Anurophorus alpinus Potapov & Stebaeva, 1990

Shayanmehr, Masoumeh, Yoosefi Lafooraki, Elham, Tully, Thomas, Dhaese, Cyrille & Ghajar Sepanlo, Mehdi, 2024, New records of springtails (Hexapoda, Collembola) for Iran from the Bula Hyrcanian forest, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (1), pp. 31-42 : 35-36

Anurophorus alpinus Potapov & Stebaeva, 1990 ( Fig. 3)

Material examined. 14 specimens, Iran, Mazandaran province, Sari, Farim, Bula forest , soil, N36°03'45.98", E53°18'36.96", 1675 m a.s.l., 19-IV-2021, leg. E. Yoosefi Lafooraki.

Distribution. Caucasus ( Potapov, 2001). This species is reported for the first time from Iran.

Diagnosis. The identification of the species was done according to Potapov (2001) as below: Body length about 1 mm and the colour is blackish blue. Dorsal integument with rather weak reticulation, on Abd. V much stronger ( Fig. 3A). Eye-patches with 8+8 ommatidia. PAO is 2 times as long as the diameter of the ommatidium. Claw without the inner tooth. Empodium is reduced, shorter than ¼ of the inner edge of the claw on the legs of all pairs ( Fig. 3C). Tibiotarsi with distinctly clavate hairs. Th. I- III with 1+1, 1+1, 3-6+3-6 ventromedial setae, tenacular area (a small organ, appended to the third abdominal segment, which holds the furcula in position under the abdomen) with 3–4 area ( Fig. 3D).

Remarks. In the original description of the species, Ant. IV was mentioned with a distinctly divided apical bulb, but in specimens found in this study, the apical bulb on Ant. IV is simple ( Fig. 3B).