A new genus and ten new species of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) from Iran

Abstract One new genus (Sestakovaiagen. nov.; Liocranidae) and 10 new species of five families of spiders are described from different provinces of Iran: Brigitteaavicennasp. nov. (♂♀, Alborz and Kurdistan provinces) (Dictynidae), Micariaatropatenesp. nov. (♂, East Azerbaijan Province), Zagrotesbornasp. nov. (♂, Hormozgan Province), Z.parlasp. nov. (♂, Kerman Province) (Gnaphosidae), Sestakovaiahyrcaniasp. nov. (♂, Golestan Province), Mesioteluspatrickisp. nov. (♂, Golestan Province) (Liocranidae), Palpimanuscarmaniasp. nov. (♂, Kerman Province), P.persicussp. nov. (♂♀, Hormozgan Province) (Palpimanidae), Rhysodromusgenoensissp. nov. (♂, Hormozgan Province), and R.medessp. nov. (♂, Hormozgan Province) (Philodromidae). Furthermore, Sestakovaiaannulipes (Kulczyński, 1897), comb. nov. (ex. Mesiotelus) and Zagrotesbifurcatus (Zamani, Chatzaki, Esyunin & Marusik, 2021), comb. nov. (ex. Berinda) are proposed as new combinations.


Introduction
Currently, 890 species in 321 genera and 54 families of spiders are known from Iran unpublished data). Although there have been many recent taxonomic revisions and large-scale faunistic surveys focusing on Iranian spiders (e.g., Montemor et al. 2020;Zamani and Bosselaers 2020;Zamani and Marusik 2021a, b;, the araneofauna of Iran nevertheless remains inadequately known, with much of the country poorly sampled and new species and distribution records found regularly. In this paper we contribute to the knowledge about spiders in Iran by describing a new genus and 10 new species, raising the number of spider species known from this country to 900 species in 322 genera.

Material and methods
Specimens were photographed using a Canon EOS 7D camera attached to an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope and a JEOL JSM-5200 scanning electron microscope at the Zoological Museum of the University of Turku. Specimens were photographed in dishes with paraffin on the bottom holding the specimens in desired position. Digital images were montaged using CombineZP and Helicon focus 3.10 image stacking software programs and edited using CorelDraw graphic design software. Lengths of palp and leg segments were measured on the dorsal side and are listed as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus [missing on the palp], tarsus).

Family Dictynidae O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871
Genus Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967 Comments. Brigittea is a small genus with six nominal species distributed in the Western Palaearctic, all of which were previously classified in Dictyna Sundevall, 1833. Males have a highly elevated cephalic region and chelicerae with lateral condyles and deeply concaved mesal margins. Females differ from those of the related genera by their spaced receptacles (vs touching each other).  47°05'E, 23.6.1975 (A. Senglet). Paratypes: 3♀ (MHNG), same collection data as the holotype; 2♀ (MHNG), Alborz Province: Asara, 36°02'N, 51°14 'E, 1900'E, m, 4.7.1975. Etymology. The new species is named after Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna (ca 980-June 1037), a Persian polymath who is regarded as the father of early modern medicine; noun in apposition.

Description. Male. Habitus as in
Palp as in Figures 2A Epigyne as in Figure 2C, D; epigynal field about 3 times wider than long; copulatory opening almost round, spaced by 1.6 diameters, lateral ridges (Er) located 2 diameters of copulatory openings apart from copulatory openings, their length about diameter of copulatory openings; copulatory ducts gradually tapering, making a course of about 90°, about 2 times longer than copulatory opening's diameter; receptacles (Re) smaller than copulatory openings, spaced slightly by more than one width.
Comments. At first look, the male palp is similar to those of the species of Emblyna Chamberlin, 1948 due to the modified embolus (thick and with complex tip). Current generic placement is due to the strongly raised cephalic region, which is also documented in the generotype, Brigittea latens (Fabricius, 1775), and modification of chelicera (cf. Fig. 1D and Miller and Svatoň 1978: pl. IV, figs 1, 2). All species assigned to Brigittea similarly have the posterior tip of conductor covered with fine teeth (cf. Marusik et al. 2015: figs 31, 35). Another similarity with the generotype is spaced receptacles (vs touching each other in Emblyna and Dictyna). Although B. latens has a filamentous embolus, its tip is modified in a similar way as in B. avicenna sp. nov. (cf. Marusik et al. 2015: fig. 36). There is another character that is different in the new species and the generotype -the structure of the cribellum. In the new species the cribellum is integral, while in B. latens it is bipartite (cf. Lehtinen 1967).
Distribution. Known only from the listed localities in Alborz and Kurdistan provinces, northern and western Iran. Comments. This genus was recently described as monotypic from southwestern and southern Iran, with Zagrotes apophysalis Zamani, Chatzaki, Esyunin & Marusik, 2021 as the type species. In the same paper,  described another similar species in another genus, namely Berinda bifurcata Zamani, Chatzaki, Esyunin & Marusik, 2021. The two new species described here are closely related to B. bifurcata, and to a lesser degree to Z. apophysalis. All species possess a bifurcated RTA and similar conformation of the bulb. For this reason, we propose a new combination, Zagrotes bifurcatus (Zamani, Chatzaki, Esyunin & Marusik, 2021), comb. nov., despite the fact that this species and the two new ones described here lack modifications on palpal patella and swollen tibia that are present in the type species.
Distribution. Endemic to Iran, distributed along the southwestern and southern slopes of Zagros Mountains, from Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad to Hormozgan. Etymology. The specific epithet is a Persian masculine given name meaning "young". Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to Z. parla sp. nov. and can be distinguished by the RTA longer than ½ of the cymbium's length (vs shorter) and less deeply bifurcated (cf. Fig. 6B and D), and the relatively shorter palpal tibia (4 times shorter than cymbium vs 2 times shorter), and by the shape of the bulb. The two species differ also by the shape of the sperm duct and tegular apophysis (cf. Fig. 5A and C).
Palp as in Figures 5A, B, 6A, B, 7A, B; tibia as long as wide, RTA almost twice longer than tibia, bifurcated in anterior 1/3, ventral arm rounded and dorsal one sharply pointed; cymbium 2 times longer than wide, and 4 times longer than tibia; tegular apophysis claw-like, directed laterally, with abrupt tip in lateral view; sperm duct with characteristic coil prolaterally.
Female. Unknown. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.     Etymology. The specific epithet is a Persian feminine given name meaning "glowing". Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to Z. borna sp. nov. and can be distinguished by the RTA shorter than ½ of the cymbium's length (vs longer), the more deeply bifurcated RTA (cf. Fig. 6D and B), relatively longer palpal tibia (2 times shorter than cymbium vs 4 times shorter), and the shape of the bulb. The two species differ also by the shape of the sperm duct and tegular apophysis (cf. Fig. 6C and A).
Description. Male. Habitus as in Figure 4B. Total length 4.93. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.63 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.10, ALE: 0.09, PME: 0.10, PLE: 0.08. Carapace, labium, chelicera, maxilla and sternum light brown, without any pattern. Legs yellowish-brown, without annulations. Abdomen cream-colored, with a tuft of dark brown long setae anteriorly and sparse lighter setae; ventrally with distinct tracheal marks. Etymology. The specific epithet (a noun in apposition) refers to an ancient kingdom established in ca 323 BC by the Persian satrap Atropates, centered in present-day northern and northwestern Iran.
Diagnosis. The new species is most similar to M. rossica (Thorell, 1875) by having a small tibial apophysis, vestigial tegular apophysis (Ta), a similar course of the sperm duct, and the distal tegular process (Dp) extending to the anterior edge of the tegulum. Micaria atropatene sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the shape of the tegular process, which has an almost transverse anterior edge and a small spine-like tip (vs gradually tapering).
Female. Unknown. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran. Description. Medium-sized, carapace ca 2.0 long, 1.5 wide, length of chelicera ca 1/3 of carapace length. Carapace and abdomen with distinct pattern. For details, see Chyzer and Kulczyński (1897) and the description below.
Comments. Homology of anterior tegular apophysis (Aa) is not clear, as such structure is not known in other genera of the family.
Distribution. Central Europe, Near East and northern Iran.  Diagnosis. The new species differs from S. annulipes comb. nov. by having the RTA bent almost at a right angle and with a pointed tip (vs RTA bent at a lesser angle and its tip rounded), a wider embolus (Em) and process of the embolus (Pe), and the embolus located prolaterally in relation to the process (vs embolus mesal and process prolateral).
Female. Unknown. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Golestan Province, northern Iran. (Kulczyński, 1897), comb. nov. Figure 9D Liocranum annulipes  Comments. This species transferred to this new genus due to the similarity of the male palp to the generotype. Although this species has a relatively large range (reported from Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Turkey; WSC 2021), the female characters have not been redescribed and the structure of the endogyne remains unillustrated.  Etymology. This new species is named after our colleague and friend L. Brian Patrick (Dakota Wesleyan University, USA), in recognition of his efforts in popularizing taxonomy via his podcast "New Species".

Diagnosis.
The new species differs from the generotype, Mesiotelus tenuissimus (L. Koch, 1866), by having a relatively longer, thinner and gradually tapering RTA which is about 3 times longer than its basal width (vs RTA with subparallel margins and less than 2 times longer than wide), a much longer median apophysis, about ½ of tegulum's length (vs about 4 times shorter than tegulum), and a longer embolus terminating anteriorly from the tegulum (vs embolus short, spine-like and terminating beyond the anterior edge of the tegulum). The two species also differ by the course of sperm duct and the shape of the anterior tegular apophysis (Aa).

Family Palpimanidae Thorell, 1870
Genus Palpimanus Dufour, 1820 Comments. Palpimanus is the most species-rich genus in Palpimaninae, with 35 currently recognized species (WSC 2021). Although the Mediterranean species have been the subject of two revisions by Kulczyński (1909) and Platnick (1981), the genus remains poorly studied: male palps were illustrated very schematically and endogynes were not illustrated at all. Additionally, there is no proper terminology for the sclerites in the male palp; Platnick (1981) used the neuter terms 'prong' and 'flange'. Within Palpimaninae, the endogynes are very weakly sclerotized and difficult to observe, hence the lack of proper illustrations. The set of illustrations in Platnick (1981: figs 10-18) is very schematic and in some cases appears to be misinterpreted. Both new species found in Iran have male palps rather different from that of the type species (P. gibbulus Dufour, 1820) and most likely belong to a different, currently undescribed genus.
Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to a historical region that approximately corresponds to the modern Iranian province of Kerman, where the type locality of the new species is situated.
Diagnosis. The new species differs from the related P. persicus sp. nov. by the more distal position of the base of the "embolic stalk" (Es) and wider stalk with sharply pointed tip (vs more proximal, thinner and without sharply pointed tip; cf. Fig. 16E and A) and also by having wider than long palpal tibia (vs as wide as long). It is most similar to P. cf. sogdianus from Azerbaijan illustrated by Marusik and Guseinov (2003). Both have a sharply pointed embolic stalk (Es), but in the new species this originates from the distal half of the bulb (vs proximal half ).
Female. Unknown. Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Kerman Province, southern Iran.   Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective of "Persian" or "of Persia", referring to the historical region of the Middle East, located in the east of Mesopotamia (nowadays Iran).
Diagnosis. The male of this species differs from the closely related Palpimanus carmania sp. nov. by having the embolic stalk originating in the proximal half of the bulb (vs distal) and the stalk wider, not tapering, and its tip not pointed (cf. Fig. 16A and E). Endogyne of the new species is similar to that of P. sogdianus Charitonov, 1946 and specimens identified as P. cf. sogdianus from Azerbaijan (see Marusik and Guseinov 2003: figs 35-36), but it differs by having the anterior and posterior halves of the receptacles subequal in length (vs anterior halves longer). In addition, females of the new species differ from specimen from Azerbaijan by having the copulatory opening (Co) more arched.
Palp as in Figures 15D-F, 16A-D; tibia swollen, as wide as long; cymbium 1.6 times longer than wide; embolic stalk (Es) originates in proximal half of bulb, wide, not tapering, tip not pointed.
Endogyne as in Figure 17A-F; copulatory opening (Co) arched in ventral view and squared in posterior view; endogyne weakly sclerotized, receptacles about 3.5 times longer than wide, each with cylindrical posterior part and subglobular anterior part, posterior parts converging, receptacles lacking distinct accessorial or pore glands; fine threads (Ft) originate near copulatory opening; grape-shaped glands (Gg) poorly distinct, about 5 on each side.
Comment. As the single female specimen treated here was collected separately from the males and in a different locality (although all from the same province and from sites relatively close to one another), it was not considered within the type material; the conspecificity of these specimens shall be confirmed when both sexes are collected together.
Distribution. Known only from the listed localities in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.

Family Philodromidae Thorell, 1870
Genus Rhysodromus Schick, 1965 Comments. Considered a relatively large genus, Rhysodromus includes 26 valid species, the majority of which are distributed in the Palaearctic. The genus is relatively well studied due to several revisions, especially that by Szita and Logunov (2008).
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the type locality of the new species in Geno Biosphere Reserve.
Diagnosis. This species differs from all congeners by the lack of the RTA (vs present in all species) and bifurcated tip of tegular apophysis (vs not bifurcated).
Description. Male. Habitus as in Figure 18A. Total length 3.80. Carapace 1.65 long, 1.60 wide. Eye sizes: AME: 0.11, ALE: 0.10, PME: 0.06, PLE: 0.10. Carapace, labium, chelicera and maxilla brown, without any pattern; pars cephalica and median part of pars thoracica lighter in color; sternum pale, with a grayish marginal band. Legs yellowish-brown, with numerous dark spots and small patches. Abdomen grayish, dorsally with distinct cardiac mark and darker margins and light spots and patches; ventrally with slightly darker median band. Palp as in Figures 19A, B, 20A-F; tibia as long as bulb's width, lacking distinct apophysis; cymbium with long tip (partially extending tegulum), about 0.9 of tegulum's length; tegulum oval, about 1.5 times longer than wide; sperm duct with small transverse loop in mesal part of tegulum; tegular apophysis long, located anteriorly along longitudinal axis, tip bifid; embolus long, >0.5 of tegulum's length, straight, with tip gently bent retrolaterally.

Comments.
The new species has a pattern typical for the genus and is particularly similar to R. alascensis (Keyserling, 1884) and R. histrio (Latreille, 1819).
There are two Rhysodromus species in the region (both from Caucasus) known from females only, R. rikhteri (Logunov & Huseynov, 2008) and R. naxcivanicus (Logunov & Huseynov, 2008), but it is very unlikely that either of them would be conspecific   with R. genoensis sp. nov., as their type localities are located more than 1000 km distant from that of the new species.
Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, referring to an ancient Iranian people who spoke the Median language and inhabited an area known as Media between western and northern Iran.

Rhysodromus medes
Diagnosis. The new species differs from all congeners (as well as all other members of Philodromus sensu lato) by having 2 parallel, unspaced tibial apophyses of the same length (vs apophyses either absent, or 1 or 2 spaced and not of equal length) and sperm duct thick at proximal-prolateral part, as thick as retrolaterally (vs prolateral part gradually tapering and thinner than retrolateral part).
Comments. This species is tentatively placed in Rhysodromus, as it has a different pattern and a very thick sperm duct which is unknown in other members of the genus. The generic placement is due to the presence of tegular apophysis and two closely placed tibial apophyses, similar to R. mysticus (Dondale & Redner, 1975).
Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.