Three new species of the subterranean huntsman spider genus Spariolenus (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) in Iran Author Moradmand, Majid text Subterranean Biology 2017 24 11 25 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.24.20985 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.24.20985 1314-2615--11 7A48B2C0CCFE474F9E95D1DCEA68D4AC Spariolenus fathpouri Moradmand sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 3A Type material. Holotype: ♂, IRAN: Khuzestan Province: N of Lali, Pebdeh Cave, 32°26.50'N , 42°13.35'E , 11 April 2015, SD 111, M. Moradmand, F. Moin, Sh. Esmailbegi, A. Bagheri leg. (SMF). Paratypes: 1♂ and 2♀ ♀ with same data as for holotype (1♂, 1♀ ZMUI; 1♀ SMF) Etymology. The species is named in honour of Dr Hossein Fathpour, retired associate professor of Zoology (University of Isfahan), who first perceived and supported the author's enthusiasm for investigating the world of arthropods; genitive case. Diagnosis. The male can be distinguished from other congeners by its bifurcated ET (similar to S. zagros and S. mansourii sp. n.) but differ from the two later by the crescent shape of the prolateral ET (PET) having a notch (Fig. 1 A-D ). The female vulva can be distinguished by having unique expansion in EP anteriorly, constructing a marsupial-like structure (Fig. 2B). Figure 1. Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n., male holotype, Khuzestan, Pebdeh Cave, Iran (SMF). A-C left palp (A prolateral B ventral C retrolateral) D bulbus, ventral E chelicerae, ventral F eye arrangement, dorsal. Abbreviations: BRB - basal retrolateral bulge, C - conductor, ET - embolus tip, PET - prolateral part of embolus, RET - retrolateral part of embolus, RTA - retrolateral tibial apophysis, SD - sperm duct, T - tegulum. Scale bars: 1 mm ( A-C , E, F), 0.5 mm (D). Description. Male: Measurements. Medium-sized Sparassidae ; holotype: total length 14.0, carapace length 6.7, width 5.5, anterior width 3.6, opisthosoma length 7.3, width 4.3. Anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior eye row straight (Fig. 1F). Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 4 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 10-15 intermarginal denticles; retromargin with two bristles at base of fang (Fig. 1E). Eyes. AME 0.27, ALE 0.70, PME 0.48, PLE 0.76, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.17, AME-ALE 0.06, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.53, AME-PME 0.34, ALE-PLE 0.52. Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 10.8 [3.6, 1.5, 2.2, 3.5], I 47.0 [12.2, 4.6, 13.5, 13.2, 3.5], II 51.2 [13.8, 4.5, 15.5, 14.2, 3.2], III 38.0 [10.8, 3.7, 11.2, 9.7, 2.6], IV 39.9 [11.1, 3.5, 11.2, 11.3, 2.8]. Spination . Palp 131, 101, 1013; Legs: Femur I-III 323, IV 321; Patella I-IV 101; Tibia I 222(10), II 222(10), III 1218, IV 3236; Metatarsus I 0004, II-III 2024, IV 3036. Figure 2. Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n., female paratype, Khuzestan, Pebdeh Cave, Iran (ZMUI). A epigynum, ventral B vulva, dorsal C right vulva, lateral. Abbreviations: CO - copulatory opening; EF - epigynal field; EP - epigynal pit; FC - first coil of vulva; FD - fertilisation duct; LID - lumen of internal duct system; MEP - margin of epigynal pit; SC - second coil of vulva; SS - slit sensillum; TC - third coil of vulva. Scale bar: 1 mm. Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium 1.5 times longer than tibia, BRB present, RTA short, dRTA pointed and vRTA blunt in retrolateral view, both are blunt and the same length in ventral view, PET shorter than RET, PET cover proximal half of RET partially in ventral view. Conductor hyaline and not extending beyond or roughly the same length of ET (Fig. 1 A-D ). Female: Habitus as in Fig. 3A. Measurements. Large-sized Sparassidae ; total length 27.6, carapace length 13.6, width 11.7, anterior width 6.5, opisthosoma length 14.0, width 8.0. Chelicerae. With 3 anterior and 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow with 15-20 intermarginal denticles. Eyes. AME 0.51, ALE 1.1, PME 0.70, PLE 1.3, eye inter distances: AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.11, PME-PME 0.48, PME-PLE 0.97, AME-PME 0.67, ALE-PLE 0.95. Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Palp 19.8 [5.7, 3.0, 4.5, 6.6], I 71.3 [18.2, 8.2, 20.4, 19.5, 5.0], II 79.3 [21.4, 8.9, 22.8, 21.2, 5.0], III 66.6 [18.2, 7.3, 17.2, 17.3, 6.6], IV 68.7 [18.7, 7.3, 17.9, 19.5, 5.3]. Spination . Palp 131, 101, 2221, 2014; Legs: Femur I-III 323, IV 321; Patella I-IV 101; Tibia I 101(10), II 111(10), III 2228, IV 2226; Metatarsus I- II 0004, III 2024, IV 3036. Epigynum. As in diagnosis, with EF as long as wide, AB present but short, MEP extending first half laterad and second half frontad (Fig. 2 A-C ). Distribution and habitat preferences. Known only from the type locality, the Pebdeh cave ecosystem (Fig. 3B, C). The cave is rich in biodiversity of arthropods including unidentified species of insects (Fig. 3D, F). A relatively large population of bats inhabit the cave and produce huge piles of guano, a source of energy for a potential food chain inside the cave. Figure 3. A Habitus of Spariolenus fathpouri sp. n., paratype female, alive in the type locality B Pebdeh Cave, Iran, the type locality, entrance (arrow) C ditto, Pebdeh Cave D Blattidae E dead Bat suffered from fire F Coleopteran beetles. Conservation status of the type locality. The Pebdeh cave suffered from a man-made fire just a few years ago which resulted in a decline of the bat population (Fig. 3E) and of the rest of the diversity of inhabitants (pers. ob.). The cave is fortunately under formal registration as national heritage of Iran because of evidences of earliest date of human occupation inside the cave.