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Habitus and chelicerae of male Lachesana kavirensis sp. nov. (A–C) and L. perseus sp. nov. (D–F) A, B, D, E habitus, dorsal C, F chelicerae, ventral.
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Species of the spider family Zodariidae occurring in Iran and Turkmenistan are reviewed. Seventeen species of three subfamilies are described as new to science: Lachesana kavirensis sp. nov. (♂, Qom; northern Iran), L. perseus sp. nov. (♂, Alborz; northern Iran) (Lachesaninae), Pax ellipita sp. nov. (♂♀, Kermanshah and Lorestan; western Iran), P. l...
Citations
... The following abbreviations are used: ALE -anterior lateral eye, AME -anterior median eye, Co -conductor, dMA -distal part of median apophysis, Em -embolus, FD -fertilization duct, MA -median apophysis, MH -median hood, PI -posteromedian incision, PLE -posterior lateral eye, PME -posterior median eye, RTA -retrolateral tibial apophysis, S -spermatheca. [Zamani, Marusik, 2021]. Zodarion species distributed in Turkey are divided into nine species-groups based on the morphology of the copulatory organs; aculeatum, germanicum, graecum, lutipes, morosum, pusio, rubidum, spinibarbe and thoni groups [Bosmans, 2009]. ...
A new species, Zodarion yigitakcai sp.n. (♂♀) is described from Kahramanmaraş and Osmaniye provinces of Turkey. This contribution increases the total number of Zodarion species known from this country to 33. The distribution records of the new species and its comparative materials Z. barbarae Bosmans, 2009 and Z. spinibarbe Wunderlich, 1973 in Turkey are also mapped.
... Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 is a genus of the spider family Zodariidae Thorell, 1881, currently comprising 21 species distributed from the Volga River's delta to eastern China (WSC, 2023). The genus has recently undergone significant taxonomic revisions by Zamani & Marusik (2021, 2022. The highest diversity of Zodariellum occurs in Central Asia, from where 15 species are currently known (WSC, 2023). ...
... Z. proszynskii, ventral (4, 6, 8, 9) and dorsal (5, 7) views. Fig. 8 reproduced from Zamani & Marusik (2022) with permission from copyright holder; Fig. 9 reproduced from Zamani & Marusik (2021). Scale bars = 0.1 mm. ...
... Zodariellum Andreeva & Tystshenko, 1968 is a genus of the spider family Zodariidae Thorell, 1881, currently comprising 21 species distributed from the Volga River's delta to eastern China (WSC, 2023). The genus has recently undergone significant taxonomic revisions by Zamani & Marusik (2021, 2022. The highest diversity of Zodariellum occurs in Central Asia, from where 15 species are currently known (WSC, 2023). ...
... Z. proszynskii, ventral (4, 6, 8, 9) and dorsal (5, 7) views. Fig. 8 reproduced from Zamani & Marusik (2022) with permission from the copyright holder; Fig. 9 reproduced from Zamani & Marusik (2021). Scale bars = 0.1 mm. ...
Two poorly known species of the zodariid spider genus Zodariellum Andreeva & Tystshenko, 1968 – Z. spasskyi (Charitonov, 1946) and Z. zebra (Charitonov, 1946) – are redescribed based on type specimens from eastern Uzbekistan. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for the former species.
... Marusik & Koponen (2001) also provided the descriptions of two new species and proposed eight new combinations, which when added to the two species later described by Ponomarev (2007), raised the total number of known Zodariellum species to 13. Jocqué & Henrard (2015) considered both Acanthinozodium and Zodariellum as valid, with Zodariellum comprising only the type species, Z. surprisum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968, and transferred the remaining species to Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826. Finally, Zamani & Marusik (2021) redefined the genus, proposed one new combination, and except for Zodarion inderense (Ponomarev, 2007), transferred all the other species back into Zodariellum. Of the currently 13 nominal species considered in the genus, three are known only by males and three (including the type) have no proper figures illustrating the male palp. ...
... Distribution. This species was described from eastern Uzbekistan, and later reported from Tajikistan (Spassky & Luppova 1945;Andreeva & Tyshchenko 1968;Andreeva 1976;Zamani & Marusik 2021) (Fig. 12A). According to Mikhailov (2021), this species also occurs in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. ...
... Jocqué & Henrard (2015) reported a similar structure in the form of a short conical round pit in Acanthinozodium (termed 'cymbial pit', assumed to represent the outlet of a gland that produces a mating plug), and considered it a diagnostic character for the entire genus (it is noteworthy that the male of the type species, A. spinulosum Denis, 1966, remains undescribed). Following this, Zamani & Marusik (2021) described 12 species in Acanthinozodium, all bearing a cymbial diverticulum (or 'cymbial groove') but at the same time showing differences in the overall configuration of the palpal structures. The finding of this diverticulum in Zodariellum proves that this structure is more widespread than once thought, and on its own cannot be used as a diagnostic generic character. ...
New taxonomic considerations in the zodariid spider genus Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 are proposed. On the basis of male specimens collected in Turkmenistan, Z. turanicum sp. n. and Z. turkmenicum sp. n. are described as new to science. Six species, namely Z. hunanense (Yin, 2012) comb. n., Z. planum (Zhang & Zhang, 2019) comb. n., Z. spasskyi (Charitonov, 1946) comb. n., Z. tadzhikum (Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968) comb. n., Z. testaceofasciatum (Spassky, 1941) comb. n. and Z. zebra (Charitonov, 1946) comb. n., are newly transferred from Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 to Zodariellum. Two new synonymies are proposed: Zodarion apertum Zhang & Zhang, 2019 syn. n. is synonymized with Zodariellum mongolicum Marusik & Koponen, 2001, and Zodarion martynovae Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 syn. n. is synonymized with Z. continentale (Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968). Additionally, illustrations are provided for three poorly known Central Asian species, namely Z. asiaticum (Tyshchenko, 1970), Z. bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) and Z. nenilini (Eskov, 1995). A deep and conical diverticulum of unknown function, located on the retrodorsal side of the cymbium is documented in Zodariellum for the first time; the presence of similar structures in different zodariid genera is discussed.
... With 176 extant species, Zodarion is the largest genus within Zodariinae (WSC, 2022). Based on the diverse conformations in the copulatory organs of the species currently noted in this genus, Zodarion does not appear to be monophyletic (Zamani & Marusik, 2021). Only Z. luctuosum (O. ...
... Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and Z. lutipes (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) from the Eastern Mediterranean are morphologically similar to the generotype (Zamani & Marusik, 2021). 30 Zodarion species have been recorded so far in Turkey, although this number is slightly less than Greece (35) but higher than Azerbaijan (7) ...
... As in many species defined in the genus Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826, which especially from the aculeatum, spinibarbe and lutipes species groups, Zodarion samos Bosmans, 2009 should be included in a comprehensive revision analyzing many features such as the wide cephalothorax (L/w < 1.3), much larger AME than other eyes and deep dorsal pit at the base of the cymbium (such as in Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966or Zodariellum Andreeva & Tystshenko, 1968, wide epigyne with a pair (or non-paired) of large atria and the large spermathecae in females (Bosmans 2009;Jocqué and Henrard 2015;Zamani and Marusik 2021). ...
The females of Zodarion samos Bosmans, 2009 and Zodarion varoli Akpınar, 2016 are described for the first time. Z. samos Bosmans, 2009 is further a new record to the Turkish araneofauna. Characteristic features and photographs of both species are presented, and known localities in Turkey are provided. Previous records of Zodarion rubidum Simon, 1914, and Zodarion ruffoi Caporiacco, 1951 from Turkey are based on misidentifications and shall be omitted from the national species list.
... 1906, a genus distributed chiefly in South-East Asia is more speciose and comprises over 200 species [WSC, 2022]. Based on the copulatory organs of the species currently considered in this genus, Zodarion does not appear to be monophyletic [Zamani, Marusik, 2021]. According to Zamani, Marusik [2021] there are only two species that are morphologically similar to the generotype: Z. luctuosum (O. ...
... Based on the copulatory organs of the species currently considered in this genus, Zodarion does not appear to be monophyletic [Zamani, Marusik, 2021]. According to Zamani, Marusik [2021] there are only two species that are morphologically similar to the generotype: Z. luctuosum (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and Z. lutipes (O. ...
A new species of Zodarion similar to Z. van Bosmans, 2009, Z. crewsae sp.n. (♂♀), from Osmaniye, Turkey is described. Zodarion spinibarbe Wunderlich, 1973 (♂) a species previously know from Cyprus found in Turkey for the first time.Three species are are illustrated and their distribution are mapped. This study increases the number of Zodarion species in Turkey to 30.
... Zodariidae Thorell, 1881 is a large family of spiders, currently comprising 1243 extant species in 87 genera and five subfamilies worldwide (Jocqué 1991;WSC 2022). The taxonomic status of this family in Iran was recently revised by Zamani & Marusik (2021), who listed the occurrence of 22 species in seven genera in this country, including 16 endemic and two subendemic species. The zodariid fauna of the neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan remains virtually unexplored, each represented by only two reported species (Roewer 1960;Ovtchinnikov 2006;Ovtchinnikov et al. 2009). ...
... Also, we noticed that in our previous paper (Zamani & Marusik 2021), the figures 27A-D were erroneously attributed to P. raddei in both the text and the caption. We hereby correct this error and attribute these images to Acanthinozodium elburzicum Zamani & Marusik, 2021. ...
... Also, we noticed that in our previous paper (Zamani & Marusik 2021), the figures 27A-D were erroneously attributed to P. raddei in both the text and the caption. We hereby correct this error and attribute these images to Acanthinozodium elburzicum Zamani & Marusik, 2021. Genus Trygetus Simon, 1882 Comments. ...
New taxonomic considerations on several species of the zodariid spider subfamily Zodariinae Thorell, 1881 occurring in Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan are presented. Three species, Trygetus cyrus sp. n. (♀; Fars, south-central Iran), T. nakhchivanicus sp. n. (♂; Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan) and Zodarion sharurensis sp. n. (♂♀; Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan) are described as new, and the hitherto unknown male of Trygetus susianus Zamani & Marusik, 2021 is described based on topotype material from Khuzestan, southwestern Iran. Indozodion Ovtchinnikov, 2006 stat. rev. is rediagnosed and removed from the synonymy of Tropizodium Jocqué & Churchill, 2005, and here considered to comprise I. inayatullahi Ovtchinnikov, 2006 comb. rev. (type species) and I. lindbergi (Roewer, 1960) comb. n. (ex. Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826); the latter species, previously known only from Afghanistan, is redescribed and reported from Pakistan. One of the paratypes of I. lindbergi, reported as a subadult female in the original description, is found to be an adult female of Parazodarion raddei (Simon, 1889). An error in a previous publication (attributing figures of Acanthinozodium elburzicum Zamani & Marusik, 2021 to P. raddei) is also corrected here.
Spiders (Araneae) are the largest order of Arachnida and the sixth most speciose order of Animalia, comprising more than 50,000 extant species as well as over 1,400 species known from fossils. Despite this immense diversity that has been estimated to comprise 120,000–200,000 species, our knowledge of their systematics and distribution remains rather incipient. While attempts to evaluate the diversity and distribution patterns of spiders have been made for the Neotropical and a few other faunas, most other regions remain historically neglected.
The aim of this dissertation is to explore the systematics, diversity and distribution of spiders of Iran, a highly interesting region from a zoological and biogeographical point of view that unfortunately has been poorly investigated regarding its invertebrate fauna. For this purpose, I examined more than 9,000 specimens that were either collected during expeditions to numerous regions and ecosystems across the country or deposited in several natural history collections from around the world. As a result of these efforts, which were initiated in 2013 and mostly carried out in collaboration with researchers from various countries, a total of 11 genera and 147 species of Iranian spiders were described as new to science, and 419 taxa (i.e., 13 families, 87 genera and 319 species) were recorded in Iran for the first time. The total number of newly described and recorded species (i.e., 466 species) constitutes almost half (i.e., 49.83%) of the currently known Iranian species diversity of this group (i.e., 935 species). Amongst 147 species described, 137 are known only from Iran, representing 63.72% of all species currently considered endemic to this country (i.e., 215 species). These results were published in a total of 87 publications, 38 of which were published after the beginning of my doctoral studies at UTU in 2019. This dissertation, however, is primarily based on only nine taxonomic articles (i.e., I–IX), all published after 2019 and highlighting some of the more important findings.
Because of the newly obtained taxonomic information and an extensive database of all published records, it was possible to conduct a comprehensive review of spatial variation in the diversity patterns of spiders in Iran. This was the main objective of publication X, which also included an evaluation of the effect of sampling bias on the current understanding of the distribution of Iranian spiders. The analyses showed that the diversity of Iranian spiders remains inadequately studied and is heavily affected by the Linnean shortfall (i.e., gaps in taxonomic knowledge), despite a remarkable improvement in taxonomic research on this fauna since the beginning of the 21st century. There are 935 spider species in the 1,648,195 km2 of Iran. Comparing the number of species per area of 171 countries and other political regions indicated that Iran was in position 132, whereas many considerably smaller and less ecologically diverse countries were in lower positions. It was also found that this fauna clearly suffers from a severe Wallacean shortfall (i.e., lack of knowledge of species distributions), as approximately 85% of Iran lacks a single record of spiders. There is a highly uneven distribution of records throughout the country and its provinces and ecoregions, with most of the records situated near large cities. A high correlation was found between the number of records of spiders and the number of records of plants and other animals in Iran, indicating that the noted shortfalls are indeed corroborated by other taxa. Finally, it is suggested that to gain a more complete picture of the diversity of Iranian spiders, future collecting efforts should be primarily in the form of extensive systematic surveys instead of opportunistic sampling, and ideally targeting lesser sampled areas and ecoregions. Once a satisfactory amount of information regarding the taxonomy and distribution of species becomes available, it will be possible to properly assess the conservation status and risk factors that affect these species and to identify areas of higher conservation and management priority.
Although spiders constitute a highly diversified group of animals, the knowledge regarding their geographic distribution (i.e., the so-called Wallacean shortfall) and diversity patterns is incipient on a global scale; while attempts to explore such patterns have been made for the highly diversified Neotropical fauna, several Old World regions are historically neglected. Aiming to close this gap, the present study provides the most comprehensive review of spatial variation in the diversity patterns of the spider fauna of Iran. We also examined the effects of sampling biases on the results. We gathered a database with 4434 non-duplicate records of 935 species of spiders from Iran, 215 of which are currently considered endemic to the country. We showed that, despite a significant improvement in state-of-the-art taxonomic research regarding this fauna in the past 20 years, the Iranian spider fauna suffers from a highly uneven distribution of records throughout the country and its ecoregions. Additionally, highly sampled areas are typically near large cities. We also found a high correlation between the number of records and species of spiders and the number of records of plants and other animals in Iran, suggesting that the biodiversity shortfalls herein described for spiders are corroborated by other taxa. The biases reported herein are likely to be observed for other countries, as the area alone explained only 33.24% of the spider species richness among 171 compared countries. We hope that the present study stimulates further sampling and research aiming to explore this fauna and the underlying biological processes related to its patterns of diversity and distribution.
The new zodariid genus Spinozodium gen. nov. is described, comprising two species from Tajikistan: the type species S. denisi (Spassky, 1938) comb. nov. (ex. Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826) and the new species S. khatlonicum sp. nov.; the female of the type species, displaying highly reduced receptacles, is described for the first time. Both species are illustrated and their distributions are mapped, and keys to the Middle Asian zodariid subfamilies and genera are provided.
