Corresponding author: Ghasem M. Kashani (
Academic editor: Stefano Taiti
In the present study,
Intraspecific variability of morphological characters has been reported in many terrestrial isopods (e.g. in
Due to the lack of a comprehensive description along with a critical consideration of subspecific division for the species, the main purposes of the present paper are the redescription of
Sampling localities of
The material of the present study from Iran was collected by the first author unless otherwise mentioned. The specimens were collected by hand and preserved in 96% ethanol. The isopods were dissected and body parts were slide-mounted using Euparal (Carl Roth, Karlsruhe). Digital color images were taken using a Qimaging MicroPublisher 5.0 RTV digital camera and Syncroscopy Auto-Montage (v 5.03.0061) software. Drawings were made using a camera lucida fitted on an Olympus SZX12 dissecting stereomicroscope and on an Olympus BX51 compound microscope. The material used for SEM-preparations was air-dried overnight. The mounted material was coated with gold in a sputter coater to 40 nm thickness and examined with a Hitachi S-2460N SEM.
For comparison, type or additional material was obtained from the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH) and Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Stuttgart (SMNS). The examined material from Iran is deposited in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran (ZUTC). Some specimens are kept in the personal collection of the first author.
In addition to the presence of
Cephalothorax with rounded lateral lobes and short to developed median lobe, frons with or without incision in the middle; dorsal part with several rounded tubercles of the same or different size. Pereion-tergites I to III with tubercles decreasing in number posteriorly. Male pereiopod VII ischium with straight to sinuate ventral margin. Male pleopod-endopdite I straight; apex with a leaf-like lobe.
Maximum length of both male and female: 18 mm. Body elongated. Color brown with epimera, posterior margin of tergites and pleotelson pale (
Cephalothorax with rounded lateral lobes, median lobe with variable size and shape; several rounded tubercles of the same or different size in dorsal part (
Pereion-tergite I with rounded tubercles, two markedly larger tubercles on the median part; and with rounded hind margin (
Pleon short, smooth, slightly narrower than pereion (
Pleopod-exopodites I–V with monospiracular covered lungs.
Male: Pereiopod I merus and carpus with or without brushes of setae (
Pleopod-endopodite I straight, apex with a leaf-like lobe, equipped with setae, variable in shape (
This species is distinguished from other species of the genus by the unique shape of male pleopod-endopodite I, with apex bearing a leaf-like lobe.
Georgia; Azerbaijan; easternmost Turkey; Turkmenistan; Iran.
We are grateful to Stefano Taiti (Firenze, Italy) for his advice, scientific comments and improving the draft of the manuscript, to Helmut Schmalfuss (SMNS) and Wolfgang Wägele (Museum König, Bonn) for their hospitality during a visit by G. M. K. to the museums and to Miranda Lowe (BMNH) for the loan of specimens. The authors acknowledge the financial supports by University of Tehran and University of Zanjan.