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 Scotophaeus elburzensis sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CD564644-82B1-4E91-974E-9C6BEEB5CBA3 Figs 19D–F, I , 20 Diagnosis The new species is easily distinguished from its congeners by the atrium which is trapezoidal posteriorly and anteriorly an open dome, and by the peculiar placement of the two pairs of receptacles, one vertical to the other. As in the similar S. anahita sp. nov. , the posterior part of the epigynal atrium is most similar to that of S. nanus (see Wunderlich 1995 : figs 6–8), but the rest of the epigynal characters are unique enough to consider it a new species. This species can be further diagnosed from the related S . anahita sp. nov. by the lateral ducts being relatively straight and slightly curved outward (vs spiraled) and the terminal lobes being larger than the basal lobes and located posteriorly (vs smaller than basal lobes and located anteriorly). Etymology The specific epithet is an adjective and refers to the Elburz Mountain Range, from where the specimens have been collected. Type material Holotype IRAN • ♀ ; Zanjan Province , Gheydar ; 36°06′ N , 48°34′ E ; 25 May 2017 ; L. Karami leg.; ZMMU . Other material examined IRAN • 1 ♀ ; Tehran Province , Koolak (= Kolakchal); 2400–2500 m a.s.l. ; 25 May 1978 ; J. Martens and H. Pieper leg.; SMF . Fig. 20. Scotophaeus elburzensis sp. nov. (A, C = ♀ from Tehran Province, SMF; B = holotype, ♀, ZMMU). A–B . Habitus, dorsal view. C . Chelicerae, posterior view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm, unless stated otherwise. Description Female ( holotype ) Habitus as in Fig. 20A–B . Total length 10.8. Carapace 5.25 long, 3.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistance of PMEs: AME = 0.17, ALE = 0.15, PME = 0.14, PLE = 0.17, PME–PME = 0.13. Carapace yellowish brown, covered with dark, short setae. Chelicerae ( Fig. 20C ) brown, with 3 promarginal teeth. Sternum yellowish brown with dark borders, covered with black setae. Maxillae and labium yellow-brown with white tips. Legs yellowish brown with lighter femora. Abdomen gray, covered with white plumose hairs and dark setae dorsally, and grayish white with dark setae ventrally. Spinnerets yellowish brown and uniform in color. Measurements of legs: I: 12.20 (3.50, 1.95, 2.85, 2.30, 1.60), II: 12.00 (3.50, 1.95, 2.70, 2.30, 1.55), III: 11.50 (3.30, 1.70, 2.40, 2.55, 1.55), IV: 15.25 (4.00, 2.00, 3.45, 4.05, 1.75). Spination: I: Fe: 2d, 1pl; Ti: 4v; Mt: 2v. II: Fe: 2d, 2pl; Ti: 3v; Mt: 2v. III: Fe: 3d, 2pl, 2rl; Ti: 1d, 3pl, 3rl, 6v; Mt: 5pl, 5rl, 6v. IV: Fe: 3d, 2pl, 2rl; Ti: 2d, 3pl, 3rl, 6v; Mt: 5pl, 5rl, 6v. Epigyne as in Fig. 19D–F, I . Atrium bordered by lateral margin ( Lm ); lateral ducts ( Ld ) slightly curved outward, originating posteriorly to the atrium, forming a chitinized ʻridgeʼ to the prolateral side of the lateral margin ( rLD ); each receptacle consists of two spherical lobes ( Bl and Tl ) connected by large copulatory ducts. Male Unknown. Comments There are differences in the size and position of the receptacles between the type specimen from Zanjan ( Fig. 19F, I ) and the additional material examined from Tehran ( Fig. 19D–E ), which are considered intraspecific variations. Distribution Known only from the listed localities in Zanjan and Tehran Provinces, northwestern and northern Iran .