Clubiona liachviana Mcheidze, 1997

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 : 290-294

Clubiona liachviana Mcheidze, 1997 stat. reval.* ( Figs 2C–D, 3A–I, 5A–C)

Clubiona liachviana Mcheidze, 1997:175 , figs 345–346 (♀).

Clubiona alpicola : Mikhailov, 2003:288 (synonymy of C. liachviana ; rejected here).

Material. IRAN: West Azerbaijan Prov.: 2♂♂ 3♀♀ ( MHNG), north of Khoy, 38°24'N 45°02'E, 1. VI.1975 (A. Senglet); 1♂ 1♀ ( MHNG), Qarazia-ed Din, 38°56'N 45°03'E, 21.IX.1975 (A. Senglet); Mazandaran Prov.: 1♀ ( MHNG), east of Razan, 36°12'N 52°08'E, 8.VII.1975 (A. Senglet); 1♂ ( MHNG), Pol-e Doab, 36°29'N 51°23'E, 4.VIII.1974 (A. Senglet); North Khorasan Prov.: 1♂ 2♀♀ ( MHNG), Bojnurd, 37°29'N 57°26'E, 26.VII.1974 (A. Senglet); 1♂ 1♀ ( MHNG), same locality, 20.VIII.1975 (A. Senglet); 2♀♀ ( MHNG), east of Chamanbid, 37°26'N 56°37'E, 14.VII.1974 (A. Senglet); Qazvin Prov.: 1♀ ( MHNG), Shahrak, 36°25'N 50°30'E, 1500 m, 2.VII.1975 (A. Senglet); Razavi Khorasan Prov.: 1♂ ( MHNG), Shandiz, 36°22'N 59°15'E, 25.VII.1974 (A. Senglet). ARMENIA: Syunik Prov.: 3♂♂ ( ZMMU), Meghri Distr., SSE of Lichk, Meghri River valley, [38°58'N 46°12'E], 1530 m, oak wood, litter and under stones, in rotten wood, 25.IV.1983 (S.I. Golovatch); 1♂ ( ZMMU), 4 km NNW of Meghri, Lehvaz Vill., [38°56'N 46°13'E], 1000 m, Juglans and oak shrub with polyurus and Rosa , litter and under stones, 24–25.IV.1983 (S.I. Golovatch); Ararat Prov.: 1♂ ( ZMMU), Khosrov Reserve, [40°02'N 44°55'E], 1450–1550 m, Juniperus with oak and hawthorn, along river, litter and under stones, 19–20. V.1983 (S.I. Golovatch); 2♂♂ 1♀ ( ZMMU), Garni Gorge, Azat River, 40°06'32.0"N 44°43'57.0"E, 1240 m, 17. V.2021 (Y.M. Marusik); Vayots Dzor Prov.: 1♂ 3♀♀ ( ZMMU), env. of Gnishik Vill., 39°40'18.0"N 45°17'40.0"E, 2030 m, 11. V.2021 (Y.M. Marusik). AZERBAIJAN: Baku Region: 1♂ ( ZMMU), Baku, [40°24'N 49°52'E], 23.IX.1980 (P.M. Dunin); Lerik Dist.: 2♂♂ 1♀ ( ZMMU), Gosmalyan, [38°41'N 48°23'E], 1300 m, 28.06.1985 (P.M. Dunin); 3♂♂ ( ZMMU), Gosmalyan, [38°41'N 48°23'E], 1–4.VII.1985 (P.M. Dunin); Astara Dist.: 1♂ ( ZMMU), Hamoşam, [38°33'N 48°35'E], 26.VIII.1995 (E.F. Guseinov). TURKMENISTAN: Balkan Prov.: 1♂ ( ZMMU), West Kopetdagh Mts., upper Aydere, [38°24'N 56°45'E], 9–10. VI.1979 ( V.Y. Fet).

Comparative Material. Clubiona alpicola Kulczyński, 1882 ( Figs 2A–B, 4A–F): GERMANY: Free State of Bavaria: 1♂ 1♀ ( ZMUT), Fichtelgebirge nature reserve , 50°01'08.1"N 11°53'23.5"E, 875 m, 5.VII.2009 ( T. Blick) . SLOVAKIA: Žilina Region : 1♂ 5♀♀ ( NMP-P6 A-687/4), Malá Fatra, [49°10'N 19°00'E], date and collector unknown .

Diagnosis. Clubiona liachviana is most similar to C. alpicola , distributed from Central Europe to Central Asia. The male of C. liachviana can be distinguished from that of C. alpicola by having a dentated transversal ridge (Dr) and a small tooth (Smt) on the embolus (vs. lacking) (cf. Figs 3A, 3E and 4A). The female differs by having relatively smaller receptacles and an almost flat posterior edge of the epigyne (vs. with a clear median protrusion) (cf. Figs 3G–I and 4E–F).

Description. Male. Habitus as in Fig. 2D. Total length 4.83. Carapace 2.15 long, 1.52 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.12, ALE: 0.13, PME: 0.11, PLE: 0.14. Carapace, chelicerae, sternum, maxillae and labium light yellowish brown, without any pattern. Chelicerae each with 5 pro- and 3 retromarginal teeth. Abdomen light greyish brown, with slightly darker cardiac mark and 4 sigilla, posteriorly with faint chevron markings. Spinnerets light greyish brown, uniform in color. Legs colored as carapace and without annulations. Measurements of legs: I: 5.57 (1.46, 0.79, 1.50, 1.09, 0.73), II: 5.62 (1.57, 0.76, 1.47, 1.11, 0.71), III: 4.79 (1.32, 0.71, 1.00, 1.23, 0.53), IV: 6.61 (1.72, 0.79, 1.45, 1.95, 0.70).

Palp as in Figs 3A–F, 5A–C; tibia with 2 apophyses, both shorter than tibia, RTA ca. twice wider than DTA in retrolateral view; cymbium suboval, twice longer than wide; sperm duct with several loops in retrolateral and ventral views; conductor (Cd) broad, membranous; embolus in mid part broader than in base, with transversal dentated ridge (Dr) and small tooth (Smt) on anterior margin.

Female. Habitus as in Fig. 2C. Total length 6.95. Carapace 2.38 long, 1.67 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.13, ALE: 0.14, PME: 0.12, PLE: 0.14. Coloration as in male, with slightly darker chelicerae and less prominent abdominal markings. Chelicerae each with 5 pro- and 4 retromarginal teeth. Measurements of legs: I: 4.99 (1.47, 0.80, 1.26, 0.84, 0.62), II: 5.06 (1.49, 0.82, 1.26, 0.88, 0.61), III: 4.57 (1.34, 0.70, 0.93, 1.09, 0.51), IV: 6.78 (1.96, 0.80, 1.49, 1.90, 0.63).

Epigyne as in Fig. 3G–I; epigynal plate slightly wider than long; copulatory openings located posteriorly, slit-like; copulatory ducts broad at base, as wide as receptacles, describing 2 turns, mesally contiguous; receptacles (Re) globular, spaced by less than one radius.

Comments. Despite our efforts, we were not able to study the type material of C. liachviana (type locality: Zemo Khviti , Shida Kartli, Georgia) and they appear to be lost. However, since our female specimens match the drawing of the vulva provided by Mcheidze (1997) perfectly, the identification seems to be correct .

Distribution. Armenia (new record), Azerbaijan (new record), Georgia ( Mcheidze, 1997), Iran (new record) and Turkmenistan (new record). The current material from Razavi Khorasan of Iran represents the southeasternmost record of the species across its known range.