Bassaniodes drangianus Zamani & Marusik, sp. nov.

Fig. 24A‒G

Type material. Holotype ♂ (ZMUT) and paratype 1♀ (ZMUT), IRAN: Sistan & Baluchistan Prov.: Zabol, 31°02'12.0"N 61°32'14.0"E, 480 m, 25.02.2022 (M. Enayatnia).

Etymology. This species is named after Drangiana, a historical region of the Achaemenid Empire partially located in modern-day southeastern Iran.

Diagnosis. The new species is similar to Bassaniodes tristrami (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and B. loeffleri (Roewer, 1955) in the shape of its palp and epigyne. The male can be distinguished by a ventral tibial apophysis (Va) with a short tip and a small tooth (Tt) located anteriorly (vs. posteriorly in B. tristrami and a wider tip in B. loeffleri). Additionally, the intermediate tibial apophysis (Ia) is shorter than the ventral apophysis in the new species, while it is longer in the other two (cf. Fig. 24F‒G, Marusik & Logunov 1990: figs 39‒40 and Marusik & Logunov 1995: figs 52‒53). The epigyne of the new species differs from those of the similar species by having a plate that is wider than it is long (vs. longer than wide), with short, kidney-shaped receptacles and short insemination ducts (vs. elongate receptacles, and insemination ducts extending to the anterior edge of the receptacles) (cf. Fig. 24C‒E, Marusik & Logunov 1990: fig. 41 and Marusik & Logunov 1995: fig. 54).

Description. Male (holotype). Habitus as in Fig. 24A. Total length 4.25. Carapace 2.20 long, 2.15 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.11, ALE: 0.16, PME: 0.08, PLE: 0.14. Carapace very dark reddish brown with black margins, pars cephalica slightly lighter with distinct pale borders; chelicerae yellow, basally dark brown; maxillae and labium brown; sternum yellowish brown with darker margins. Palps and legs yellowish brown; legs I and II with wide and strong dark markings and spots, legs III and IV with considerably less darkening and spots. Abdomen greyish beige, with white and black markings and spots, more numerous on dorsum. Spinnerets brown, apically pale. Measurements of legs: I: 6.48 (1.96, 1.05, 1.36, 1.26, 0.85), II: 6.56 (2.05, 1.04, 1.40, 1.18, 0.89), III: 4.36 (1.44, 0.70, 0.89, 0.74, 0.59), IV: 4.15 (1.35, 0.67, 0.82, 0.76, 0.55).

Palp as in Fig. 23F, G; tibia wider than long, with 3 apophyses: pointed retrolateral (Ra), leaf-shaped intermediate (Ia) and ventral (Va); ventral apophysis bent antero-ectally and bears small tooth-like outgrowth (Tt), its tip not wider than base; cymbium ~ 1.3x longer than wide, with tutaculum (Tu) located in basal 1/3; bulb suboval, ~ 1.4x longer than wide; tegulum lacking apophyses but with small median outgrowth (Mo); embolus terminates at ~ 3 o’clock position.

Female (paratype). Habitus as in Fig. 24B. Total length 7.85. Carapace 2.77 long, 2.72 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.15, ALE: 0.22, PME: 0.10, PLE: 0.17. Coloration generally as in male but lighter, with less distinct abdominal markings and darkening on legs, and with basal part of chelicerae having darkening distally. Measurements of legs: I: 7.43 (2.33, 1.44, 1.48, 1.26, 0.92), II: 7.45 (2.31, 1.37, 1.51, 1.35, 0.91), III: 5.10 (1.67, 0.92, 1.00, 0.78, 0.73), IV: 5.27 (1.75, 0.89, 1.02, 0.89, 0.72).

Epigyne as in Fig. 24C‒E; plate oval, ~ 1.3x wider than long; scape (Sc) small, 2x wider than long, 1/4 of plate width; receptacles (Re) kidney-shaped; insemination ducts (Id) short, 1/2 of receptacle length, weakly sclerotized.

Comment. It is possible that the female described here is not conspecific with the male, as its epigyne and endogyne differ significantly from those of the sibling species.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Sistan & Baluchistan, southeastern Iran.