Hemilepistus aphganicus Borutzky, 1958

Kashani, Ghasem M., Sari, Alireza & Hosseinie, Shidokht, 2010, Terrestrial isopods of the subgenus Hemilepistus (Hemilepistus) Budde-Lund, 1879 (Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Iran, Zootaxa 2549, pp. 54-68 : 56-57

Hemilepistus aphganicus Borutzky, 1958

Figs 2 A–C, 3

Hemilepistus aphganicus Borutzky 1958: 1471 .– 1978: 42.– Lincoln 1970: 125.

Material examined. Iran, Mashhad, 36˚21.8'N, 59˚38.1'E, 8 May 2008, 9 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1004); Mashhad, 36˚09.6'N, 59˚49.2'E, 9 May 2008, 6 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1005); Mashhad to Mozdooran, 36˚01.8'N, 60˚07.4'E, 9 May 2008, 3 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1006); Mozdooran, 36˚11.9'N, 60˚33.4'E, 9 May 2008, 6 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1007); Sarakhs, 36˚33.1'N, 61˚09.4'E, 10 May 2008, 4 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1008); Torbate Jaam, 35˚15.6'N, 60˚38.5'E, 10 May 2008, 5 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1009); Torbate Jaam to Bakhezr, 35˚03.0'N, 60˚29.1'E, 10 May 2008, 8 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1010); Bakhezr, 34˚59.7'N, 60˚20.6'E, 10 May 2008, 4 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1011); Jajarm to Sankhast, 37˚05.6'N, 56˚49.7'E, 12 September 2008, 2 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1012); Esfarayen, 37˚01.6'N, 57˚29.9'E, 12 September 2008, 10 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1013); Esfarayen to Sabzevar, Hokmabad, 36˚37.5'N, 57˚36.5'E, 12 September 2008, 5 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1014); Kashmar to Feyzabad, 35˚12.6'N, 58˚32.4'E, 5 February 2009, 3 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1015); Feyzabad to Torbate Heydarieh, 35˚06.6'N, 58˚58.5'E, 5 February 2009, 3 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1016); Torbate Heydarieh to Rashtkhar, 35˚05.7'N, 59˚26.5'E, 6 February 2009, 2 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1017); Rashtkhar, 34˚59.4'N, 59˚34.8'E, 6 February 2009, 5 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1018); Salami to Khaaf, 34˚42.5'N, 59˚59.9'E, 6 February 2009, 3 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1019); Khaaf, 34˚33.1'N, 60˚09.5'E, 6 February 2009, 5 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1020); Khaaf to Ghaen, 33˚54.4'N, 59˚33.8'E, 6 February 2009, 5 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1021); Ghaen, 33˚44.4'N, 59˚24.1'E, 6 February 2009, 6 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1022); Ghaen to Esfadan, 33˚44.3'N, 59˚28.9'E, 7 February 2009, 2 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1023); Birjand, 32˚59.7'N, 59˚29.5'E, 7 February 2009, 3 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1024); Sarbisheh, 32˚36.6'N, 59˚48.2'E, 8 February 2009, 2 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1025); Arian Shahr, 33˚15.8'N, 59˚16.9'E, 10 February 2009, 7 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1026); Ghaen to Gonabad, 33˚56.9'N, 58˚49.6'E, 10 February 2009, 6 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1027); Bardeskan, 35˚14.9'N, 57˚47.5'E, 11 February 2009, 4 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1028); Bardeskan to Biarjomand, 35˚35.2'N, 56˚46.1'E, 12 February 2009, 7 specimens ( ZUTC Iso.1029).

Additional material. Turkmenia, Serakhs, 19 February 1886, leg. the Afghanistan Boundary Commission, det. R. J. Lincoln, 12 specimens ( BMNH 1893.2.19:1–12); Pakistan, Belutschestan, misidentified as H. klugii , 1 specimen ( NMNH under previous name USNM 62994); Pakistan, Belutschestan, misidentified as H. klugii , 1 specimen (MNB 21701); Pakistan, Belutschestan, 1915, Verhoeff collection, det. Kashani, 1 specimen ( SMF 629); Pakistan, Belutschestan, 1915, misidentified as H. klugii , 1 specimen ( ZMG 497, now at SFM); Afghanistan, Kabul, Summer 1964, 9 specimens ( SMF 7551); Afghanistan, Kabul, 19633, leg. Schneider, 3 specimens ( SMNS 12027); Afghanistan, Kabul, 16 May 1970, leg. D. Schneider, det. D. Schneider, 3 specimens (MNB 26292).

Remarks. This species differs from the others based on the unique arrangement of tubercles on the head, which form a median semicircle of 6 tubercles surrounding two large ones, and a row of 3–4 large tubercles extending to the postero-lateral margins ( Fig. 2 A). The absence of small tubercles on the head is conspicuous. This species is the largest among the Iranian representatives of the subgenus (maximum length = 24 mm). Schotte (1993) reported the presence of a single specimen of H. klugii from Beluchistan, Pakistan at USNM. Schmalfuss (2003) questioned the presence of this species in Pakistan. Examination of the specimen by the senior author clearly indicates that this specimen belongs to H. aphganicus . Based on the presence of strong dorsal tubercles, Schotte (19993) also suggested that "it is quite likely that it can be encountered in the desert areas and sandy dunes near the coast of Pakistan ". However, the presence of this and other species of the subgenus Hemilepistus (Hemilepistus) in sandy dunes is improbable, and regarding to the report of this species from Kabul, it is more likely that this specimen was found in north of Pakistan. We also examined other material of this species from Belouchistan, Pakistan (SMF 629, SMF 7551 and MNB 21701) that confirms the specimens from Pakistan belong to H. aphganicus .

Distribution. Afghanistan; Pakistan; Turkmenia; East and Northeast Iran.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Hemilepistus aphganicus. A – C. male, 20 mm; Hemilepistus cristatus. D – F. Male, 16 mm. A, D. head and four first pereonites, dorsal view; B, E. head and first four pereonites, lateral view; C, F. pleon.