Spariolenus mansourii Moradmand

Moradmand, Majid, 2017, Three new species of the subterranean huntsman spider genus Spariolenus (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) in Iran, Subterranean Biology 24, pp. 11-25 : 11-12

Spariolenus mansourii Moradmand sp. n. Figs 4, 5A

Type material.

Holotype: ♂, IRAN: Kohgiluyeh and Bouyer-Ahmad Province: Sarfaryab, Choram, Nezel Cave entrance, at night, 30°47'29.47"N, 50°56'52.25"E, 4 June 2016, Naghsh-e-Jahan Caving club, M. Moradmand and M. Saboohi leg. (SMF). Paratypes: 1♂ and 2 ♀♀, 1♂ Kohgiluyeh and Bouyer-Ahmad Province: Pataveh, Deh-Sheikh Cave, first corridor, 30°57'N, 51°14'E (ZMUI). 2♀♀ with same data as for holotype (1♀ ZMUI; 1♀ SMF).

Etymology.

The species is named in honour of Mr Mohammad Mansouri (Iran: Isfahan), a highly qualified caving instructor. I experienced my first underground adventure with him and I owe him my caving skills; genitive case.

Diagnosis.

The male is distinguished from other congeners by dRTA 1.5 times longer than vRTA and the shape of ET bifurcated (same as S. zagros and S. fathpouri sp.nov.). It differs from S. zagros by the prolateral ET shorter than retrolateral one (same size in S. zagros ) (Fig. 4 A–D). The female differ from other Spariolenus spp. by vulva with lateral extension of the first coil continuous to second coil (similar to those of S. manesht , but differ from it by dorsal epigynum lacking continuous ridge anterior to the CO) (Fig. 5 A–C).

Description.

Male: Measurements. Small to medium-sized Sparassidae ; holotype: total length 11.0, carapace length 5.2, width 4.1, anterior width 2.6, opisthosoma length 5.8, width 3.2.

Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10-15 intermarginal denticles (Fig. 4E).

Eyes. AME 0.27, ALE 0.57, PME 0.36, PLE 0.65, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.12, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.24, PME-PLE 0.48, AME-PME 0.25, ALE-PLE 0.54. Anterior and posterior eye rows slightly recurved (Fig. 4F).

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 5.7 [2.8, 1.3, 1.6], I 32.8 [8.5, 3.4, 9.1, 9.2, 2.6], II 35.8 [9.6, 3.5, 9.9, 10.1, 2.7], III 28.4 [8.2, 2.8, 7.6, 7.5, 2.3], IV 29.4 [8.4, 2.9, 7.3, 8.3, 2.5].

Spination . Palp 131, 101, 1013; Legs: Femur I 223, II–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–II 131(10), III 2128, IV 2126; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.

Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium 1.5 times longer than tibia, BRB present, RTA short, dRTA 2 times longer than vRTA, both distally rounded in ventral view, PET and RET both pointed distado-prolaterad, PET shorter than RET. Conductor hyaline and extending beyond ET in ventral view (4 A–D).

Female: Measurements. Medium-sized Sparassidae ; total length 15.4, carapace length 7.6, width 6.1, anterior width 3.7, opisthosoma length 7.8, width 5.2.

Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10-15 intermarginal denticles.

Eyes. AME 0.28, ALE 0.78, PME 0.47, PLE 0.77, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.19, AME-ALE 0.05, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.69, AME-PME 0.57, ALE-PLE 0.63.

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 8.2 [2.6, 1.4, 1.8, 2.9], I 25.4 [7.2, 3.1, 6.8, 6.5, 1.8], II 27.7 [8.2, 3.3, 7.5, 6.7, 2.0], III 23.6 [7.1, 2.8, 6.2, 5.8, 1.7], IV 25.2 [7.4, 2.9, 6.5, 6.6, 1.8].

Spination . Palp 131, 101, 2121, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321; Patella I–IV 101 (000); Tibia I–II 101(10), III 2028, IV 2026; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.

Epigynum. As in diagnosis, with EF wider than long, AB present and elongated, MEP extending in anterior half in posteriorly and posterior half in laterally.

Remarks.

This is the smallest Spariolenus species ever described. Both male and female are small to medium sized (11-15 mm). On the other side, S. iranomaximus Moradmand and Jäger, 2011 is the largest species,, with 18-31 mm body length.

Distribution and habitat preferences.

Known from the type locality, the Nezel cave (Fig. 6A, B) and Pataveh (or Deh-Sheikh) cave. The specimens were observed in relatively large population around the karstic regions and entrances of the Nezel cave at night. The Nezel Cave is composed of four deep pits connected by horizontal corridors. The first pit is 43 meters deep (Fig. 6B).

The Pataveh cave has three entrances. Specimens were observed inside the entrance corridors during daytime. In both caves, the more humid parts inside where the walls were covered with a layer of condensed water, no Spariolenus specimens were observed.

Conservation status of the type locality.

The Pataveh Cave was recently transformed into a tourist attraction and the corridors suffered from man-made constructions, a serious alert for its biodiversity.