Mesiotelus khorasanicus Zamani & Marusik, 2024

Zamani, Alireza, Esyunin, Sergei L., Mikhailov, Kirill G. & Marusik, Yuri M., 2024, New data on the spider fauna of Iran (Arachnida: Araneae), Part XI., Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (2), pp. 285-309 : 299-300

Mesiotelus khorasanicus Zamani & Marusik , sp. n. ( Figs 8A–E, 9A–D)

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4002F02D-6E43-42AF-883D-4EEA3976FC31

Type Material. Holotype ♂ ( MHNG), IRAN: Razavi Khorasan Prov.: Shandiz , 36°22'N 59°15'E, 25.VI.1974 (A. Senglet) . Paratype: 1♀ ( MHNG), same data as for the holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species in Razavi Khorasan Province. Diagnosis. The male of the new species differs from all congeners by the RTA directed anteroretrolaterally (vs. anteriorly), and by the presence of embolic processes (Ep) and a tegular outgrowth (vs. lacking) ( Fig. 9A–D). By having a short fovea, the epigyne of the new species is most similar to those of M. tenuissimus (L. Koch, 1866) – the generotype, distributed from the Mediterranean to Turkmenistan – and M. imbros Bosmans, 2023 , known from Crete (cf. Fig. 8 D and Bosmans, 2023: fig. 10B, D). It can be distinguished by the inclined lateral margins (Lm) of the fovea forming a right angle (vs. transversal or slightly bent) and the fovea ca. 5 times wider than long (vs. ca. 1.5).

Description. Male (Holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 8A. Total length 4.35. Carapace 2.32 long, 1.90 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.12, ALE: 0.13, PME: 0.12, PLE: 0.12. Carapace, chelicerae, maxillae, labium and sternum light yellowish brown. Legs the same color as carapace, without annulations. Abdomen light beige, without any patterns. Spinnerets uniformly light beige. Ventral spines of tibiae (p=pairs): I, II: 2p, III, IV: 3p. Measurements of legs: I: 9.57 (2.30, 1.22, 2.60, 2.18, 1.27), II: 8.65 (2.20, 1.12, 2.20, 1.97, 1.16), III: 7.97 (2.06, 0.97, 1.81, 2.08, 1.05), IV: 11.41 (2.88, 1.15, 2.72, 3.33, 1.33).

Palp as in Figs 8C, 9A–D; elongated, 1.6 times longer than carapace; femur ca. 6 times longer than wide and almost as long as patella+tibia; patella and tibia subequal in length, patella slightly wider; RTA directed retrolaterally, as long as width of tibia, sharply pointed; cymbium droplet-shaped, as long as tibia, twice longer than wide; subtegulum (St) longer than tegulum; tegular apophysis (Ta) with large base, free part slightly longer than base; tegulum anteropraleterally with short outgrowth (To); embolus short, roundly bent, its base with 2 processes (Ep).

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 8B. Total length 4.50. Carapace 2.16 long, 1.77 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.12, ALE: 0.14, PME: 0.10, PLE: 0.12. Coloration as in male, slightly darker due to poor preservation. Ventral spines of tibiae as in male. Measurements of legs: I: 7.60 (2.12, 1.05, 1.94, 1.49, 1.00), II: 6.89 (1.90, 0.94, 1.70, 1.46, 0.89), III: 6.22 (1.70, 0.82, 1.42, 1.56, 0.72), IV: 9.26 (2.36, 0.98, 2.26, 2.64, 1.02).

Epigyne as in Fig. 8D–E; epigynal plate wider than long; fovea small, ca. 5 times wider than long; anterior hood (Ah) wide, ca. 1.3 times shorter than width of receptacle; lateral margins (Lm) of fovea as long as width of receptacle, forming almost right angle; copulatory ducts very short, indistinct; receptacles suboval, 1.3 times wider than long, spaced by about width of hood.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran.