Ovipositor with densely covered by long setae coxite lobes 2 – 4; valvifer widest at middle and sharply narrowed from widest portion to apex, baculi strongly curved at apex. Coxite lobes 4 comparatively narrow, widely rounded at apex. Gonostyli moderately thickened, cylindrical, with several long setae. Baculi of paraproct widened, straight, convergingfrom curved basal portion to apex. Proctiger evenly rounded apically, without baculi, only slightly more sclerotized laterally. Legs. Legs short, pro- and mesofemora not reached body margin, metafemora slightly extending beyond elytral margin. Protibia wide, with the same apical width as widest portion of profemur. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Length of protarsomeres 1 – 3 together subequal to width of protibia at apex. Body length 10 – 10.5 mm, width 5 – 6 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF38209FF0A2289FB8368F2.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name derives from Farsistan, alternative name of Fars Province. Comparative diagnosis. The new species belongs to the corpulentus species-group and it is similar to P. villiersi and P. persicus by the robust body, short femora, and widely flattened lateral margins of the prohypomera. It differs from both species in the entirely convex pronotum (Figs 22 D, E) vs separated obliquely flattened lateral sides of the pronotum in P. villiersi (Figs 29 A, B) and P. persicus (Figs 24 A – C) and much sparser and finer granulation of the prohypomera. Both P. villiersi and P. persicus have strongly widened coxite lobes 4 of the ovipositor with barrel-shaped thickened gonostyli having rounded lateral margins (Figs 25 D, E), while P. farsistanus sp. nov. has much narrower coxite lobes 4 with narrower subcylindrical gonostyli (Fig. 22 H).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF28235FF0A24D1FD8D6969.taxon	description	(Figs 23 – 25) Schuster, 1919: 31 (Lobothorax (Stonavus )); Kaszab, 1969: 452 (Lobodera); Reichardt 1936: 150, 151 (Lobodera (Stonavus), part, description and record for Luristan); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF28235FF0A24D1FD8D6969.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype (NHMB), ♂, designated here: “ v. Bodemeyer Persien Luristan ”, “ persicus ”, “ TYPUS ”, “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ”. Paralectotypes, 5 ♀♀ (HNHM): “ Persien, Luristan v. Bodemeyer ”, “ Emerich Reitter ”, “ persic. ” [handwritten by Andrian Schuster], “ persica Schust. det. Kaszab ”; 1 specimen (NHML): “ Type ” [printed, label circular, red frame], “ Persien ”, Staud. [handwritten], “ persicus ” [handwritten], “ TYPUS [printed, label pink], “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ” [printed], “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 449. ” [printed], “ Lobodera persica Schust. ” [handwritten] det. H. Kulzer 195 [printed] 9 [handwritten] ”. Material. 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZMMSU): Iran, Tehran Prov., “ mont. Koroka 20 km prope Veramin. XI. 48 N. Aleksandrov ” [distorted “ Qarah ”, from Turkic Karatepe (black hill), now Tehran Prov., Tappeh-ye Qarah ‘ Alī, 14 km W of Varamin, 35 ° 25 ʹ 00.04 ʺN, 51 ° 31 ʹ 52.89 ʺE]; 1 ♀ (ZMMSU): Iran, Qom Prov., “ Persia centr. distr. Kum IV. 1947 ” (leg. N. Aleksandrov); 1 ♀ (ZMMSU): Iran, Isfahan Prov., “ Meime prope Kum Persia c. N. Aleksandrov ” (now Isfahan Prov., Meymeh, 33 ° 26 ʹ 40 ʺN, 51 ° 10 ʹ 09 ʺE); 1 specimen (NHML): “ PERSIA: [printed] ISFAHAN. 22. III. [handwritten] 1935. H. E. J. Biggs. [printed] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1935. - 398. ” [printed]; 2 specimens (NHML) “ IRAN [printed] Kazerun 9 [handwritten]: [printed] IX [handwritten]: [printed] 60 [handwritten] E. S Brown [printed] 3074 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed]; 1 specimen (NHML) “ IRAN [printed] Abadeh 5 [handwritten]: [printed] IX [handwritten]: [printed] 60 [handwritten] E. S Brown [printed] 3084 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed]; 2 specimens (NHML): “ IRAN [printed] Isfahan Kazerun [handwritten]: [printed] IX [handwritten]: [printed] 60 [handwritten] E. S Brown [printed] 3084 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed]; 5 specimens (NHML): “ IRAN Kurdistan Marivan 12 [handwritten]: [printed] X [handwritten]: [printed] 58 [handwritten] E. S Brown [printed] 868 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed]; 1 specimen (NHML): “ IRAN [printed] Isfahan Tustan 22 [handwritten]: [printed] ii [handwritten]: [printed] 1958 [handwritten] E. S Brown [printed] 43 [handwritten] ”, “ Gen. nr. Bioplanes [handwritten] E. A. J. Duffy det. 1961 [printed] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed]; 1 specimen (NHML): “ IRAN [printed] Isfahan Tustan 22. ii. 58 [handwritten] E. S. Brown [printed] 43 [handwritten] ”, “ C. I. E. COLL NO. [printed] 10127 [handwritten] ”, “ Gen. nr. Bioplanes [handwritten] E. A. J. Duffy det. 1961 [printed] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 641. ” [printed], “ Lobodera corpulenta Rtt. [handwritten] DrZ. Kaszab det., 19 [printed] 61 [handwritten] ”; 1 specimen (HNHM): Iran, West Azerbaijan Prov., Tabriz, 1600 m, 17. iv. 1965 (leg. L. Matile); 3 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Esfahan Prov., 28. xii. 1973 (leg. D Javaheri); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZIN): Iran, Lorestan Prov., Dorud Distr., Cham Chit vill., 33 ° 22 ʹ 39.27 ʺN, 48 ° 58 ʹ 36.85 ʺE, 13. v. 2017 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 15 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Hamedan Prov., Asad Abad env. (Asad Abad pass), 34 ° 48 ʹ 15.5628 ʺN, 48 ° 09 ʹ 3.0708 ʺE, 1700 – 1900 m., 24. iv. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 12 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Hamedan Prov., Razan city, Baba Nazar village, Boghati Mts., 2200 – 2300 m., 35 ° 31 ʹ 47.6328 ʺN, 48 ° 41 ʹ 34.5948 ʺE, 24. iv. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 1 ♀ (PCMN): Iran, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Prov., Kūh-e Denā mount., near Sisaht vill., 30 ° 50 ʹ 49.1 ʺN, 51 ° 31 ʹ 43.1 ʺE, 29 - 31. v. 2023 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 1 specimen (HMIM): Bushehr, Jam, 620 m, 19. xi. 1977 (Bar., Mof., V. Naz. [the names of the collectors have been shortened]). Note. Reichardt (1936) erroneously determined P. iranensis sp. nov. and P. zarudnii sp. nov. as “ Lobodera persica ” in ZIN collection and incorrectly listed P. persicus for Kerman and Khorasan. Kaszab (1969) and Grimm (2015) also listed P. persicus from Kerman Province but we are not sure about the correctness of these identifications. The specimen from Bushehr Province (Jam) is different from other specimens by sides of the pronotum, which are flattened nearly horizontally (not obliquely). A series of beetles is needed to establish the status of the Bushehr population.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFF28235FF0A24D1FD8D6969.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran: Tehran, Qum, West Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Kurdistan, Hamedan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Isfahan and Fars provinces.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFCF8232FF0A24AFFAD96AC8.taxon	description	(Figs 4 C, 26, 27)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFCF8232FF0A24AFFAD96AC8.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, 1 ♂ (ZIN) and paratypes, 8 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ (ZIN, PCMN, HMIM): Iran, Fars Prov., Pooladkaf, 30 ° 22 ′ N, 51 ° 55 ′ E, h = 2900 m, 8 – 9. vi. 2014 (leg. I. V. Shokhin).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFCF8232FF0A24AFFAD96AC8.taxon	description	Description. Male (26 A, B). Body large, comparatively slender, slightly convex, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae widely rounded in basal half and straightly converging to epistoma in apical half. Widest area of gena located ahead of eye. Head dorsally coarsely and densely punctured circular smooth large punctures and distinct micropunctures (double puncturation), surface of genae granulated in basal half. Eye dorsally subequal in length and width. Dorsal and ventral portions of eye connected by line of one ommatidia in width (Fig. 4 C). Head ventrally with dense granulation, smooth surface near cardo. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.96 – 2 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.8 – 1.82 times as wide as head, more converging from widest portion to anterior margin than to base, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 23.3: 25.4: 15.3. Anterior edge widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges moderately evenly rounded, sometimes sinuous near anterior angles. Base trisinuate, median portion protruded backwards and emarginated medially, lateral edges of base straight from protruded portion to posterior angles. Anterior angles obtuse (109 °), tip pointed, posterior angles also obtuse (104 °), with pointedtip. Lateral edges finely margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base entirely margined (margin in middle usually finer). Disc of pronotum slightly convex, obliquely flattened on sides and well expressed pair of depressions along basal margin, with double puncturation: large punctures coarse and moderately dense (interpuncture spaces near two times as long as puncture diameter), micropunctures deep, sparse, well visible between large punctures. Prohypomera very widely flattened on sides, coarsely granulated (granules slightly flattened, elongated and denser in anterior third); surface with fine longitudinal wrinkles near coxae and several smooth large wrinkles at anterior third, each granule bears short suberect seta; flattened portion slightly converging from base to anterior margin, with smooth large longitudinal wrinkles at the inflection area and transverse microwrinkles on flattened area, posterior half of flattened surface with small granules. Prosternum with sharp coarse flattened granules and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with very slightly rounded lateral margins (sometimes almost subparallel), widest across middle (1.37 times as long as wide), 1.95 times as wide as head, 1.05 times as wide and 2.7 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra moderately oblique, humeral angles slightly obtuse, tip pointed, slightly projected; lateral edge of elytra usually straight, but sometimes with very short sinuation near humeral angles. Puncturation of elytra moderately coarse and sparse; strial punctures round, slightly larger than interstrial ones and slightly depressed; interstriae flat, with moderately coarse and sparse puncturation. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.8 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite with transverse wrinkles and granules, mesepisterna with small smooth raduliform foveae, metaventrite with smooth sparse granules on sides and sparse coarse puncturation medially; metepisterna with small granules. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and punctured with fine and sparse punctures medially, micropunctures well visible (double puncturation); ventrite 5 with coarse and dense puncturation, not margined. Setation of abdomen the same as on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 27 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundely emarginated, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with short thickened slightly curved S-shaped rods; blades transverse, oval, with strongly projected and finely punctured outer portions, outer margin and apex rounded. Aedeagus wide. Parameres strongly converging from base to apex, not truncated apically; lateral margins widely slightly emarginated. Basal piece 1.73 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs comparatively long, profemora reaching prothoracic margin, mesofemora and metafemora moderately extending beyond elytral margin and their distal portions well visible dorsally. Protibiae wide, profemur 1.14 times as wide as apical width of protibia. Lateral margin of protibiae obliquely truncated near apex, as a result lateral inner and outer margins subparallel in apical 1 / 5. Protarsomeres comparatively long, combined length of 2.5 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Figs 26 C). Body more robust, lateral margins of elytra more rounded, femora shorter, but apices of meso- and metafemora visible dorsally. Ovipositor (Figs 27 D, E). Valvifer widest across middle, anterior margin angular, straight between angle, base and apex; apex acute, baculi distinct, forming acute angle at apex of valvifer; coxite lobes 4 wide, widely rounded at apex, gonostyli narrow, subcylindrical, with one long seta apically. Baculi of paraproct comparatively narrow, straight, slightly widened to apex. Body length 15.6 – 17 mm, width 7.5 – 8 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFCF8232FF0A24AFFAD96AC8.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new species is named in honour of friend and colleague of the first co-author, Dr Vladimir Shokhin (Southern Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rostov-on-Don, Russia), who collected the type series. Comparative diagnosis. The species belongs to the corpulentus species-group and it is most similar to P. persicus in the body shape and to P. villiersi in the shape of pronotum, male genitalia and terminalia. Penthicus shokhini sp. nov. differs from mentioned two species by the shape of protibiae with the truncated lateral margin apically (Fig. 26 H) (roundely or strightly evenly widened from proximal to distal portions in both compared species (Figs 24 D, 29 E )). The new species and P. villiersi are different from P. persicus by the shape of the parameres with widely emarginated lateral margins (Figs 27 A, 30 A, B) (straight in P. persicus (Fig. 25 A )). Both, P. persicus and P. villiersi have the large barell-like gonostyli (Figs 25 E, 30 G), while P. shokhini sp. nov. has the narrower subcylindrical ones (Fig. 27 E). The valvifer very similar in the new species and P. villiersi (strongly widened at middle, with angular anterior margin) (Figs 27 D, 30 F), while P. persicus has the narrow subparallel valvifer (Fig. 25 D). Penthicus persicus and P. shokhini sp. nov. have the more slender elongate body and longer femora, extending beyond the body margin (Figs 23 A – C, 26 A – C), while P. villiersi is very robust, with strongly rounded elytral margins, invisible dorsally pro- and mesofemora and poorly visible apex of metafemora dorsally (Figs 28 A – E).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC88230FF0A240CFDEB69CF.taxon	description	(Figs 28 – 30) Kaszab 1969: 452 (Lobodera (s. str. )); Grimm 2015: 316.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC88230FF0A240CFDEB69CF.taxon	materials_examined	Type material (studied). Paratypes (HNHM): 1 ♂, “ 20. III. 1965 Dacht Argen, 60 km N de Chiraz IRAN ” (now Iran, Fars Prov., Dasht-e Arzhan, 29 ° 39 ′ 37 ″ N, 51 ° 59 ′ 07 ″ E), “ ♂ ”, “ MUSEUM PARIS Mission Franco-Iranienne 1965 ”, “ Paratypus 1968 ♂ Lobodera villiersi Kaszab ”; 1 ♀, “ Kuhtang 150 km Westl. v. Isfahan, 8. V. 1950 ” (now Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Prov., Kuhrang county, 32 ° 24 ′ N, 49 ° 59 ′ E), “ OESTERR. IRAN-EXP. 1949 – 50 ”, “ noch 1 ex bei Kūhnelt ”, “ Lobodera n. sp. aff. corpulenta Rtt. Dr. Z. Kaszab det. ”, “ Paratypus 1968 ♀ Lobodera villiersi Kaszab ”. Material. 3 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Fars Prov., Dehsheykh (29 ° 38 ′ 00 ″ N, 52 ° 19 ′ 04 ″ E), 25. v. 1976 (leg. P. Brignoli); 2 specimens (HNHM): the same, but leg. Brignoli & P. Bianco; 1 specimen (HNHM):? Quattekas, 19. iv. 1955 (leg. F. Schmid); 1 specimen (NHML) “ Pir-i-Zan. Pass at 8500 ft. W. of Shiraz PERSIA. 10 - 5 - 35 Coll. H. E. J. Biggs. 38. [handwritten] ” (now Fars Prov., Kazerun Distr., Kotal-i Pir-i Zan pass, 29 ° 33 ʹN, 51 ° 55 ʹE), “ Lobodera villiersi Kaszab [handwritten] DrZ. Kaszab det., 19 [printed] 72 [handwritten] ”; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀ (ZIN, PCMN): Iran, Lorestan Prov., 24 km S of Azna, 33 ° 16 ʹ 46.7 ʺN, 49 ° 29 ʹ 57.4 ʺE, 16 – 17. v. 2017 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 1 ♀ (PCMN): Iran, Lorestan Prov., ridge near Dorud, 14 – 15.2017 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 1 ♂ (ZIN), 8 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀ (HMIM): Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Prov., Zagros Mts., Chelgerd env., h = 2300 – 2500 m., 32 ° 27 ′ 28.9548 ″ N, 50 ° 07 ′ 9.6024 ″ E, 6. viii. 2023 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 9 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Prov., Wetland Solegan env., h = 2400 – 2500 m., 31 ° 58 ʹ 6.8448 ʺN, 50 ° 47 ʹ 11.1048 ʺE, 1. viii. 2023 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 6 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Prov., Zagros Mts., Samsami env. (Chari pass), H = 2600 - 2700 m, 32 ° 27 ʹ 28.9548 ʺN, 50 ° 07 ʹ 9.6024 ʺE, 4. vi. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC88230FF0A240CFDEB69CF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran: Zagros Mts. (Lorestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Fars provinces). The specimen from Quattekas in HNHM collection (Iran, Mazandaran Prov., Gat-e Kash, 36 ° 25 ′ 28.12 ″ N, 51 ° 32 ′ 21.57 ″ E) is erroneously labeled.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC5823CFF0A27CCFC296C00.taxon	description	(Figs 31, 32)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC5823CFF0A27CCFC296C00.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ (ZM MSU): “ Persia, prov. Kerman VI. 46 / Reitt. ”, “ Penthicus persicus Schust. A. Bogačev det. ”. Paratypes. 1 ♂ (HNHM): “ Persien Sangun (Belutsch.) ” (now Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Prov., Sangan, E of Kūh-e Taftan volcano, 28 ° 35 ʹ 27.61 ʺN, 61 ° 18 ʹ 10.70 ʺE), “ 18. V. (62) Coll. P. Aellen 1948 ”, “ persica Schust. det. Kaszab ”; 1 ♂ (HMIM): “ Kouscheh (Taft.) 20.4.1971 Radjabi ” (Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan Prov., Kusheh, western slope of Taftan volcano, near 2300 m).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC5823CFF0A27CCFC296C00.taxon	description	Description. Male. Body robust, black (holotype) or dark brown (paratype), dull, dorsally glabrous, slightly convex (Fig. 31 A). Head widest across posterior portion gena. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistoma in apical half and subparallel in basal half, shortly rounded only at base. Widest portion of gena located across anterior third of eyes. Head moderately punctured by circular punctures in middle of frons (interpuncture spaces little longer than puncture diameter), by elongate, sometimes merged punctures on lateral sides of frons; coarser and denser punctured on epistoma and genae (puncture diameter subequal to interpuncture spaces); lateral margins of genae with much denser and coarser puncturation. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal (1.09 times as long as wide). Head ventrally with dense granulation behind mouthparts. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (2 – 2.1 times as wide as long), widest across base, 2 – 2.09 times as wide as head, strongly converging from base to apical margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles 29.5: 36: 19. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral margins slightly evenly rounded. Base widely bisinuate, median portion protruded backwards, slightly sinuated at middle. Anterior angles slightly obtuse, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted at middle, base finely margined but sulcus shortly interrupted in middle. Disc of pronotum slightly convex, punctured by sparse, moderately coarse punctures at middle and along lateral edges (interpuncture spaces 2 – 3 times as long as puncture diameter); punctures on the sides from middle strongly elongate, fusiform, coarser and denser than on other surface; secondary micropuncturation between large punctures almost invisible. Lateral side of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flat portion strongly narrowed from base to anterior margin. Surface with sparse small granules and smooth longitudinal wrinkles (holotype) or coarse longitudinal wrinkles and reduced granules (paratype); each granule or non-granulated surface bears long suberected setae. Prosternum with imbricated granules (each bears short seta). Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra wide but lateral margins slightly rounded, widest across middle (1.34 – 1.35 times as long as wide), 1.95 times as wide as head, 1.07 times as wide and 2.62 – 2.66 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles distinct, narrowly rounded at apex, but lateral margin of elytra not shortly emarginated near angles. Puncturation of elytra sparse and fine, punctures with the same size but slightly denser in striae than in flattened interstriae. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with comparatively long recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely granulated, mesepisterna with flattened imbricate granules. Metaventrite with distinct round granules on sides and smooth dense puncturation at middle. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely granulated on sides and punctured with rasp-like fine and sparse puncturation medially; ventrite 5 with rasp-like fine puncturation, entirely finely margined at apex. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Fig. 32). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundedely emarginated in middle, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with narrow S-shaped rods and oval or sub-rhomboid blades, sparsely punctured in middle. Parameres wide, each paramera subparallel in apical half and sharply obliquely truncated at apex; lateral margins widely emarginated between basal and apical halves. Basal piece nearly two times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs short, profemora extending lateral pronotal edge and not visible dorsally, mesofemora slightly and metafemora more extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae wide, profemur 1.11 times as wide asapical width of protibia, 2.6 times as long as wide. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Length of protarsomeres 1 – 3 together subequal to apical width of protibia. Body length 12 – 13 mm, width 6 – 6.5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC5823CFF0A27CCFC296C00.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name derives from ancient Persian Achaemenian Dynasty (559 – 330 BCE), whose kings ruled the Achaemenian Empire. Comparative diagnosis. The new species differs from all representatives of the iners species-group by elongate fusiform puncturation of lateral sides of the pronotum and entirely margined abdominal ventrite 5. Externally similar to P. turcomanicus and P. fartilis by strongly trapezoidal pronotum.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823BFF0A269CFC74692D.taxon	description	(Figs 33, 34) Kaszab, 1969: 454 (Lobodera (s. str. )).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823BFF0A269CFC74692D.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. 7 paratypes (HNHM): “ Iran Kalardacht 12 - 5 - 65 ”, “ Museum Paris Mission Franco-Iranienne 1965 ”, “ Paratypus 1968 Lobodera ardoini Kaszab ” (Iran, Mazandaran Prov., Kelardasht, 36 ° 30 ′ 20 ″ N, 51 ° 09 ′ 32 ″ E). Some paratypes are marked as “ ♂ ” or “ ♀ ”. Material. 1 specimen (HNHM): Iran, Mazandaran Prov., Quattekas (Gat-e Kash, 36 ° 25 ′ 28.12 ″ N, 51 ° 32 ′ 21.57 ″ E), 19. ix. 1955 (leg. F. Schmid); 15 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Ardabil Prov., Alborz Mts., Khalkhal, Andebil env., h = 2400 – 2600 m, 37 ° 23 ʹ 13.3 ʺN 48 ° 30 ʹ 28.0 ʺE, 6. vii. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823BFF0A269CFC74692D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran: Alborz Mts. (Ardabil and Mazandaran provinces).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823AFF0A246BFF6D69BF.taxon	description	(Figs 35, 36) Reitter 1899: 205; Reitter 1904: 162 (Lobothorax (Penthomegus )) Reichardt 1936: 143, 146 (Lobodera); Gridelli 1954: 285 (Lobodera); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera); Medvedev & Nepesova 1985: 135; Medvedev & Nepesova 1990: 27.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823AFF0A246BFF6D69BF.taxon	materials_examined	Material (only from Iran). 1 ♀ (HMIM): Iran ,, Tehran Prov. Gharaghadj [= Karagadj, near Varamin], 17. viii. 1941 (Nava [unclear collector]); 1 ♀ (ZIN): Iran, Golestan Prov., Khoshyeylāq vill., 36 ° 49 ʹ 31.80 ʺN, 55 ° 20 ʹ 31.78 ʺE, 5 – 16. v. 2016 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC1823AFF0A246BFF6D69BF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Turkmenistan: west of Kopetdag Mts., Iran: Golestan, Eastern Alborz. Medvedev and Nepesova (1985, 1990) interpreted this species as an endemic of Western Kopetdag in Turkmenistan. Kühnelt (1957) recorded this species for NE Iran without supported material. Our specimens are the first reliable records of P. fartilis from Iran.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC38226FF0A2662FC866C1C.taxon	description	(Figs 37, 38)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC38226FF0A2662FC866C1C.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (ZIN) and paratypes, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZIN, PCMN): Iran, Alborz Prov., Central Alborz Mts., Gachsar env., H = 2600 – 2720 m, 36 ° 05 ʹ 51.88 ʺN, 51 ° 19 ʹ 46.53 ʺE, 30. v. 2016 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin). Paratypes: 6 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Mazandaran Prov., S of Chalus, 1965 (Museum Paris, Mission Franco-Iranienne); 3 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Mazandaran, NE slope of Chalus (Museum Paris, Mission Franco-Iranienne); 2 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Alborz Prov., Karadi (Karaj), Gachsar (36 ° 06 ′ 13 ″ N, 51 ° 18 ′ 17 ″ E), 1800 – 2300 m, 28. iv. 1970 (leg. Wittmer. V. Bothmer); 1 specimen (HNHM); Iran, Mazandaran Prov., high Elburs (= Alborz), 3000 m, 20. viii. 1951 (leg. F. Schäuffele); 1 specimen (HNHM): Iran, Tehran Prov., pass between Shemshak and Dizin (36 ° 02 ′ 14.34 ″ N, 51 ° 25 ′ 59.00 ″ E), 17 – 23. vi. 1978 (leg. Martens and Pieper); 1 ♂ (HMIM): Iran, Alborz Prov., Gajereh, 3000 m, 5. viii. 1972 (leg. G. Ledoux); 6 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Mazandaran Prov., Marzanabad city, Chalous, 23. v. 1965 (leg. Saf); 5 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Alborz Prov., Central Alborz Mts., Gachsar env. (Kandovan tunnel), H = 2800 – 2900 m, 36 ° 09 ʹ 06.4 ʺN, 51 ° 18 ʹ 45.3 ʺE, 17. vi. 2023 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad); 1 ♂ (ZIN): Iran, Golestan Prov., near Gorgan, Ziarat, 36 ° 40 ʹ 22.67 ʺN 54 ° 28 ʹ 7.68 ʺE, 27.05.2016 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC38226FF0A2662FC866C1C.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 37 A, B). Body robust, widened, slightly convex, dull, dorsally black, glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straight and converging to epistoma in apical half and widely rounded in basal half, sometimes genae angulate at widest portion. Widest area of genae located ahead of eyes. Head dorsally moderately and sparsely punctured by circular punctures on all surface. Eyes dorsally small, subequal in length and width. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and sparse puncturation around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.75 – 1.78 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.65 times as wide as head, slightly narrowed from widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 21.5: 23.9: 15. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral margins strongly evenly rounded. Base rounded at middle and straight on sides, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles obtuse, tip widely rounded, posterior angles also obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges coarsely margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base margined only on sides, the most protruded middle portion of base not margined. Disc of pronotum slightly convex, from widely to moderately flattened on sides (flattened portion almost horizontal), sparsely and finely punctured by circular punctures (interpuncture spaces near 3 – 5 times as long as puncture diameter); secondary micropuncturation very fine but visible between large punctures. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin, finely punctured and smoothly wrinkled. Other surface with sparse small granules and dense smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with dense rasp-like puncturation and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at midlength (1.4 times as long as wide), 1.7 times as wide as head, 1.04 times as wide and 2.7 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in pseuepipleural area strongly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip widely rounded, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Puncturation of elytra very fine and sparse; strial punctures fine, round, located in slightly depressed lines, the same size as interstrial punctures, which only 2 times larger than punctures of the secondary micropuncturation; intersrtiae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2.5 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely rugose and granulated, mesepisterna with narrow transversely elongate granules and foveae between them. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and smooth sparse not setose puncturation at middle. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and punctured medially with fine and sparse punctures; ventrite 5 with simple denser and coarser puncturation, not margined at apex. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 38 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundely emarginated, straight in middle, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with narrow S-shaped strongly curved rods and semi-oval more or less pointed at tip blades, sparsely punctured in middle. Parameres wide, each paramera subparallel in apical half and sharply obliquely truncated at apex (at angle of 45 °); lateral margins widely emarginated between basal and apical halves. Basal piece 2.2 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs short, profemora not reaching body margin, meso- and metafemora slightly extending (metafemora slightly longer) beyond elytral margin. Protibiae wide, with almost the same width at apex as widest portion of profemora. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsomeres short, combined length of tarsomeres 1 – 4 subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 37 C). Body more robust, pronotum sometimes narrowly flattened along lateral edges, lateral margins of elytra more rounded, interstria flat or slightly convex on sides. Ovipositor (Figs 38 D, E). Valvifer slightly widened from base to widely rounded apex, almost parallel, baculi smooth, poorly expressed, looks like more sclerotized portion than other surface; coxite lobes 4 wide, widely rounded at apex, gonostyli short, wide, granuliform, widest at base, with several long setae at apex. Baculi of paraproct narrow, straight, subparallel after curved portion. Body length (both sexes) 11.5 – 13, width 5 – 5.5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFC38226FF0A2662FC866C1C.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name of this new species is made up of two Latin words that characterize the body shape: flatus (flat) and latus (wide). Comparative diagnosis. The species belongs to the iners species-group and it is similar to P. horni by flattened lateral sides of the pronotal disc, obtuse rounded humeral angles and strongly oblique lateral sides of the elytral base. It differs from P. horni by the much wider robust body (Figs 37, C), shorter protarsi with short and transverse protarsomeres 1 – 4 and obtuse short femora, the apices of which are barely visible dorsally (Figs 37 A, C) (P. horni has long slender femora extending far beyond the body margin (Figs 37 C – E )). The shape of the parameres, the spiculum gastrale and the valvifer are also different in both species (compare Figs 38 and 40). The similar P. ardoini differs from P. flatilatus sp. nov. by the pointed humeral angles (Figs 31 A, B), almost straight lateral sides of the elytral base (Figs 33 A, B) and not flattened lateral sides of the pronotum with only groove along lateral margin (Figs 33 E, F). Penthicus freyi and P. similis also (as the new species) have oblique lateral sides of the elytral base and flattened lateral sides of the pronotum, but both these species differ from P. flatilatus sp. nov. by the much narrow and slender body and pointed humeral angles; the second species also differs by narrow protibiae, which are much narrower at the apex than the widest portion of profemora.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8226FF0A2178FD2F6942.taxon	description	(Fig. 39) Schuster, 1937: 79 (Lobodera (Discotus )); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8226FF0A2178FD2F6942.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype (Figs 39 A, B), ♂ (NHMB), designated here: “ Persia s. Elburs mts. s. Tacht i Suleiman Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ”, “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ”, “ Freyi ”, “ Discotus Freyi m. n. sp. ”, “ Frey ”, “ TYPUS ” (red), “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ”. Paralectotype (Figs 39 C – E), ♂ (HNHM): “ Persia s. Elburs mts. s. Tacht i Suleiman Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ”, “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ”, “ Paratypus 1937 Lobodera freyi Schuster ” (curator’s label); Paralectotype, one specimen (NHML): “ Paratype ” [printed, label circular, yellow frame], “ Persia s. Elbrus mts. s. Tacht I Suleimah Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ” [printed], “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ” [printed], “ PARATYPE ” [printed, label red], “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 449. ” [printed], “ Lobodera freyi Schust. [handwritten] det. H. Kulzer 195 [printed] 9 [handwritten] ”. Three paralectotypes with the same geographical labels as the lectotype are deposited in NHMB. Material. 1 ♂ (HNHM): “ Persien Elburs Särdab. T. ” (Sardab River flowing through Hasahkif, Mazandaran Prov.); 1 ♀ (HMIM): Iran, Mazandaran Prov., Alam-kuh massif, 10 – 12. viii. 1972 (leg. G. Ledoux). Note. This species was originally included to the subgenus Discotus on the basis of widely flattened lateral sides of the pronotum. P. freyi has not granulation on pronotal lateral margins and full wings as representatives of Discotus. In fact it belongs to the subgenus Stonavus and the iners species-group. Interesting, that Schuster (1937) included a very close species P. similis described in the same paper to the nomynotypical subgenus.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8226FF0A2178FD2F6942.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran (Central Alborz Mts).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8225FF0A2483FD2E68FF.taxon	description	(Figs 40, 41) Schuster 1922: 212 (Lobothorax (Penthomegus )); Reichardt, 1936: 144, 147 (Lobodera (i. sp. )); Gridelli 1954: 286 (Lobodera); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8225FF0A2483FD2E68FF.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype, ♂, designated here (NMB): aedeagus and spiculum gastrale pasted on a paper plate, “ Pers bor. Hubh. 19 ”, “ Horni ”, “ TYPUS ”, “ D. E. M. ”, “ Coll. Kraatz ”, “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ”. Type locality (Schuster, 1922): « Shaku » (now Shahkuh-e Sofla or Shan kuh-e Bala in Golestan Province). Material. 2 ♂, 1 ♀ (ZIN): “ Shahrud Persia ” (now Iran, Semnan Prov., Shahrud), “ k. Solskogo ” (leg. S. M. Solsky), “ Penthicus horni Schust. det. Schuster ”. Note. We don’t know what species was listed by Kühnelt (1957) under the name Lobodera horni from Qualeh- e Asghard to the south of Kerman. The presence of this local species in Kerman Province is highly questionable. Penthicus pazukii sp. nov. from Kerman Provice is externally very similar to P. horni. We are also not sure about the correctness of Grimm’s determination of P. horni from Central Alborz (Grimm 2015); probably these specimens belong to P. flatilatus sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFDC8225FF0A2483FD2E68FF.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran (Eastern Alborz Mts.)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD9822FFF0A27DBFE826D68.taxon	description	(Figs 42 – 44) Ménétriés 1832: 202 (Heliophilus); Gridelli 1954: 286 (Lobodera); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera); Kaszab 1961: 116 (Lobodera); Medvedev 1964: 658 (Lobodera iners iners); Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko 2011: 109, 244, fig. 239; Nabozhenko et al. 2021: 437. = saginatus Ménétriés, 1832: 203 (Opatrum). = molestus Faldermann, 1836: 388. = obesus Kulzer, 1964: 223, syn. n. (Lobodera); Kaszab 1969: 451 (Lobodera); Grimm 2015: 315. The complete list of references for the Caucasus up until 2010 is presented in Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko (2011).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD9822FFF0A27DBFE826D68.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Heliophilus iners (now Penthicus iners). Lectotype (ZIN), sex unknown, designated here (Figs 42 A – C): “ heliophilus iners Menetr. Zouv. ” (handwritten by E. Ménétriés; now Zuvand, Azerbaijan), goldish circle, “ Lectotypus Helophilus iners Ménétriés 1832 des. M. V. Nabozhenko, 2024 ”. Opatrum saginatum (now Penthicus saginatus). Lectotype (ZIN), sex unknown, designated here (Figs 42 D – E): “ Opatrum Saginatum Menetr. ” (handwritten by E. Ménétriés), goldish circle, “ Heliopates iners var. B ”, “ Penthicus saginatus ”, “ L. iners Mén. Reiçhardt det. ”, “ Lectotypus Opatrum saginatum Ménétriés 1832 des. M. V. Nabozhenko, 2024 ”. Ménétriés (1832) noted that he collected this species from Baku environs (Azerbaijan). Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko (2011) indicated that P. iners was not found in Baku and environs after the record of E. Ménétriés and possibly extinct in this area. Lobodera obesa (now Penthicus obesus). Holotype (NHMB) (Figs 42 F, I): “ 11 – 62 3000 m Demavend ”, “ Persia Elburs-Gebg. Hüdepohl leg. ”, “ Holotypus Lobodera obesa n. sp. det. H. Kulzer 1963 ”; 1 paratype (HNHM) (Figs 42 G, H, J): “ Persia Elburs Gebg. Hüdepohl leg. ”, “ 11 – 62 3000 m Demavend ”, “ Paratypus Lobodera obesa n. sp. det. H. Kulzer 1913 ”, “ Paratypus 1964 Lobodera obesa Kulzer ”. Material (only from Iran). 1 specimen (ZIN): Iran, Ardabil Prov., Sabalan Mt. [38 ° 16 ′ 01 ″ N, 47 ° 50 ′ 13 ″ E], iv. 1874 (leg. G. F. Christoph); 1 specimen (ZIN): Iran, Semnan Prov., Tash N of Shahrud, 40 versts (= 42.6 km) north of Shahrud [now Tash-e Bala, 36 ° 34 ʹN, 54 ° 40 ʹE] (leg. G. F. Christoph); 4 specimens (ZIN): Golestan Prov., ShahKuh Mt. (4000 – 10000 ft [= 1219 – 3048 m a. s. l.]) S of Astrabad (now Gorgan), vii (leg. G. F. Christoph); 1 specimen (HNHM): “ Perses ”, “ Museum Paris, coll. M. Séllidot 1935 ” (determined as P. obesus); 2 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Tehran / Mazandaran provinces, Polour — Abali (between Polur and Abali, 35 ° 50 ′ 55 ″ N, 52 ° 03 ′ 01 ″ E – 35 ° 46 ′ 11 ″ N, 51 ° 58 ′ 00 ″ E), 2100 – 2800 m, 17. v. 1970 (leg. Wittmer V. Bothmer) (determined as P. corpulentus); 2 specimens (HNHM): Iran, East Azerbaijan Province, Kalan Arasbaran wildlife refuge (38 ° 44 ′ N, 46 ° 42 ′ E), 2450 – 2650 m, 6 – 10. vi. 1978 (leg. Mattenzone, Martens & Pieper); 14 specimens (HNHM): Iran, Alborz Mts, Demavend, 2500 – 2300 m and 4000 – 4300 m, 22 – 25. viii. 1966 (leg. V. Sbordoni); 3 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Tehran Prov., Damavand, 23. vii. 1970 (leg. Saf-Hasch); 6 specimens (HMIM): Iran, East Azerbaijan Prov., Ahar city, Kalibar, 14. vi. 1973 (leg. Rogabi); 1 specimen (HMIM): Iran, Ardabil [erroneously as Azarbaijan on the label] Prov., Sabalan Mt., H = 2800 – 3800 m, 25. vi. 1973 (leg. Rogabi); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (PCMN): Iran, Zanjan Prov., 40 km NW Bonab, 36 º 47 ʹ 57 ʺN, 48 º 43 ʹ 53.7 ʺE, 9 – 10. v. 2017 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 2 ♀♀ (PCMN) Iran, West Azerbaijan Prov., Urmia Lake env., near Rajan vill., 37 ° 22 ʹN, 44 ° 51 ʹE, 22. v. 2017 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin); 4 specimens (PCMN): Iran, Zanjan Prov., 36 ° 45 ʹ 37 ʺN, 48 ° 48 ʹ 13 ʺE, 9. v. 2017 (leg. A. Zubov); 7 specimens (PCMN): Iran, East Azerbaijan Prov., Kandovan, 21. v. 2017 (leg. A. Zubov); 1 specimen (PCMN): Iran, Lorestan, Dorud, 25. v. 2017 (A. Zubov); 9 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Ardabil Prov., Alborz Mts., Susahab, Mirajin willage env., H = 2100 – 2300 m, 37 ° 23 ʹ 13.3 ʺN, 48 ° 30 ʹ 28.0 ʺE, 5. vii. 2024 (leg. F. Eshraghi Mofrad). Notes. Specimens, described as Lobodera obesa are conspecific to P. iners. Kulzer (1964) compared his species P. obesus with P. fartilis and P. persicus, but not with P. iners. Specimens of P. obesus have the pronotum widest at middle or slightly behind middle. The shape of the pronotum is variable in P. iners even in one population and the pronotum can be widest slightly ahead middle (lectotype of P. iners), at middle or slightly behind middle. Thus, the following new synonymy is introduced: Penthicus iners (Ménétriés 1832) = P. obesus (Kulzer, 1964), syn. n.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD9822FFF0A27DBFE826D68.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Turkey (Hakkari Prov.) (PCMN), Azerbaijan (Talysh, Nakchivan), North Iran (from West Azerbaijan Province to Schahrud and Gorgan) (Medvedev 1964, Abdurakhmanov & Nabozhenko 2011), Armenia (Nabozhenko et al. 2021). The record of the species from Turkmenistan (Gaudan pass) (Reichardt 1936) needs verification (P. iners or similar P. turcomanicus G. S. Medvedev, 1964, which was originally described as a subspecies of P. iners from Central Kopetdag (Medvedev 1964 )); we didn’t find specimens from Gaudan in ZIN collection. Kaszab (1969) listed two specimens of P. obesus from Dasht-e Arzhan (Fars Prov.), which are erroneously labeled. The species P. iners was listed as could potentially be found in China (Ren & Yang 2006), but this is dubious information.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD5822CFF0A20ACFB136FF0.taxon	description	(Figs 45, 46)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD5822CFF0A20ACFB136FF0.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ and paratypes 6 ♂, 4 ♀ (ZIN, PCMN): Iran, Golestan Prov., Khoshyeylāq vill., 36 ° 49 ʹ 31.80 ʺN, 55 ° 20 ʹ 31.78 ʺE, 5 – 16. v. 2016 (leg. D. G. Kasatkin).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD5822CFF0A20ACFB136FF0.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 45 A, B). Body robust, moderately convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae widely rounded in basal half and straightly converging to epistoma in apical half. Widest area of genae located ahead of eyes. Head dorsally finely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures in median portion of frons and coarsely densely punctured around frons, on genae and epistoma. Eye dorsally subequal in length and width. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal two thirds, with raduliform coarse puncturation around mouthparts and eyes and with smooth surface near cardo. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.65 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.58 – 1.6 times as wide as head, more converging from widest portion to anterior margin than to base, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 19.1: 20.5: 14.2. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges moderately evenly rounded. Base bisinuate, rounded at middle, with median portion protruded backwards. Anterior angles slightly obtuse, not strongly projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles also obtuse with tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges finely margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base margined only laterally, the protruded median portion of base not margined. Disc of pronotum slightly convex, not flattened on sides, sparsely punctured by circular, moderately coarse punctures; interpuncture spaces in median portion near 3 – 4 times, on lateral sides 2 – 3 times as long as puncture diameter, punctures smoothed; secondary micropuncturation very fine and sparse, but visible between large punctures. Prohypomera with smooth fine wrinkles only near coxae, lateral sides not flattened; surface with sparse and coarse round granules, each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with smooth flattened granules and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with very slightly rounded lateral margins (almost subparallel), widest at midlength (1.4 times as long as wide), 1.8 times as wide as head, 1.12 times as wide and 2.65 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra straight, humeral angles slightly obtuse, slightly projected, tip pointed, lateral margin of elytra shortly emarginated near humeral angles. Puncturation of elytra moderately coarse; strial punctures round, the same in size as interstrial ones, but little depressed and denser; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2.2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite with raduliform sculpture, mesepisterna with large smooth raduliform foveae. Metaventrite with smooth sparse granules on sides and sparse coarse puncturation at median portion; metepisterna with the same puncturation. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and punctured with fine and sparse punctures medially; ventrites 4 and 5 with simple puncturation, denser and coarser on the latter, which is not margined. Setation of abdomen the same as on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 46 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundely emarginated, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with thickened slightly and unevenly curved rods; blades slightly elongate, outer margin trisinuate, apex acute and pointed, sparsely punctured near outer margin. Parameres wide, each paramera subparallel in apical half and sharply obliquely truncated at apex (at angle of 50 °), truncated portion of margin slightly emarginated; lateral margins widely slightly emarginated. Basal piece 1.82 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs short, profemora reaching prothoracic edge, mesofemora slightly extending and metafemora more extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae moderately wide, 1.14 times as short at apex as maximal width of profemur. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsomeres short, combined length of 1 – 3 tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 45 C). Body more robust, lateral margins of elytra more rounded, femora shorter, pro- and mesofemora not reaching body margin, metafemora slightly visible dorsally. Ovipositor (Figs 46 D, E). Valvifer 1 suboval, widest at apical two thirds, apex narrowly rounded, baculi distinct, with short process on posterior margin near apex, shortly bent at apex; coxite lobes 4 wide, widely rounded at apex, gonostyli moderately short and narrow, subcylindrical, with several long setae at apex. Baculi of paraproct comparatively narrow, almost straight and subparallel after curved portion. Body length (both sexes) 10.5 – 11.5, width 4.5 – 5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD5822CFF0A20ACFB136FF0.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new species is named in honour of our friend and colleague Dr Denis Kasatkin (Rostov Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution All-Russian Plant Quarantine Centre, Rostov-on-Don, Russia), who collected the type series of this species and many other Tenebrionidae in Iran, including Penthicus spp.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD5822CFF0A20ACFB136FF0.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. The new species belongs to the iners species-group. It is most similar to P. ardoini by not flattened margins of pronotal disc, slightly projected humeral angles with pointed tip and shortly sinuous lateral elytral margin near humeral angles. Penthicus kasatkini sp. nov. distinctly differs from P. ardoini in the following characters: the pronotum slightly less transverse (1.65 – 1.66 times as wide as long vs 1.7 in P. ardoini) and widest at middle (Fig. 45 D) (behind middle in P. ardoini (Fig. 33 E )), without groove along lateral margin (Fig. 45 E); the lateral side of the prothoracic hypomera is not flattened, surface of the hypomera without sharp wrinkles among granules (Fig. 45 F) (widely flattened margin and coarsely wrinkled surface in P. ardoini (Fig. 33 G )); the puncturation of the pronotum coarser; the elytra with the comparatively coarse strial and interstrial punctures (very fine and sparse interstrial puncturation and very fine stippled strial punctures in fine striae in P. ardoini); legs shorter, the profemora not visible dorsally, and the mesofemora shortly extending beyond the elytral margin (Figs 45 A, C) (profemora slightly, meso- and metafemora extend far beyond elytral margin in males (Fig. 33 A) and apices of profemora well visible in females in P. ardoini (Fig. 33 B )); the parameres wider and obliquely truncated at the apex at an angle 50 ° (Fig. 46 A) (parameres narrower, 62 ° in P. ardoini (Fig. 34 A )); the blades of the spiculum gastrale with the acute and pointed apex and trisinuate outer margin (Fig. 46 C) (widely rounded apex and rounded outer margin in P. ardoini (Fig. 34 C )); the gonostyli comparatively small and narrow, subcylindrical (Fig. 46 E) (gonostyli large, thickened, barrel-shaped in P. ardoini (Fig. 34 E )). Differences from similar P. iners see in the key below.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A2289FD226C3D.taxon	description	(Fig. 47) Schuster 1937: 80 (Lobodera (s. str. )); Kühnelt 1957: 78 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A2289FD226C3D.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype, ♂ (NMB), designated here (Figs 47 A, B): “ Persia s. Elburs mts. s. Tacht i Suleiman Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ”, “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ”, “ Lobothorax s. str. similis m. n. sp. ”, “ similis ”, “ Frey ”, “ TYPUS ” (red), “ Sammlung Adr. Schuster ”. Paralectotype, ♀ (HNHM) (Figs 47 C, D): “ Persia s. Elburs mts. s. Tacht i Suleiman Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ”, “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ”, “ Paratypus 1937 Lobodera similis Schuster ” (curator’s label). Paralectotype, 1 specimen (NHML): “ Paratype ” [printed, label circular, yellow frame], “ Persia s. Elbrus mts. s. Tacht I Suleimah Hasankif 10 - 1600 m 30. VI 36 ” [printed], “ E. Pfeiffer- München leg. ” [printed], “ PARATYPE ” [printed, label red], “ Brit. Mus. 1961 - 449. ” [printed], “ Lobodera similis Schust. [handwritten] det. H. Kulzer 195 [printed] 9 [handwritten] ”. Three paralectotypes with the same geographical labels as the lectotype are deposited in NMB. Note. This species is very similar to and sympatric with P. freyi. Both species are different only in the shape of protibiae (the same wide at apex as profemur in P. freyi and much narrower than profemur in P. similis). Despite this, Schuster placed both species in different subgenera: P. freyi to Discotus and P. similis to the nomynotypical one (as Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A2289FD226C3D.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Iran: Central Alborz Mts.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A219BFBC96BBC.taxon	description	(Figs 48, 49) Medvedev, 1964: 658 (Lobodera iners turcomanica); Medvedev & Nepesova 1985: 135 (Penthicus); Medvedev & Nepesova 1990: 27 (Penthicus).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A219BFBC96BBC.taxon	materials_examined	Material. 1 ♂: “ GORGAN / Jangale Golestan Almeh 1620 m, 23 - 24.8.1983 Brumand-Pazuki) (now Iran, North Khorasan Prov., Golestan National park, Almeh Rural District, 37 ° 24 ′ 36 ″ N 56 ° 29 ′ 24 ″ E).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD1822BFF0A219BFBC96BBC.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Turkmenistan (Central Kopetdag), Iran (new record for the country).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD18257FF0A2751FD556D68.taxon	description	(Figs 50, 51)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD18257FF0A2751FD556D68.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (NHML): “ IRAN [print] Kerman Bam 14. xi. 60 [handwritten] E. S. Brown [print] 3448 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 – 641. ” (print) and museum label with QR-code and number NHMUK 013663794. Paratypes (NHML), 1 ♂ and 2 ♀♀ with the same labels but different numbers of museum labels: NHMUK 013663796 (♀), NHMUK 013663795 (♂), NHMUK 013663797 (♂).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD18257FF0A2751FD556D68.taxon	description	Description. Male (Fig. 50 A). Body robust, convex, opaque, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistoma in apical half and widely rounded in basal half. Widest portion of genae located ahead of eyes. Head coarsely and moderately densely punctured by round punctures in middle of frons and rasp-like elongate punctures on lateral sides of frons; puncturation of epistoma anteriorly coarser and denser, punctures circular. Eye dorsally with subequal length and width. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and large rasp-like punctured around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum transverse (1.67 – 1.68 times as wide as long), widest at middle, 1.6 – 1.62 times as wide as head, strongly converging from anterior third to anterior margin and slightly roundely converging from widest portion to base; ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 17: 17.6: 11.5. Anterior edge widely deeply emarginated. Lateral edges weakly rounded at basal third, stronger rounded from widest portion to anterior quarter and straight in anterior quarter. Base bisinuate, rounded in middle, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles right or slightly acute, projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles slightly obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge shortly interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum entirely evenly convex, coarsely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures in middle (interpuncture space near 1.5 times as long as puncture diameter), coarser and denser punctured by elongate ellipsoid punctures on lateral sides (interpuncture spaces subequal to puncture diameter); with poorly visible smooth secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera moderately widely flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin, finely punctured. Other surface with sparse small granules and fine smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short suberect seta. Inclined surface of prohypomera gradually, without sharp bend, transforms into external flattened portion. Prosternum with strongly flattened granules and rasp-like punctures bearing recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at middle (1.33 – 1.39 times as long as wide), 1.76 – 1.8 times as wide as head, 1.06 – 1.1 times as wide and 2.48 – 2.52 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra very slightly and shortly emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures moderately coarse, round, dense, slightly larger than interstrial ones; interstrial puncturation comparatively coarse, sparse; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum in widest portion. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with recumbent setae. Mesoventrite densely rugosely granulated; intercoxal process of mesoventrite rasp-like punctured and wrinkled; mesepisterna with sparse granules. Metaventrite with rasp-like punctures in middle, distinct and sparse elongate granules on sides; metepistrerna sparsely granulated. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 2 slightly depressed in middle. Ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and sparsely and finely punctured with rasp-like punctures in middle; ventrites 4 and 5 with sparse simple puncturation; ventrite 5 entirely finely margined apically. Genitalia (Figs 51 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely deeply roundly emarginated, with narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with thickened, slightly Sshaped rods and moderately elongated blades widest at middle; blades with angular outer margin at base, narrowed from widest portion to angular apex. Parameres S-shaped, acute apically, lateral margins bisinuated. Basal piece 2.3 times as long as parameres. Legs. Profemora reaching margin of pronotum; mesofemora slightly and metafemora far extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae moderately widened, apical width of protibia subequal to maximum width of profemur. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsi with combined length of 3 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Body length 11 – 12 mm, width 5 – 5.5 mm. Female (Figs 50 B, C). Body more robust. Pronotum more transverse, 1.7 – 1.73 times as wide as long. Elitral lateral margins more rounded. Mesofemora shorter, reaching elytral margin. Body length 11.5 – 12.5 mm, width 5.8 – 6 mm. Ovipositor with widely rounede coxite lobes IV, gonostyli short, comparatively wide, barrel-shape; valvifer long, strongly converging from outer to inner sides, baculi of valvifer do not bend inward. Baculi of paraproct straight, slightly widened to apex. Variability. One paratype (male) has coarser puncturation in the middle of the pronotum and circular (not elongate) punctures on lateral sides of the pronotum.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFD18257FF0A2751FD556D68.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name is noun in the nominative case, means Bam — the type locality of this new species. Notes. The type locality (or locality of the paratypes) “ Bam ” for three close species, P. bam sp. nov., P. kermanicus sp. nov. and P. telnovi sp. nov. probably means that these species were collected in different wide areas around the city of Bam, because the type series for each species have a different number of locality on labels and a different collection date. Comparative diagnosis. The three above mentioned species are very similar and belong to the subgroup with the entirely finely margined abdominal ventrite 5. Differences are indicated in a key below from thesis 34 to the end of the table. These species also distinctly differ in the shape of parameres (compare figs 51 A, 58 A and 68 A) and the ovipositor (compare figs 51 D, E, 58 D, E and 68 D, E).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAD8254FF0A24DCFB0F6CC0.taxon	description	(Figs 52, 53)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAD8254FF0A24DCFB0F6CC0.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (HMIM): Iran, Kerman Prov., Jiroft, Bahr Aseman Mt., Bagh Nazari village, H = 2600 m, 29 – 30. ix. 1993 (leg. Hashemi and Ebrahimi).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAD8254FF0A24DCFB0F6CC0.taxon	description	Description. Male (Fig. 52 A, B). Body moderately slender, convex, slightly shiny, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistoma in apical half and widely rounded in basal half. Widest portion of genae located ahead of eyes. Head finely and sparsely punctured by rasp-like punctures on all surface; puncturation in epistoma slightly denser and strongly denser along apex. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal, 1.47 as long as wide. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and large rasp-like punctured around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum slightly transverse (1.5 times as wide as long), widest slightly behind middle, 1.6 times as wide as head, slightly converging from widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 19.5: 20.5: 14. Anterior edge widely emarginated. Lateral edges moderately evenly rounded, shortly sinuous near anterior angles. Base slightly bisinuate, rounded in middle, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles acute, projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles obtuse, tip widely rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge shortly interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum convex, finely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures (interpuncture spaces near 3 – 5 times as long as puncture), punctures slightly larger on lateral sides; without visible secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera moderately widely flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin, finely punctured. Other surface with sparse small granules and fine smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with sparse granules same as on hypomera and recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra moderately elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at middle (1.38 times as long as wide), 1.67 times as wide as head, 1.04 times as wide and 2.16 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra very slightly and shortly emarginated near humeral angles. Striae well expressed, strial punctures moderate, round, located in depressed lines, 1.5 – 2 times larger than interstrial punctures; interstrial puncturation comparatively coarse, sparse; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with recumbent setae. Mesoventrite densely granulated; intercoxal process of mesoventrite rasp-like punctured and wrinkled; mesepisterna with sparse granules. Metaventrite with rasp-like punctures in middle distinct and sparse elongate granules on sides. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and with fine and sparse rasp-like punctures in middle, ventrites 1 – 2 and partly 3 with longitudinal ellipsoidal depression in middle; ventrite 4 with sparse rasp-like punctures; ventrite 5 with dense and coarse rasp-like punctures, not margined apically. Genitalia (Fig. 53). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundly emarginated, rounded in middle, with narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with thickened, slightly S-shaped rods and moderately elongated blades with angular outer margin at base, narrowed to apex. Parameres comparatively wide, S-shaped, each paramera evenly converging to not truncated apex; lateral margins widely emarginated in middle. Basal piece 2.23 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs slender, pro- and mesofemora slightly, and metafemora strongly extending beyond body margin. Protibiae narrow, profemur 1.15 as wide as apical width of protibia. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsi with combined length of 2.5 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Body length 11 mm, width 4.7 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAD8254FF0A24DCFB0F6CC0.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The Latin adjective “ captiosus ” means “ deceptive ” to emphasize its deceptive similarity to related species. Comparative diagnosis. The species belongs to the subgroup with non-margined abdominal ventrite 5 (P. iranensis sp. nov., P. grabantae sp. nov. and P. zarudnyi sp. nov.) and the most similar to the last two species by the shape of body and the entirely convex pronotum, but differs from them by rounded genae with the widest portion located ahead of eyes (Fig. 52 C) (in contrast with angulate genae with widest portion at eye level as on Figs 54 B and 69 D). The comparison with P. iranensis sp. nov. see in the diagnosis of the latter species.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAE8252FF0A2604FC816CAC.taxon	description	(Fig. 54)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAE8252FF0A2604FC816CAC.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype (♀) and paratype (♀) (HNHM): “ IRAN BELUTSCHISTAN Nimdeh 30 km S. W. Kūh i Taftan 1. III. 1954 Richter u. Schäuffele ” (blue), “ persica Schust. det. Kaszab ”.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAE8252FF0A2604FC816CAC.taxon	description	Description. Body robust, convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous (Fig. 54 A). Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging from widest portion to middle and from middle to epistome. Widest area of genae located beyond midlengthof eyes, where genal margin angular. Head finely and sparsely punctured on frons by circular punctures, sparser in middle of frons and much coarser and denser on epistome and genae. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal portion and sparse fine granules around mouthparts and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum moderately transverse (1.55 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.66 times as wide as head, moderately converging from widest portion to apical margin and to base, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 26.8: 28.7: 19. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges rounded from widest portion to apical margin and almost straight from widest portion to base. Base with straight edge on sides and rounded with weak sinuation at protruded backwards median portion. Anterior angles slightly obtuse, tip rounded, posterior angles more obtuse with rounded tip. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base finely entirely margined. Disc of pronotum entirely convex, punctured by sparse, moderately coarse circular punctures; puncturation in median portion finer and sparser (interpuncture spaces near 4 – 5 times as long as puncture diameter); punctures on the sides from median portion round, coarser and denser (interpuncture spaces near 2 times as long as puncture diameter); secondary micropuncturation almost invisible. Lateral side of prothoracic hypomera narrowly flattened; flattened portion with equal width from base to apex. Other surface of hypomera with round distinct granules and smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears long suberect setae. Prosternum with rasp-like puncturation (each bears short recumbent seta). Prosternal process slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra wide, with lateral margins almost straight from widest portion to humeri and rounded from widest portion to apex, widest behind middle in apical third (1.29 – 1.3 times as long as wide), 1.9 times as wide as head, 1.1 times as wide and 2.3 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly and shortly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed; lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures round, impressed, larger than interstrial punctures; flattened interstriae sparsely and finely punctured. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely granulated, mesepisterna very sparsely granulated. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and sparse puncturation at middle. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely granulated on sides and punctured by fine and sparse punctures medially; ventrite 5 with slightly rasp-like and coarser puncturation, not margined at apex. Genitalia (Figs 54 E – G). Ovipositor with densely punctured coxite lobes 2 – 4 and short setation; valvifer 1 parallel, baculi finished before apex, not curved. Coxite lobes 4 comparatively wide, tip widely rounded. Gonostyli narrow, conical, with one long seta. Baculi of paraproct narrow, straight, with subparallel margins. Proctiger widely rounded apically, without baculi. Legs. Legs slender, femora slightly extending beyond body margin. Protibiae comparatively narrow, profemora in widest portion 1.26 times as wide as apical width of protibiae. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Length of protarsomeres 1 – 3 combined subequal to apical width of protibia. Body lenth 11 mm, width 5.5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFAE8252FF0A2604FC816CAC.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honour of Aranka Grabant, the employee of HNHM, who kindly helps a lot with type material from the museum and photographs of types. Comparative diagnosis. The new species belongs to the remotus species-group and it is very similar to P. zarudnyi sp. nov. (only females compared) from which it externally differs in the more robust body and elytra widest behind middle (Fig. 54 A). Ovipositors of both species are distinctly differs. Penthicus grabantae sp. nov. has valvifer with subparallel sides and baculi of the valvifer not reaching apex and straight at apex (Fig. 54 F), while valvifer in P. zarudnyi sp. nov. widened from base to apex and baculi strongly curved at apex (Fig. 70 D). In addition, coxite lobes IV in the new species wider, and gonostyli conical (Fig. 54 G) vs coxite lobes IV narrower and coxite lobes cylindrical in P. zarudnyi sp. nov. (Fig. 70 E).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA8825FFF0A21E8FD326A94.taxon	description	(Figs 55, 56)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA8825FFF0A21E8FD326A94.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype (♂) and paratypes (3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀) (ZIN): “ Зап. ПерсiЯ Куппа 22. XI. 903 Зарудн. ” (Cyrillic Old Russian label: Western Persia Kuppa, leg. N. A. Zarudny; now: Iran, Isfahan Prov., Kuhpayeh, 32 ° 42 ′ 50 ″ N, 52 ° 26 ′ 11 ″ E), “ к. А. Семенова ” (Cyrillic Old Russian label: collection of A. Semenov-Tian-Schansky); 1 ♀ (ZIN): “ Зап. ПерсiЯ Исфахан 23 – 24 XI. 903 Зарудн. ” (Cyrillic Old Russian label: Western Persia, Isfahan, leg. N. A. Zarudny), “ Stonavus sp. 3 Schuster det. ” 1 ♀ (HMIM): Iran, Fars Prov., Babamonir city, Mahur village env., 700 – 900 m., 30 ° 00 ʹ 58.0104 ʺN, 50 ° 58 ʹ 47.0964 ʺE, 5. iv. 2024 (leg. A. Dehghani).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA8825FFF0A21E8FD326A94.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 55 A, B). Body slender, convex, slightly shiny, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistome in apical half and widely rounded in basal half. Widest area of genae located ahead of eyes. Head coarsely and sparsely punctured by large circular punctures on all surface; puncturation in middle of frons slightly sparser. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal, 1.3 as long as wide. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and smooth around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum moderately transverse (1.7 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.65 times as wide as head, slightly converging from widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 22.5: 24: 16.5. Anterior margin widely deeply emarginated, almost straight in middle. Lateral edges slightly rounded in basal half and more rounded in apical half. Base slightly bisinuate, almost straight in middle, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles right-angled, tip pointed, posterior angles slightly obtuse, tip pointed. Lateral edges coarsely margined, margin of anterior edge shortly interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum convex, narrowly flattened along lateral margins, coarsely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures as head (interpuncture spaces near 2 – 3 times as long as puncture diameter in middle and subequal to puncture diameter on lateral sides); secondary micropuncturation very fine, almost invisible between large punctures. Lateral side of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin and finely punctured. Other surface of hypomera with sparse small granules and smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short subrecumbent setae. Prosternum with sparse rasp-like flattened granules and recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex and slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, short, with very slightly rounded lateral margins, widest across middle (1.42 times as long as wide), 1.7 times as wide as head, 1.04 times as wide and 2.5 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion not oblique, slightly evenly rounded, humeral angles obtuse, with pointed tip, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Striae well expressed, strial punctures coarse, circular, located in depressed furrowa, much larger than interstrial punctures; interstriaeslightly convex. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.8 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with moderately recumbent setae. Mesoventrite granulated by separated small granules laterally and transversely rugose in middle; intercoxal process covered with flattened granules; mesepisterna with rasp-like rugosity. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and smooth sparse setose puncturation in middle. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and sparsely punctured with moderately coarse and sparse punctures medially; ventrites 1 – 3 without longitudinal depression in middle; ventrite 5 with simple denser and coarser puncturation, not margined at apex. Genitalia (Figs 56 A – C). Inner sternite VIII deeply roundely emarginated, with apically narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with thickened slightly curved rods and elongate oval blades, sparsely and finely punctured near outer margin. Parameres narrow, not truncated at apex, S-shaped; lateral margins widely emarginated at basal half and shortly sinuous near apex. Basal piece 2.2 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs slender, profemora slightly extending beyond prothoracic margin, mesofemora shortly, and metafemora strongly extending beyond elytral margin. Protibiae comparatively narrow, profemora 1.33 as wide as apical width of protibia. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsomeres long, combined length of only two proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 55 C). Body more robust, elytral interstriae flat, legs shorter, profemora invisible dorsally, and mesofemora barely visible, protarsi shorter (width of 3 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibiae). Ovipositor (Figs 56 E, F). Valvifer wide, subparallel, baculi distinct, shortened, not reaching apical margin; coxite lobes 3 densely covered by long setae; coxite lobes 4 comparatively narrow, with narrowly rounded apex (sometimes asymmetrical, narrowly and widely rounded), gonostyli short and narrow barrel-shaped, widest at middle, with one long and several short setae at apex. Baculi of paraproct strongly thickened, slightly bent after curved portion. Body length (both sexes) 9 – 11.2 mm, width 4.5 – 5.5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA8825FFF0A21E8FD326A94.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name is translated from Latin as “ from Iran ”. Comparative diagnosis. The new species belongs to the remotus species-group and is most similar to P. zarudnyi sp. nov. and P. captiosus sp. nov. by slender body, pointed obtuse humeral angles, well-expressed large elytral strial punctures and the distinct interstrial puncturation, apically not margined abdominal ventrite 5. The new species differs from P. zarudnyi sp. nov. (CS — a comparative species) by the following characters: the genae widely rounded, widest ahead of anterior margin of eyes (Fig. 55 D) (vs angle shaped, widest at midlength of eye in CS (Fig. 69 D )), the pronotum narrowly flattened along lateral margins (Figs 55 E, F) (vs not flattened in CS (Fig. 69 E, F )), lateral sides of the prothoracic hypomera widely flattened (Fig. 55 G) (vs narrowly flattened in CS (Fig. 69 G )), male elytral interstriae slightly convex (Fig. 55 A) (vs flattened in CS (Fig. 69 A )), the male inner sternite VIII with deep round emargination (Fig. 56 C) (vs triangle emargination in CS (Fig. 70 B )), the blades of the spiculum gastrale with rounded outer margin and the widely emarginated apex (Fig. 56 B) (vs trisinuated margin and acute apex in CS (Fig. 70 C )), the parameres of the aedeagus strongly S-shaped (Fig. 56 A) (vs slightly S-shaped in CS (Fig. 70 A )), the subparallel margins of valvifer and shortened straight valvifer baculi (Fig. 56 E) (vs widened to apex valvifer with long bent baculi curved to apical margin in CS (Fig. 70 D )), the short and narrow barrel-shaped gonostyli (Fig. 56 F) (vs cylindrical gonostyli in CS (Fig. 70 E )). The new species have the same rounded genae as P. captiosus sp. nov. but differs from the latter by the following characters: the pronotum narrowly flattened along lateral margins (Figs 55 E, F) (vs not flattened in CS (Fig. 52 C, D )), lateral sides of the prothoracic hypomera widely flattened (Fig. 55 G) (vs narrowly flattened in CS (Fig. 52 E )), male elytral interstriae slightly convex (Fig. 55 A) (vs flattened in CS (Fig. 52 A )), male abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 slightly convex to almost flattened (with deep wide longitudinal ellipsoid depression in middle in CS), the male inner sternite VIII with deep round emargination (Fig. 56 C) (vs wider and less deep emargination in CS (Fig. 53 C )), parameres narrower, with more emarginated lateral margins near apex (Fig. 56 A) (wider and slightly emarginated in CS).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA5825CFF0A27F0FD4A6B18.taxon	description	(Figs 57, 58)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA5825CFF0A27F0FD4A6B18.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (NHML): “ IRAN [print] Kerman Rafsandjan 10. xi. 60 [handwritten] E. S. Brown [print] 3423 [handwritten] ”. Paratypes. 2 ♂♂ (NHML): “ IRAN [print] Kerman Bam 20. xi. 60 [handwritten] E. S. Brown [print] 3493 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 – 641. ” (print) and museum label with QR-code and numbers NHMUK 013663791 and NHMUK 013663799; 7 specimens (including at least one male and one female) (HMIM): Iran, Kerman Prov., Bardsir, Khanehsorkh, 8 – 12. ix. 1973 (leg. Yozdanqan).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA5825CFF0A27F0FD4A6B18.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 57 A, B, D, E). Body very robust, short and wide, convex, opaque, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae slightly roundely converging to epistoma in apical half and widely rounded in basal half. Widest portion of genae located ahead of eyes. Head coarsely and moderately densely punctured by round punctures in middle of frons and rasp-like elongate punctures around the middle; puncturation of epistome anteriorly coarser and denser, punctures circular. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal, 1.15 times as long as wide. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and smooth around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum transverse (1.76 – 1.77 times as wide as long), widest at middle and base (in case of subparallel lateral margins), ahead of middle (in case of slightly coverging to base lateral margins) or at base (in case of slightly diverging to base lateral margins), 1.73 times as wide as head, strongly converging from anterior third to anterior margin; ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion (or at middle) and anterior angles: 17.2: 17.2: 11.5 (subparallel lateral margins at basal half), 17: 17.2: 11.5 (convergind lateral margins at basal half) or 16.5: 16.3: 10.5 (slightly diverging lateral margins at basal half). Anterior edge widely deeply emarginated. Lateral edges straight (subparallel, converging or divergin) at basal half, rounded from widest portion (or middle) to anterior angles. Base bisinuate, rounded in middle, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles right or slightly acute, projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles slightly obtuse (or right in case of diverging lateral margins at basal half), tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge shortly interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum entirely evenly convex, coarsely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures (interpuncture space near 1.5 – 2 times as long as puncture diameter), slightly coarser and denser punctured by round or slightly elongate rasp-like punctures on lateral sides (interpuncture spaces near 2 times as long as puncture diameter); with distinct very fine secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flattened portion converging from base to to anterior margin, finely punctured. Other surface with sparse small granules and fine smooth longitudinal wrinkles more dense and distinct in anterior half; each granule bears short suberect seta. Inclined surface of prohypomera separated from outer flattened portion by sharp bend. Prosternum with granules and rasp-like punctures bearing recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra short and wide, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at middle (1.28 – 1.32 times as long as wide), 1.77 times as wide as head, 1.05 – 1.12 times as wide and 2.39 – 2.57 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures moderately coarse, round, dense, subequal in size to interstrial ones or slightly larger in middle, more depressed; interstrial puncturation fine and sparse, slightly denser near interstriae and sparser in middle; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum in widest portion. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with recumbent setae. Mesoventrite densely rugosely granulated; intercoxal process of mesoventrite rasp-like punctured and wrinkled; mesepisterna with sparse granules. Metaventrite with rasp-like punctures in middle, distinct and sparse elongate granules on sides; metepistrerna sparsely granulated. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 flattened in middle, sparsely and finely granulated on sides and sparsely and finely punctured in middle; ventrites 4 and 5 with sparse simple puncturation; ventrite 5 entirely finely margined apically. Genitalia (Figs 58 A – C). Inner sternite VIII widely deeply roundly emarginated, with narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with comparatively thin S-shaped rods and slightly elongate short blades widely rounded at apex. Parameres S-shaped, acute apically, lateral margins slightly emarginated in middle. Basal piece near 1.8 times as long as parameres. Legs. Pro- and mesofemora reaching margin of pronotum; metafemora extending far beyond elytral margin. Protibiae moderately widened, protibia slightly shorter at apex than maximum width of profemur. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsi with combined length of 2 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Body length 9.5 – 10 mm, width 4.7 – 5.5 mm. Female (Fig. 57 C). Externally the same as male. Sometimes lateral margins straight only in basal third. Ovipositor (Figs 58 D, E) with wide coxite lobes IV, narrow barrel-shaped gonostyli and short, wide valvifer, converging from outer to inner sides; baculi of valvifer strongly bent inside; baculi of paraproct short and bent.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA5825CFF0A27F0FD4A6B18.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name derives from Kerman Province (Iran), where the new species was collected in many localities. Comparative diagnosis. See for P. bam sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA6825AFF0A267CFD2368A3.taxon	description	(Figs 59, 60)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA6825AFF0A267CFD2368A3.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (HMIM) and paratypes, 1 ♂, 2 ♀ specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khorasan Razavi Prov., county Khoshab, Seyedabad village., H = 1100 – 1200 m, 36 ° 22 ʹ 52.2 ʺN, 58 ° 07 ʹ 46 .. 9 ʺE, 28. iii. 2024 (leg. K. Seyedabadi). Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ specimens (PCML): Iran, N Khorassan [in fact Khorasan Razavi Prov.], Binalud Mts., 36 ° 20 ʹN, 59 ° 11 ʹE, Abardeh 40 km W Mashadi, 30. iii. 1989 (leg. J. Kaláb). Comparative material. Penthicus bogatchevi Kaszab, 1970 (Figs 61, 62): 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (ZIN): Afghanistan, Herat, SW Karuch (= Karokh), 1360 m, 12. ix. 1969 (leg. O. Kabakov).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA6825AFF0A267CFD2368A3.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 59 A, B). Body robust, widened, moderately convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistome in apical half and slightly rounded in basal half, genae slightly angular at widest portion. Widest level of gena located at anterior portion of eye. Head sparsely punctured by circular punctures on frons, rasp-like punctures around eyes, dense and coarse punctures on genae and epistoma. Eyes dorsally transverse (1.33 times as wide as long). Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and sparse puncturation around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.71 – 1.85 times as wide as long), trapezoid, widest very across base, 1.67 times as wide as head, slightly converging from widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion (very near base) and anterior angles: 18.1: 17.5: 12.5. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges very slightly rounded, more rounded at anterior portion. Base rounded at median portion and straight on sides. Anterior angles acute, tipe narrowly rounded, posterior angles obtuse, tip narrowlyrounded. Lateral edges coarsely margined at basal half, narrowly margined at apical half. Margin of anterior edge interrupted in middle, base finely margined. Disc of pronotum moderately convex, not flattened on sides (only with narrow groove along lateral margin), sparsely and finely punctured by circular punctures in median portion (interpuncture spaces near 3 – 5 times as long as puncture diameter), coarsely and densely punctured by slightly elongate punctures on lateral sides; without visible secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera widely flattened; flattened portion strongly narrowing from base to anterior angle, finely and sparsely punctured. Other surface with dense small round granules and coarse large longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with dense rasp-like granulated puncturation and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process moderately convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra oval, with rounded lateral margins, widest at middle (1.33 times as long as wide), 1.77 times as wide as head, 1.09 times as wide and 1.92 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angle. Elytral strial punctures large, circular (interpuncture spaces 1 – 3 times as long as puncture diameter), depressed, furrows absent; interstriae flate, very finely and sparsely punctured. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.92 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely rugose and granulated, metepisterna with sparse round granules, metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and sparse rasp-like puncturation at middle, granules with short recumbent setae. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and punctured with fine and dense punctures medially; ventrites 4 – 5 with simple denser and coarser puncturation, ventrite 5 finely entirely margined apically. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Figs 60 A – C). Inner sternite VIII narrowly widely triangularly emarginated, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with wide S-shaped strongly curved rods and strongly elongate-oval blades. Parameres moderately wide, strongly S-shaped. Basal piece 1.58 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs short, pro- and mesofemora slightly extending beyond elytral margin, mesofemora longer, moderately extending beyond elytral margin. Apical width of protibiae s, almost the same profemora in widest portion. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsomeres moderately short, combined length of 1 – 3 tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 59 C). Lateral margins of pronotum widely flattened at basal portion, interstria flat or slightly convex on sides. Femora shorter, profemora not extending beyond margion of pronotum, mesofemora poorly visible dorsally. Tarsi slightly shorter than in male. Ovipositor (Figs 60 D, E). Valvifer strongly widened from base to very wide and rounded apical margin, baculi distinct, bent at apical portion along apical margin; coxite lobes 4 wide, moderately widely rounded at apex, sparsely covered with short setae, gonostyli, narrow, cylindrical, with one long seta at apex. Baculi of paraproct narrow, S-shaped, narrowed from anterior to posterior portions. Body length (both sexes) 10 – 11.7 mm, width 4.8 – 5.3 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA6825AFF0A267CFD2368A3.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name of this new species refers to Khorasan historical region in Iran. Comparative diagnosis. The new species belongs to the remotus species-group and it is very similar to P. bogatchevi (CS — comparared species) from Afghanistan (type locality: Herat Prov., Karokh), which has a similar body shape, the slightly elongate puncturation on sides of the pronotum, the very sparse and fine puncturation of elytral interstriae and the entirely finely margined abdominal ventrite 5. Both species have the similar shape of parameres and the spiculum gastrale. The new species externally differs by the straight lateral margins of genae from the widest portion to the epistome (Fig. 59 D) (vs slightly rounded in CS (Fig. 61 B )); shape of the pronotum with slightly acute anterior angles (Fig. 59 E) (vs obtuse in CS (Fig. 61 C )) and not sinuous lateral margins of elytra near humeral angles (Figs 59 A, C) (vs shortly sinuous in CS (Fig. 61 A, B )). Ovipositors in both species strongly differ. Penthicus khorasanicus sp. nov. has the long narrow cylindrical gonostyli and the short (Fig. 60 E), strongly widened (from outer to inner margin) valvifer with the widely rounded apical margin (Fig. 60 D), while the gonostyli in P. bogatchevi are very short (as granules) (Fig. 62 D), and the valvifer elongate, widely lanceolate, with the narrowly rounded apical margin (Fig. 62 C).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA38245FF0A2790FAC86EFC.taxon	description	(Figs 63, 64)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA38245FF0A2790FAC86EFC.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (HMIM) and paratypes, 4 ♂♂ (HMIM): Iran, Kerman Prov., Baft, N. Shah [= Lalehzar] Mt., H = 3200 – 4170 m, 27 – 29. v. 1977 (leg. A. Pazuki).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA38245FF0A2790FAC86EFC.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 63 A, C). Body very slender, slightly convex, dull, dorsally black, glabrous. Tarsi and apical antennomeres dark-brown Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae strongly rounded and protruding, slightly sinuated in apical half. Widest portion of genae located ahead of eyes. Head dorsally moderately and sparsely punctured by round punctures, epistoma with coarse and dense round punctures; secondary micropuncturation very fine but visible between large punctures. Eyes dorsally small, slightly longitudinal, 1.2 – 1.4 times as long as wide. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and sparse rasp-like puncturation around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.64 – 1.73 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.57 times as wide as head, slightly narrowed from widest portion to anterior margin, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 19.5: 22.5: 15. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral margins moderately evenly rounded. Base rounded at middle and straight on sides, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles slightly obtuse, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges finely margined, sulcus of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum slightly convex, slightly narrowly flattened along lateral margins, sparsely and finely punctured by circular punctures (interpuncture spaces near 2 – 5 times as long as puncture diameter), punctures on lateral sides slightly denser and slightly elongate in anterior half; secondary micropuncturation very fine but visible between large punctures. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera narrowly flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin, finely rasp-like punctured. Other surface with sparse small granules and dense smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with moderately dense rasp-like puncturation and recumbent short setation. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at midlength (1.44 times as long as wide), 1.65 times as wide as head, 1.04 times as wide and 2.48 times as long as pronotum; slightly converging from widest portion to humeral angles. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural area strongly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip widely rounded, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Surface of elytra with fine micro-wrinkles and microsetation in apical third; puncturation of elytra very fine and sparse; strial punctures fine, elongate, in apical half like sparse dotted line, slightly larger or the same in size as interstrial punctures, which only 4 times larger than punctures of the secondary micropuncturation; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with short recumbent setae. Mesoventrite coarsely rugose and transverse wrinkled, mesepisterna with narrow transversely elongate granules. Metaventrite with spares rasp-like punctures on all surface, punctures with short recumbent setae. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 2 and partly 3 with longitudinal ellipsoidal depression in middle, with longitudinal wrinkles (especially laterally), sparsely rasp-like punctured in middle, with sparse elongated granules on sides; ventrites 3 and 4 sparsely rasp-like punctured on all surface; ventrite 5 with dense and rasp-like puncturation, entirely margined at apex; secondary rasp-like micropuncturation very fine but visible between large punctures in all abdominal ventrites. Setation of abdomen shorter than on pterothorax ventrally. Genitalia (Fig. 64). Inner sternite VIII widely evenly roundely emarginated, rounded in middle, with narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with strongly S-shaped rods and moderately elongated blades. Each paramera strongly narrowed from base to acute apex, lateral margins slightly bisibuate. Basal piece 2.28 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs long and slender, femora far extending beyond body margin, metafemora longest. Protibiae narrow, with 1.24 times as width at apex as widest portion of profemora. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsi long, combined length of tarsomeres 1 – 2 equal to apical width of protibia. Metatarsus only slightly shorter than metatibia Body length 10.2 – 11.5 (holotype 10.2 mm), width 4.3 – 4.7 mm (holotype 4.3 mm).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFA38245FF0A2790FAC86EFC.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The new species is named in memory of the late Dr Ali Pazuki, collector of the new species and famous Iranian entomologist who made a great contribution to entomological research in Iran. Comparative diagnosis. This new species is most slender among all representatives of the subgenus Stonavus and belongs to the species subgroup from Kerman Province with entirely margined abdominal ventrite 5 (P. bam sp. nov., P. kermanicus sp. nov., P. telnovi sp. nov.). Penthicus pazukii sp. nov. differs from all mentioned species by the very slender body with long slender legs (mesofemora far extending beyond elytral margin, while in the comparative species slightly extending or only reaching elytral margin), the pronotum slightly narrowly flattened along lateral margins, the elytra with very fine and sparse puncturation, strial punctures as sparse dotted line (compared species have simple coarse round dense strial punctures). The aedeagi of all speices of the subgroup are also different.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBF8244FF0A2058FD576802.taxon	description	(Figs 65, 66) Reitter 1896: 170; Reitter 1904: 164 (Lobothorax (Stonavus )); Schuster 1919: 32 (Lobodera (Stonavus), in diagnosis); Reichardt 1936: 150, 151 (Lobodera (Stonavus )); Medvedev & Nepesova 1985: 136; Medvedev & Nepesova 1990: 28.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBF8244FF0A2058FD576802.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Lectotype (HNHM), ♀, designated here: “ Trans Caspi Eylandt ”, “ Coll. Reitter ” (red font), “ Holotypus 1896 Penthicus remotus Reitter ” (curator’s label), “ Penthicus remotus m 1886 ” (handwritten by E. Reitter). Paralectotypus (HNHM), sex unknown: “ Trans Caspi Eylandt ”, “ Coll. Reitter ” (red font), “ Paratypus 1896 Penthicus remotus Reitter ” (curator’s label). Material. 1 ♂ (ZIN): Turkmenistan / Iran border, Sarakhs, 1. iii. 1932 (leg. A. Vlasov); 1 ♀ (ZIN): Iran, Golestan Prov., Hajiabad, 21 km N Shahkuh, vi. 1870 (leg. G. F. Chistoph); 1 ♀ (NHML): “ Iran Varamine Karagadj (D) 17. ii. 60 E. S. Brown 2294 ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 641 ”, “ NHMUK 013663802 ”; 1 ♂ (HMIM): Iran, Tehran Prov., Varamin, 25. i. 1975 (leg. Djavaheri); 1 ♂ (ZIN): Iran, Kerman, Megas country (leg. N. A. Zarudny) (now Sistan and Baluchistan Prov., Mehrestan County, Zaboli (= Magas): 27 ° 07 ′ 42 ″ N / 61 ° 40 ′ 20 ″ E); 2 ♀ (ZIN): Iran, Bushehr, 10 – 22. v. 1927 (leg. Siyazov).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBF8244FF0A2058FD576802.taxon	distribution	Distribution. South Turkmenistan, Iran (widely distributed but the range is strongly fragmented: Golestan, Kerman, Bushehr) (ZIN), Afghanistan (Kaszab 1970).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBE8243FF0A2548FD4A68FD.taxon	description	(Figs 67, 68)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBE8243FF0A2548FD4A68FD.taxon	materials_examined	Material. Holotype, ♂ (NHML): “ IRAN [print], Esfahan [print] Kerman Bam 15. xi. 60 [handwritten] E. S. Brown [print] 3465 [handwritten] ”, “ Brit. Mus. 1961 – 641. ” (print) and museum label with QR-code and number NHMUK 013663794. Paratypes (NHML): 2 ♂♂ and 1 ♀ with the same labels but different numbers of museum labels: NHMUK 013663796 (♀), NHMUK 013663795 (♂), NHMUK 013663797 (♂). One paratype label without “ Esfahan ”.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBE8243FF0A2548FD4A68FD.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 67 A, B). Body comparatively slender, convex, opaque, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest across genae. Lateral margins of genae straightly converging to epistoma in apical half and straight in basal half (subparallel or slightly converging anteriorly). Widest portion of genae located at level of anterior margin of eyes. Head coarsely and sparsely (puncture diameter less than interpuncture space) punctured by round punctures; puncturation of epistoma anteriorly and genae much coarser and denser, punctures circular. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal (1.24 times as long as wide). Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal area to submentum and rasp-like punctured around mouthparts laterally and eyes. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.69 times as wide as long, n = 3), widest at middle, 1.63 times as wide as head, slightly converging from widest portion to anterior edge; ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 20.5: 22.6: 16. Anterior edge widely emarginated. Lateral edges moderately evenly rounded. Base bisinuate, rounded in middle, median portion protruded backwards. Anterior angles slightly obtuse (one male with right angles), not projected, tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles obtuse, tip narrowly rounded. Lateral edges margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum slightly evenly convex, lateral margins slightly narrowly flattened; disc coarsely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures in middle (interpuncture space 2 – 4 times as long as puncture diameter), coarser and denser punctured by circular punctures on lateral sides (puncture diameter slightly longer than interpuncture spaces); with poorly visible very fine secondary micropuncturation. Lateral sides of prothoracic hypomera moderately widely flattened; flattened portion slightly converging from base to anterior portion finely punctured. Other surface with fine smooth longitudinal wrinkles and sparse small granules disappearing posteriorly; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with rasp-like sparse punctures with recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins, sometimes subparallel in anterior third, widest at middle (1.44 times as long as wide), 1.7 times as wide as head, 1.03 – 1.04 times as wide and 2.59 – 2.6 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion slightly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated near humeral angles. Strial punctures moderately coarse, round, dense, slightly larger than interstrial ones; interstrial puncturation comparatively coarse, sparse; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 1.84 times as wide as metepisternum in widest portion. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with recumbent setae. Mesoventrite densely rugosely granulated; intercoxal process of mesoventrite rasp-like punctured and wrinkled; mes- and metepisterna with sparse granules. Metaventrite with rasp-like punctures in middle, distinct and sparse elongate granules on sides. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 2 and partly longitudinally depressed in middle. Ventrites 1 – 3 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and sparsely and finely punctured with rasp-like punctures in middle; ventrites 4 and 5 with sparse simple puncturation; ventrite 5 entirely finely margined apically. Genitalia (Figs 68 A – C). Inner sternite VIII deeply roundly emarginated, with widely rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with moderately thickened, slightly S-shaped rods and strongly elongated blades, sclerotized in basal half. Parameres S-shaped, acute apically, lateral margins widely emarginated in middle and shortly slightly sinuated near apex. Basal piece near 1.8 times as long as parameres. Legs. Pro- and mesofemora slightly extending beyond body margin metafemora extending far beyond elytral margin. Protibiae comparatively narrow, femur 1.28 times times as wide as protibiae apically. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsi with combined length of 2 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Body length 10.5 – 11 mm, width 5 – 5.45 mm. Female (Fig. 67 C). Body the same slender as in male. Lateral margin of pronotum slightly sinusted near anterior angles. Body length 11.5 mm, width 5 mm. Ovipositor (Figs 68 D, E) with moderately wide, rounded coxite lobes IV, gonostyli short, narrow, subcylindrical; valvifer long and comparatively narrow, with subparallel lateral margins, baculi of valvifer curved in middle bend inward apically. Baculi of paraproct long, curved.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBE8243FF0A2548FD4A68FD.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honour of our friendly colleague Dr Dmitry Telnov (NHML, Entomological Society of Latvia), who put a lot of his work into checking this manuscript, added material from NHML and sent material with several new species after testing a key to species. Comparative diagnosis. See for P. bam sp. nov.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBB824EFF0A26EBFE7D6A81.taxon	description	(Figs 69, 70) Reichardt 1936: 150, 151 (Lobodera (Stonavus) persica, records for Kerman and Khorasan).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBB824EFF0A26EBFE7D6A81.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, ♂ (ZIN): “ Хорасан, стр. Не-и-БЭндан, 24 – 27. XI. 00 H. Зарудный ” (Khorasan, Ne-i-Bendan country, leg. N. A. Zarudny in 1900; now Iran, South Khorasan Prov., Nehbandan County; Zarudny (1916) collected this species around Bandaan (= Bandun) village 31 ° 23 ′ 10 ″ N, 60 ° 43 ′ 47 ″ E), “ Homotypus Lobodera persica Schust. 1963 Z. Kaszab ” (red, handwritten by N. G. Skopin); 1 paratype: blue square, “ Schahrud Christoff ” (yellow), “ Hopatroides saginatus Men. ” (yellow), “ к. Сольского ” (collection of Solsky), “ Stovanus sp. 3 Schuster det. ”; 2 paratypes: “ Хорасан 14. VII. 01 Н. Зарудный ” [Khorasan, leg. N. A. Zarudny; Southern Khorasan, Kalateh Marg village, 13 – 14 km N of Gezik 33 ° 03 ʹN, 60 ° 07 ʹE; according to the route and dates of the expedition (Zarudny 1916)], “ к. А. Семенова ” (collection of A. P. Semenov-Tian-Schansky); 1 paratype: “ Хорасан 15 – 18. VII. 01 Н. Зарудный ” [Khorasan, leg. N. A. Zarudny; Nikolay Zarudny collected animals in modern South Khorasan Province during 15 – 18. vii. 1901 between Mehmanshahr-e Ahangaran 33 ° 27 ʹ 27.79 E / 60 ° 14 ʹ 58.69 E and Mohammadabad, 33 ° 28 ʹ 12.41 E / 60 ° 07 ʹ 31.00 E (Zarudny 2016)], “ к. А. Семенова ” (collection of A. P. Semenov-Tian-Schansky); 1 paratype: “ Керман, стр. Мегас Н. Зарудный ” (Kerman, Megas country, leg. N. Zarudny; now Sistan and Baluchistan Prov., Mehrestan County, Zaboli (= Magas): 27 ° 07 ′ 42 ″ N / 61 ° 40 ′ 20 ″ E; 1 paratype: “ Керман, стр. Куче Н. Зарудный ” (Kerman, Kuche country, leg. N. A. Zarudny; Zarudny (1916) collected animals in that time around Mīr Bāzār, now Iran, Sistan and Baluchistan Prov., Polan, 25 ° 35.42 ′ N, 61 ° 06 ′ 09 E), “ Hopatrochides saginatus Men. G. Suvorov det. ”, “ L. (s. str.) persica Schust. Reichardt det. ”; 1 paratype: “ Хуник, к. с. Кайна Нимбулук Хорас. Зарудный 27. VI. [18] 96 ” (Khunik, Kayna (= Qaena), Nimbuluk (= Nimboluk) Khoras [san]. N. A. Zarudnyi; now Iran, South Khorasan Prov., Khunik-e Bala, 33 ° 46 ′ 13.97 ″ N, 59 ° 21 ′ 57.33 ″ E); 2 specimens (HMIM): Iran, Khorasan Razavi Prov., Neishabur, Soghand village, H = 1630 m, 13 – 14.6.1977 (leg. Pazuki, Abai).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBB824EFF0A26EBFE7D6A81.taxon	description	Description. Male (Figs 69 A, B). Body slender, convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous. Head widest at genae level. Lateral margins of genae sharply angular at midlengthof eyes and slightly rounded from widest angular portion to epistome. Head coarsely and sparsely punctured by moderate in size circular punctures; puncturation in middle of frons slightly sparser. Eye dorsally slightly longitudinal, 1.28 as long as wide. Head ventrally with dense granulation in posterior portion and with rasp-like puncturation in anterior half. Prothorax. Pronotum slightly transverse (1.5 times as wide as long), widest at middle, 1.62 – 1.64 times as wide as head, slightly converging from widest portion to anterior margin, anterior margin slightly shorter than base, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 25.5: 27.7: 20. Anterior edge widely emarginated, almost straight in middle. Lateral edges slightly evenly rounded. Base slightly bisinuate, almost straight in middle, median portion slightly protruded backwards. Anterior angles slightly obtuse (104 °), tip narrowly rounded, posterior angles more obtuse (120 °), also with narrowly rounded tip. Lateral edges coarsely margined, margin of anterior edge shortly interrupted in middle, base entirely margined. Disc of pronotum convex, with groove along lateral and basal margins laterally, coarsely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures (interpuncture spaces near 3 – 5 times as long as puncture diameter in middle and 1.5 times on lateral sides); secondary micropuncturation very fine, almost invisible between large punctures. Lateral side of prothoracic hypomera narrowly flattened; flattened portion with the same width from base to anterior margin, finely punctured. Other surface of hypomera with sparse small and smooth elongate granules in anterior half and almost without granules in posterior half, with smooth longitudinal wrinkles; each granule bears short subrecumbent setae. Prosternum with sparse raduliform sparse puncturation and recumbent short setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly or not protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, short, with slightly rounded lateral margins, widest at middle (1.39 – 1.4 times as long as wide), 1.76 – 1.77 times as wide as head, 1.05 times as wide and 2.25 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra in epipleural portion shortly oblique, humeral angles obtuse, tip pointed, lateral edge of elytra not emarginated or very slightly and shortly emarginated near humeral angles. Striae well expressed, strial punctures coarse, round, located in slightly depressed lines, 2 – 3 times larger than interstrial punctures; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with moderately recumbent setae. Mesoventrite granulated and wrinkled; intercoxal process of mesoventrite punctured and wrinkled; mesepisterna with sparse granules. Metaventrite with distinct round sparse granules on sides and smooth sparse setose puncturation medially. Abdomen. Abdominal ventrites 1 – 4 sparsely and finely granulated on sides and with moderately coarse and sparse punctures in middle; ventrite 5 with simple denser and coarser puncturation, not margined apically. Genitalia (Figs 70 A – C). Inner sternite VIII triangularly emarginated, with narrowly rounded lateral angulations. Spiculum gastrale with thickened, slightly curved rods and semicircular transverse blades with trisinuate outer margin and acute apex, sparsely and finely punctured in basal half. Parameres narrow, not truncated at apex, slightly S-shaped curved; lateral margins widely emarginated at basal half. Basal piece near 1.6 times as long as parameres. Legs. Legs slender, profemora slightly extending beyond prothoracic margin, mesofemora shortly and metafemora strongly extending beyond elytral margin. Apices pf femora well visible dorsally. Protibiae comparatively narrow, profemur 1.24 as wide as apical width of protibia. Lateral margin of protibiae simple, not obliquely truncated near apex. Protarsomeres long, combined length of 2 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibia. Female (Fig. 69 C). Body slightly more robust, femora slightly shorter, protarsi shorter (width of 2.5 proximal tarsomeres subequal to apical width of protibiae). Ovipositor (Figs 70 D, E). Valvifer wide, widened from base to apex, baculi distinct, long, far and strongly curved towards the apical margin of the coxite; apical margin widely rounded; coxite lobes 3 sparsely covered by short setae; coxite lobes 4 comparatively narrowed, with narrowly rounded apex, gonostyli short, cylindrical, with one long and several short setae apically. Baculi of paraproct moderately widened, slightly bent after curved portion. Body length (both sexes) 9.5 – 11 mm, width 4.5 – 5 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBB824EFF0A26EBFE7D6A81.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The species is named in honour of the famous Russian zoologist and traveler Nikolay Zarudny (1850 – 1919), who collected the type series and made a huge contribution to the study of the fauna of Iran, making several long expeditions in this country (Il’yashenko 2020).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFBB824EFF0A26EBFE7D6A81.taxon	diagnosis	Differential diagnosis. The new species belongs to the subgroup of species with not margined abdominal ventrite 5. See the diagnoses of P. captiosus sp. nov., P. grabantae sp. nov. and P. iranensis sp. nov. Subgenus Myladion Unspecified species-group	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824EFF0A27A8FD1C69B3.taxon	description	(Fig. 71) Kaszab 1961: 119 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824EFF0A27A8FD1C69B3.taxon	materials_examined	Type material (studied). 3 paratypes (HNHM): Pakistan: “ Belutschistan, Ziarat, 4. IV. 53 leg. F. Schmid ”, one paratype with separate label “ leg. F. Schmid ”.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824EFF0A27A8FD1C69B3.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Pakistan: Balochistan (Ziarat).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824BFF0A251BFDA06AC8.taxon	description	(Fig. 72)	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824BFF0A251BFDA06AC8.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, sex unknown (HNHM): Pakistan, “ Nushki Dist. Baluchistan ”, “ E. Vredenburg ”, “ Lobodera sp. aff. villiersi Kaszab det. Kaszab ”, “ Lobodera sp. Dr. Z. Kaszab det., 1983 ”. The holotype has not middle and hind legs and abdomen, left antennae not full, right one is absent, left protarsus has only two protarsomeres, right one only one.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824BFF0A251BFDA06AC8.taxon	description	Description. Body robust, moderately convex, dull, black, dorsally glabrous (Fig. 72 A). Head widest across gena. Lateral margins of genae subparallel at base and slightly roundely converging to epistome in apical half. Widest are of gena located ahead of eye. Head finely and sparsely punctured by circular punctures in median portion of frons and coarser and denser punctured by slightly raduliform punctures around frons, on genae and epistoma (this surface also covered by short recumbent setae). Eye dorsally subequal in length and width. Head ventrally with dense granulation in basal half, with raduliform coarse puncturation around mouthparts and eyes and with smooth surface near cardo; each granule and puncture bear recumbent seta. Prothorax. Pronotum strongly transverse (1.6 times as wide as long), widest across middle, 1.7 times as wide as head, more converging from widest portion to anterior margin than to base, ratio width of pronotum at base, widest portion and anterior angles: 27.4: 29.5: 19. Anterior margin widely evenly emarginated. Lateral edges S-shaped, strongly rounded in middle, widely strongly emarginated in apical quarter and straight in basal third. Base bisinuate, rounded medially, medial portion moderately protruded backwards. Anterior angles acute (69 °), strongly projected, tip pointed, posterior angles slightly obtuse (96 °), tip pointed. Lateral edges finely margined, margin of anterior edge widely interrupted in middle, base with very shortly interrupted margin in middle. Disc of pronotum moderately convex, not flattened on sides, with poorly visible pair of impressions (like grooves) along base, sparsely and finely punctured by circular smoothed punctures; interpuncture spaces in middle near 3 – 4 times, on lateral sides 2 – 3 times as long as puncture diameter; secondary micropuncturation very fine and sparse, but distinct and visible between large punctures. Prohypomera with slightly obliquely flattened lateral sides (covered with sparse small granules), very coarse and dense round granules on most other surface and smooth fine wrinkles near coxae; each granule bears short suberect seta. Prosternum with raduliform sculpture and comparatively long (two times longer than on prohypomera) recumbent setae. Prosternal process slightly convex, slightly protruded beyond procoxae. Pterothorax. Elytra elongate, with slightly rounded lateral margins (almost subparallel medially), widest at middle (1.44 times as long as wide), 1.93 times as wide as head, 1.09 times as wide and 2.6 times as long as pronotum. Basal margin of elytra slightly rounded laterally, humeral angles large, acute with pointedtip, strongly projected as tooth, lateral edge of elytra emarginated near humeral angles. Puncturation of elytra moderately coarse; strial punctures round, slightly larger and more distinct than smoothed interstrial ones, all punctures impressed; interstriae flat. Epipleuron in apical portion near 2 times as wide as metepisternum. Ventral side of pterothorax sparsely pubescent with comparatively long recumbent setae. Mesoventrite with raduliform coarse sculpture, mesepisterna with large smooth raduliform foveae. Metaventrite with distinct coarse granules on sides and sparse coarse puncturation in middle. Legs. Protibiae widened, bent, 1.06 times as short at apex as maximal width of profemur, 2.97 times as long as wide, wider at apex than protarsomeres 1 and 2 together. Body length 13.5 mm, width 6 mm.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB4824BFF0A251BFDA06AC8.taxon	etymology	Etymology. The name refers to Pakistan, country, where the new species was collected. Comparative diagnosis. The new species is similar to P. belutschistanicus and P. waziristanicus by acute, the strongly projected humeral angles (Figs 71 A, E, 72 D, 73 A). It differs from P. belutschistanicus by the almost glabrous elytra (only very short setae are presented on lateral sides) with flat interstriae (Figs 72 A, C) (elytra covered with distinct recumbent setae and interstriae convex in P. waziristanicus (Fig. 73 A )), the emarginated lateral edges of the pronotum at the apical quarter (Fig. 72 E) (slightly rounded in P. waziristanicus (Fig. 73 A )), the acute and strongly projected anterior angles (Fig. 72 B, E – G) (slightly obtuse and not projected ones in P. waziristanicus (Fig. 73 A )) and the fine and sparse puncturation of the head and the pronotum (coarse and dense in P. waziristanicus). The new species has projected and acute anterior angles as in P. belutschistanicus, but differs from the latter in the following characters: the pronotum straightly converging from the widest portion to the base (Fig. 72 E) (lateral margins of the pronotum are parallel in the basal two thirds in P. belutschistanicus (Fig. 71 C )), lateral edges of the pronotum are widely emarginated at apical third (Fig. 72 E) (straight in P. belutschistanicus (Fig. 71 C )), the puncturation of the head and the pronotum fine and sparse (Figs 72 E, F) (coarse and dense laterally and coarse and sparse in middle of the head and the pronotum in P. belutschistanicus), the basal margin of the elytra slightly rounded laterally (oblique and emarginated in P. belutschistanicus (Figs 71 C, D )), the elytra glabrous, only on the lateral sides very short sparse setae are presented (Fig. 72 C) (the elytra are entirely covered with short but distinct subrecumbent setae (Fig. 71 A )).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB1824BFF0A240CFEAD6886.taxon	description	(Fig. 73) Kaszab 1957: 298 (Lobodera).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB1824BFF0A240CFEAD6886.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype, sex uncknown (NHMUK): “ Type ” (round, print, with red rim), “ Waziristan, N. W. India Mar. April, 1930 Rev. G. Palacios. B. M. 1931 - 1. ”, “ St. Xavier’s College Waziristan Excursion ” (blue ink stamp), “ Holotypus 1956 Lobodera waziristanica Kaszab ” (with red rim, handwritten by Kaszab), white museum label with QR code and number NHMUK 015543663.	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
B11AEC76FFB1824BFF0A240CFEAD6886.taxon	distribution	Distribution. Pakistan: Waziristan (now North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province).	en	Nabozhenko, Maxim V., Mofrad, Farhad Eshraghi (2025): Progress in the knowledge of the genus Penthicus Faldermann, 1836 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Opatrini) of Iraq, Iran and Pakistan with descriptions of 17 new species. Zootaxa 5573 (1): 1-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5573.1.1
