One new genus and nineteen new species of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Iran, with other taxonomic considerations Author Zamani, Alireza A21C0B82-E2D9-4402-9408-D6160843DAF4 Zoological Museum, Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, FI- 20014, Finland. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece. Perm State University, Bukireva Street 15, Perm, 614600, Russia. Institute for Biological Problems of the North RAS, Portovaya Str. 18, Magadan, 685000, Russia. Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa. zamani.alireza5@gmail.com Author Chatzaki, Maria 2FBB48ED-84FE-4386-8F47-C958E9F8A2A1 maria.chatzaki@gmail.com Author Esyunin, Sergei L. 2B591857-5FAB-4B7D-B589-6C4977A3A493 Sergei. Sergei.Esyunin@psu.ru Author Marusik, Yuri M. F215BA2C-5072-4CBF-BA1A-5CCBE1626B08 yurmar@mail.ru text European Journal of Taxonomy 2021 2021-06-04 751 1 68 114 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2021.751.1381 journal article 6279 10.5852/ejt.2021.751.1381 4e3af683-d8a6-40de-991b-c4584d66b8cc 2118-9773 4906007 1D27EA41-2396-463A-B1B2-0CCF79C9F3D2 Berlandina artaxerxes sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AA010096-605E-4BFD-A7D7-8797A2B89B34 Fig. 3A–D Diagnosis The new species is most similar to B. venatrix (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874) and B . koponeni Marusik, Fomichev & Omelko, 2014 by having a broad embolar base ( Eb ) with a similar sclerotized apical outgrowth ( Ao ) parallel to a bent, long embolus and a basal process ( Po ). In the new species, the two elements of the embolar base are pointed (vs shallowly divided with the process small and curved in B . koponeni ; see Marusik et al. 2014 : figs 32, 34, and the basal process bearing a very pointed sclerotized tooth in B. venatrix ; see Levy 1995 : fig. 57, not present in B. artaxerxes sp. nov. ). Also, the median apophysis in B. artaxerxes sp. nov. is bent prolaterally and located under the apical outgrowth’s curve (vs straight and longer, reaching the height of the embolus in B. koponeni ; see Marusik et al. 2014 : figs 34–35). Fig. 3. A–D . Berlandina artaxerxes sp. nov. , holotype, ♂ (SMF). A . Habitus, dorsal view. B–D . Palp, ventral, proventral and retrolateral views. – E–G . Berlandina mesopotamica Al-Khazali,2020 , ♀ (MHNG). E . Habitus, dorsal view. F–G . Epigyne, ventral and dorsal views. Abbreviations: Ao = apical outgrowth; Eb = embolar base; Po = pointed process. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise. Etymology The specific epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to Ardashir I (equivalent to Greek Artaxérxēs), the founder of the Sasanian Empire. Type material Holotype IRAN • ♂ ; Yazd Province , Abarqu ; 31°13′ N , 53°25′ E ; 1481 m a.s.l. ; 15 Apr. 2004 ; V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti leg.; SMF . Description Male Habitus as in Fig. 3A . Total length 5.55. Carapace 2.95 long, 2.15 wide. Eye sizes and interdistance of PMEs:AME = 0.13, ALE = 0.13, PME = 0.13, PLE = 0.15, PME–PME = 0.07. Carapace, sternum, labium, chelicerae and maxillae yellowish brown; carapace with small dark submarginal patches. Chelicera with a small tooth on promargin and a serrated, bifurcate keel on retromargin. Legs the same color as carapace, without annulations. Abdomen gray, without any clear pattern, although some brown markings are visible. Spinnerets light brown and uniform in color. Measurements of legs: I: 7.00 (1.95, 1.12, 1.54, 1.31, 1.08), II: 6.29 (1.68, 1.08, 1.24, 1.26, 1.03), III: 5.04 + missing Ta (1.62, 0.99, 0.94, 1.49, Ta missing), IV: 8.58 (2.25, 1.20, 1.49, 2.39, 1.25). Palp as in Fig. 3B–D . Tibia with massive apophysis, as long as tibia, pointed tip directed dorso-anteriorly with angle about 45° to the axis of the palp; cymbium ovoid, 1.6 times as long as wide; median apophysis long, oblique, about as long as tibial apophysis; embolar base ( Eb ) complex, with 2 outgrowths: a basal pointed process ( Po ) weakly sclerotized, and a sclerotized apical outgrowth ( Ao ) [tip appears broken] parallel to a bent, long embolus; embolus proper gently curved and making a course of about 90°. Female Unknown. Distribution Known only from the type locality in Yazd Province , central Iran .