Tegenaria pallens Zamani & Marusik, sp. n.

Figs 1A–B, 2A–B, 3A‒C

Type material. Holotype ♂ (ZMUT), IRAN: Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province: Gachsaran, Gakal Cave, 1100 m, 30°18'44.0"N, 51°09'28.0"E, XI.2017 (M.J. Malek Hosseini) . Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀ (ZMUT), same data as for the holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective, referring to the pale coloration of both sexes of this species.

Diagnosis. This species is most similar to T. alamto from western Iran, from which it differs by the angled anterior edge of the conductor (vs. roundly bent), the bulb (from posterior edge to embolus) being longer than it is wide (vs. as long as wide), the embolus base positioned at 8:30 o’clock (vs. 9:30), the roundly bent embolus (vs. the embolus bent at right angle), the relatively long conductor (cf. Fig. 2A and 2C), and the converging receptacles forming a right angle (vs. obtuse; cf. Fig. 3B and Zamani et al. 2018: fig. 11).

Description. Male (Holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 1B. Total length 7.60. Carapace 3.40 long, 2.63 wide. Eye sizes: AME 0.14, ALE 0.17, PME 0.13, PLE 0.17. Cephalothorax and its appendages overall pale; pars cephalica, chelicerae, palps and femora I light brown. Chelicerae with 3 pro- and 3 retromarginal teeth.Abdomen and spinnerets light beige. Measurements of legs: I: 27.82 (7.50, 1.53, 7.50, 8.12, 3.17), II: 22.87 (6.20, 1.50, 5.76, 6.73, 2.68), III: 20.13 (5.50, 1.25, 4.78, 6.30, 2.30), IV: 25.37 (6.50, 1.45, 6.35, 8.37, 2.70). Spination: Palp: Fm: 3d. Legs: I: Fm: 2d, 4(5)pl, 2rl; Ti: 2pl, 2rl, 4v; Mt: 8t. II: Fm: 2d, 5pl, 2rl; Ti: 2pl, 2rl, 4v; Mt: 9t. III: Fm: 2d, 3pl, 2rl; Ti: 2d, 2pl, 2rl, 3v; Mt: 13t. IV: Fm: 1(2)d, 1pl, 1(2)rl; Ti: 2d, 2pl, 2rl, 4(6)v; Mt: 13t.

Palp as in Fig. 2A–B; tibia ca. 2 times longer than wide, 2 times shorter than cymbium, with 2 apophyses: membranous and roundly bent on tip retrolateral apophysis, and well sclerotized retro-dorsal digitiform apophysis with pointed tip; cymbium ca. 2.2 times longer than wide, with tip comprising ca. half of cymbium’s length; bulb longer than wide; sperm duct running along edge of tegulum; tegular apophysis elongate, ca. half of cymbium's width, originates at ca. 4 o’clock position; conductor as long as wide, with stem ca. 0.33 of conductor’s anterior width, anterior edge of conductor angled; embolus filiform, roundly bent, originating at ca. 8:30 o’clock position.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 1A. Total length 8.90. Carapace 3.87 long, 2.70 wide. Eye sizes: AME 0.11, ALE 0.15, PME 0.12, PLE 0.16. Colouration as in male. Chelicerae with 3 pro- and 3 retromarginal teeth. Measurements of legs: I: 21.92 (5.96, 1.53, 5.76, 6.14, 2.53), II: 18.51 (5.13, 1.40, 4.65, 5.20, 2.13), III: 16.73 (4.60, 1.33, 3.95, 5.00, 1.85), IV: 21.67 (5.80, 1.37, 5.50, 6.80, 2.20). Spination: Palp: Fm: 3d. Legs: I: Fm: 2d, 4pl, 2rl; Ti: 2pl, 3rl, 4v; Mt: 7t. II: Fm: 2d, 4pl, 2rl; Ti: 2pl, 2rl, 4v; Mt: 9t. III: Fm: 2d, 2pl, 2rl; Ti: 2d, 2pl, 2rl, 5v; Mt: 11t. IV: Fm: 2d, 1pl, 1rl; Ti: 2d, 2pl, 2rl, 5v; Mt: 15t.

Epigyne as in Fig. 3A–C; epigynal plate over 3 times wider than long; fovea oval, transverse; teeth indistinct; copulatory openings (Co) located on anterior edges of fovea; copulatory ducts seem coiled, forming 2 loops; receptacles oval, together with copulatory ducts converging and forming right angle.

Comment. This is the first known Iranian agelenid species displaying a certain level troglomorphism (i.e., elongated appendages and depigmentation).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Gakal Cave (Fig. 15C), Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwestern Iran (Fig. 17).