Search

The results of the examination of further spider material deposited in the Agricultural Zoology Museum of Iran, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (Tehran, Iran), are reported, most of them from cereal fields and fruit orchards. A total of 634 specimens were studied, out of which, 106 species belonging to 70 genera and 27 families were identified. Five species are recorded for the fauna of Iran for the first time and documented by photos: Brigittea civica (Lucas, 1850) (Dictynidae), Pardosa roscai (Roewer, 1951) (Lycosidae), Tetragnatha isidis (Simon, 1880) (Tetragnathidae), Trachyzelotes miniglossus Levy, 2009 and Zelotes tenuis (L. Koch, 1866) (both Gnaphosidae). New provincial records are provided for additional 64 species. Earlier records of Heliophaneus aeneus (Hahn, 1832) in Iran are corrected to Heliophanus flavipes (Hahn, 1832) based on the re-examination of original material. Subsequently, H. aeneus has to be removed from the Iranian Checklist.

In this study, the crab spider (Thomisidae) fauna of Fars Province in Iran is investigated and some additional new records are given for both the country and the province. The species Monaeses israeliensis Levy, 1973, Synema anatolica Demir, Aktas & Topçu, 2009, Thomisus unidentatus Dippenaar-Schoeman & van Harten, 2007 and Xysticus abramovi Marusik & Logunov, 1995 are new records for Iran, while Heriaeus spinipalpus Loerbroks, 1983, Ozyptila tricoloripes Strand, 1913, Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837), Synema globosum (Fabricius, 1775), Thomisus zyuzini Marusik & Logunov, 1990, Xysticus kaznakovi Utochkin, 1968, X. loeffleri Roewer, 1955 and X. striatipes L. Koch, 1870 are new to the fauna of Fars Province.

The spider collection of the Zoological Museum of the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection was studied during the summer of 2014. A total of 180 specimens, belonging to 25 families, 60 genera and 77 species were documented. Of these, the following nine species could be recorded from Iran for the first time: Alopecosa schmidti (Hahn, 1835), Anyphaena accentuata (Walckenaer, 1802), Crustulina sticta (O. P.-Cambridge, 1861), Enoplognatha mordax (Thorell, 1875), Ero tuberculata (De Geer, 1778), Salticus zebraneus (C. L. Koch, 1837), Pardosa aenigmatica Tongiorgi, 1966, Pardosa nebulosa (Thorell, 1872) and Tmarus piochardi (Simon, 1866). Morphological and geographical data are provided for the newly recorded species. Two species (P. aenigmatica and T. piochardi) are illustrated and a map of localities is given.

A survey of spiders of the genus Scytodes Latreille, 1804 in Iran resulted in six species occurring in this country: Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, 1837, S. strandi Spassky, 1941, S. thoracica (Latreille, 1802), S. univittata Simon, 1882 and – recorded for the first time – S. arwa Rheims, Brescovit & van Harten, 2006 and S. makeda Rheims, Brescovit & van Harten, 2006. Illustrations of the newly recorded species and a key to all known Iranian species are presented.

Mutualistic and similar ecological associations between tarantulas (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) and other animals are reviewed. Such associations are found to occur in at least nine theraphosid subfamilies. We present 63 new cases of theraphosid–anuran associations from 10 countries, documenting these interactions for the first time in Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines. These findings are the first documentation of such associations for 13 theraphosid and 20 anuran taxa. Additionally, we report, for the first time, associations potentially of mutualistic nature between tarantulas and snakes, whip spiders, and harvestmen. Furthermore, we provide new reports of associations with ants and termites. While some of these interactions appear to be merely tolerated cohabitations, those involving anurans and ants seem to be more prevalent and complex, clearly offering benefits for both organisms. Additionally, based on multiple observations and field experiments, we propose a new hypothesis regarding the evolution of hirsuteness in theraphosids as a defensive strategy against predatory ants. This hypothesis supports previous findings that suggest a similar function for urticating setae incorporated into egg sacs and moulting mats. We further document a unique escape strategy against ants in New World arboreal theraphosids. Finally, the possibility of a chemical defence mechanism through specialised epidermal glands in theraphosids is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of ZodariellumAndreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) are described on the basis of male holotypes collected in Central Asia: Z. doroshkinisp. n. from Gorno-Badakhshan in eastern Tajikistan, and Z. kattakumsp. n. from Surxondaryo in southeastern Uzbekistan. Additionally, Z. turanicum Zamani & Marusik, 2022 is recorded from Uzbekistan for the first time, and new distribution records are provided for Z. bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) and Z. mongolicumMarusik & Koponen, 2001. Detailed descriptions, figures, diagnoses, distribution maps and photographs of habitats of the studied species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus, Turanobiusgen. n. (Araneae: Oecobiidae: Oecobiinae), is described from Iran and Central Asia, comprising the following four species: T. ferdowsii (Mirshamsi, Zamani and Marusik, 2017) comb. n. (♂; Iran, Kazakhstan), T. hissaricussp. n. (♂; Tajikistan), T. leptonychussp. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan), and T. tadzhikus (Andreeva and Tyshchenko, 1969) comb. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan); both new combinations are ex. Oecobius Lucas, 1846. Known distribution records of all four species are mapped. Additionally, a discussion is presented on the taxonomy of Oecobius and the potential revalidation of several genera currently considered synonymous with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]