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Research Article
Terrestrial isopods of the family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899 from Iran, with description of a new species (Isopoda, Oniscidea)
expand article infoGhasem M. Kashani‡, Ahdiyeh Abedini‡, Giuseppe Montesanto§
‡ University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
§ University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Corresponding author: Ghasem M. Kashani ( gmkashani@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Stefano Taiti
© 2018 Ghasem M. Kashani, Ahdiyeh Abedini, Giuseppe Montesanto.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Kashani GM, Abedini A, Montesanto G (2018) Terrestrial isopods of the family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899 from Iran, with description of a new species (Isopoda, Oniscidea). In: Hornung E, Taiti S, Szlavecz K (Eds) Isopods in a Changing World. ZooKeys 801: 177-187. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.801.23340
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:92B6C4EC-10C4-4131-838D-6835EA3B7282
Open Access

Abstract

In the present work, terrestrial isopods of the family Eubelidae are investigated in Iran. The genera Periscyphis and Somalodillo are reported for the first time. More localities are presented for Koweitoniscus tamei (Omer-Cooper, 1923) while K. shafieii Kashani, sp. n. is described and figured. A map indicating the sampling localities for the species is presented.

Keywords

Eubelidae , Iran, new species, new records, Oniscidea

Introduction

The family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899 includes 50 genera distributed mostly in the tropical areas of Africa, and partly in south-eastern Asia and in the Arabian Peninsula (Taiti et al. 1991). Schmidt (2003) considered the occurrence of some eubelid species in the Neotropics due to human activities. Uropods with flattened sympodites and reduced exopodites inserting medially on the distal margin of the sympodites, presence of sulcus arcuatus on the lateral margins of the first coxal plates along with the conglobation ability are the most significant diagnostic characters of the family (Taiti et al. 1991; Schmidt 2003). Koweitoniscus tamei (Omer-Cooper, 1923) was the first eubelid species reported from Iran (Kashani 2014). In the present study, more localities are reported for the species and two more species are identified: Periscyphis vittatus Omer-Cooper, 1926 and Koweitoniscus shafieii Kashani, sp. n. The genus Somalodillo is also reported for the first time based on one female specimen. Sampling localities are presented on a map.

Material and methods

The material examined in the present study was collected in Iran since 2008 (Figure 1). The specimens were collected by hand and preserved in 96% ethanol. The specimens were dissected and body parts were slide-mounted using Euparal (Carl Roth, Karlsruhe). Drawings were made using a drawing tube on a Nikon Y-IDT compound microscope. Color images were taken using an Olympus DP71 digital camera on an Olympus SZH10 stereomicroscope. Type material of the newly described species is deposited in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran (ZUTC), the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP) and in the personal collection of the first author (PCGMK). Drawing and plates were arranged with the methods described in Montesanto (2015, 2016).

Figure 1. 

Map of Iran indicating the sampling localities of Periscyphis vittatus (▼), Koweitoniscus tamei (●), K. shafieii (▲), and Somalodillo sp. (◄). Numbers refer to the sampling localities indicated in brackets in the material examined section for each species. Abbreviations: Bu: Bushehr; CB: Chehar–Mahal va Bakhtiari; Fa: Fars; Im: Ilam; KB: Kohgiluyeh va Boyer–Ahmad; Kh: Khouzestan; Kr: Kerman; Lo: Lorestan; SB: Sistan va Balouchistan; Tr: Tehran.

Systematic account

Order Isopoda Latreille, 1817

Suborder Oniscidea Latreille, 1802

Family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899

Genus Periscyphis Gerstaecker, 1873

Type species. Periscyphis trivialis Gerstaecker, 1873 by monotypy.

Periscyphis vittatus Omer-Cooper, 1926

Figure 2A

Material examined

Sistan va Balouchistan, [17] 6 ♀♀, Chabahar, 4 Dec. 2008, leg. H. Salehi (PCGMK 1385); [18] 3 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, 15 Km to Konarak, 25°26.3'N, 60°29.5'E, 9 Feb. 2009, leg. E. Entezari (PCGMK 1714); [18] 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 15 Km E Konarak, 25°26.3'N, 60°29.5'E, 9 Feb. 2009, leg. E. Entezari (IRIPP Iso.1066).

Remarks

The genus Periscyphis comprises 46 species, mostly present in eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula (Schmalfuss 2003; Taiti and Checcucci 2011; Taiti and Schotte 2016; Taiti and Montesanto 2018). Periscyphis vittatus is reported here for the first time from two localities in southern Iran (Figure 1). As reported for Pakistan (Schmalfuss 2003), this species is most probably introduced to Iran. The identification of the species was based on the comparison of the characters of the specimens (Figure 2A) with the description and illustration presented by Ferrara & Taiti (1986: 96; fig. 6).

Figure 2. 

A Periscyphis vittatus B Koweitoniscus tamei. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Distribution

Eritrea; Djibouti; Mozambique; Somalia; Arabian Peninsula; Socotra Island; Pakistan; Iran.

Genus Koweitoniscus Vandel, 1975

Type species. Koweitoniscus ahmadii Vandel, 1975 (= Periscyphis tamei Omer-Cooper, 1923) by original designation and monotypy.

Koweitoniscus tamei (Omer-Cooper, 1923)

Figure 2B

Material examined

Boushehr, [15] 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Borazjan to Boushehr, 20 Km to Boushehr, 29°02.7'N, 51°03.0'E, 16 May 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani, (PCGMK 1224); Kohgiluyeh-va-Boyerahmad, [10] 1 ♂, Sough, 2 May 2003, leg. M. Rezaei (PCGMK 1271); 1 ♀, Sough, 2 May 2003, leg. M. Rezaei (IRIPP Iso-1006); [11] 1 ♀, Dehdasht, 2 May 2003, leg. M. Rezaei (PCGMK 1272); [12] 1 ♀, Gachsaran, Tappe-Aqrab, 3 May 2003, leg. M. Rezaei (PCGMK 1268); Cheharmahal-va-Bakhtiari, [9] 1 ♂, Sarkhoun to Lordegan, 31°40.3'N, 50°44.4'E, 18 June 2016, leg. G.M. Kashani, A. Abedini & Z. Hatami (PCGMK 2328); Lorestan, [2] 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Poldokhtar, 33°07.0'N, 47°43.4'E, 12 Nov. 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (IRIPP Iso-1007); [3] 15 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀, Poldokhtar to Andimeshk, 80 Km to Andimeshk, 32°56.2'N, 47°52.5'E, 12 Nov. 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (PCGMK 1395); [3] 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀, Poldokhtar to Andimeshk, 80 Km to Andimeshk, 32°56.2'N, 47°52.5'E, 12 Nov. 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (IRIPP Iso-1008); Ilam, [4] 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Dehloran to Abdanan, 32°39.9'N, 47°32.0'E, 13 Nove. 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (PCGMK 1399); Tehran, [1] 1 ♂, Varamin, Pishva, 35°12.4'N, 51°48.4'E, 26 Apr. 2009, leg. G.M. Kashani (PCGMK 1436); Khouzestan, [5] 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Shoush, Karkhe national park, 5 Aug. 2017, leg. H. Maddahi (PCGMK 2642); [6] 2 ♀♀, Shoush to Andimeshk, Safar Abad village, by the Dez river, 32°16.1'N, 48°24.0'E, 6 May 2009, leg. H. Salehi (IRIPP Iso-1010); [7] 9 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, Ramhormoz, Bony village, 23 Mar. 2015, leg. M. Larti (PCGMK 2078); [8] 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, Dehdez to Izeh, 22 Km to Izeh, 31°49.0'N, 50°03.0'E, 19 Jun. 2016, leg. G.M. Kashani, A. Abedini & Z. Hatami (PCGMK 2350); Fars, [13] 1 ♀, Kopen to Masiri, 2 Km to Dozak village, 30°18.5'N, 51°22.7'E, 19 Jul. 2015, leg. G.M. Kashani, Z. Hatami & A. Abedini (PCGMK 2207); [14] 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Shiraz, by the Parishan lake, 31 Oct. 2012, leg. S. Hosseini (IRIPP Iso-1011).

Remarks

The broad distribution of Koweitoniscus tamei in south and south-western Iran was reported by Kashani (2014). Here, more localities are introduced for the species (Figure 1). The presence of the species in the town of Tehran might be due to human activities. The identification of the species was based on the comparison of the species (Figure 2B) with the original descriptions and illustrations presented by Omer-Cooper (1923: 96, figs 1–16) and the figures by Ferrara & Taiti (1986: 100, fig. 15).

Distribution

Syria; Iraq; Kuwait; Iran.

Koweitoniscus shafieii Kashani, sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/DC0328B2-6868-4361-B85D-D7FF7C49E55E
Figs 3, 4, 5

Material examined

Holotype: ♂, 10 mm, [15] Kerman, Jebalbarez to Jiroft, 10 Km to Jiroft, 28°45.8'N, 57°45.5'E, elev. 835m, 25 Feb. 2009, leg. G.M. Kashani (ZUTC 6747). Paratypes: 1 ♀, same data as holotype (ZUTC 6748); 1 ♀, same data as holotype (IRIPP Iso.1009); 2 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, same data as holotype (PCGMK 1450); [16] 1 ♂, Jiroft, 6 Apr. 2009, leg. E. Entezari (PCGMK 1440).

Diagnosis

Head with an interrupted frontal ridge; inner lobe of schisma longer than outer one; telson with pointed distal part; male pleopod 1 endopodite bent inward with pointed apex.

Description

Maximum length: male 10 mm; female 11 mm.

Coloration: vertex, pereon-tergites, pleon-tergites 3–5 and telson blackish; posterior margins of pereon-tergites II-III, pereon and pleon epimera, uropods, pleonites I-II and pereopods yellowish (Figure 3A). Body smooth, convex, able to roll up into a ball (Figs 3A, 4A).

Figure 3. 

Koweitoniscus shafieii sp. n., female, paratype. A lateral view B pleon in dorsal view C cephalothorax and pereonite 1 in dorsal view D cephalothorax in frontal view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Cephalothorax (Figs 3C, D; 4B, C) with frontal ridge broadly open in the middle; eyes with 16–18 ommatidia. Antennula (Figure 4D) with second article shortest; third article bearing a tuft of aesthetascs at apex. Antenna (Figure 4E) with fifth article of peduncle longer than flagellum; flagellum with two articles, proximal article as long as the distal one.

Pereonite 1 (Figs 3A, 4A) with a wide sulcus arcuatus along the lateral margin; posterolateral corner with a schisma, inner and outer lobes rounded, inner lobe more protruding backwards than outer one; posterior margin straight.

Telson (Figs 3B, 4F) approximately 1.3 times as wide as long, with concave sides and distal part triangular with pointed apex. Uropod (Figs 3B, 4F) with subquadrangular protopodite, posterior margin slightly sinuous but not indented; exopodite minute inserted dorsally near the posterior margin.

Figure 4. 

Koweitoniscus shafieii sp. n., paratype, female. A lateral view B cephalothorax in dorsal view C cephalothorax in frontal view D antennula E antenna F telson and uropods. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Male: Pereopods 1–4 carpus with a brush of pointed setae (Figure 5A). Pereopod 7 (Figure 5B) ischium narrow with concave ventral margin; merus and carpus elongated, without distinct specializations. Pleopod 1endopodite (Figure 5C) with medial part bent outward and distal part bent inward with pointed apex bearing a row of fine setae on outer margin; exopodite (Figure 5D) short, with widely rounded hind lobe equipped with a row of pointed setae. Pleopod 2 (Figure 5E) exopodite longer than wide with numerous small scales and a line of setae on the outer margin. Pleopod 3–5 exopodites as in Figs 5F–H.

Figure 5. 

Koweitoniscus shafieii sp. n., male, paratype. A pereopod 1 B pereopod 7 C pleopod 1 endopodite with enlarged apex D pleopod 1 exopodite E pleopod 2 F pleopod 3 exopodite G pleopod 4 exopodite H pleopod 5 exopodite.

Etymology

The species is named after Dr. Soheila Shafiei, Ph.D. classmate of GMK, now a herpetologist in Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

Remarks

The genus Koweitoniscus presently embraces five species (Schmalfuss 2003; Taiti and Checcucci 2011; Kashani 2014, Taiti and Montesanto 2018): K. tamei (Omer-Cooper, 1923) from Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and Iran, K. rostratus Ferrara & Taiti, 1986 from south-western Saudi Arabia, K. vanharteni Ferrara & Taiti, 1996 from Yemen, K. korshunovi Taiti & Checcucci, 2011 from the United Arab Emirates, and K. agnellii Taiti & Montesanto, 2018 from Djibouti. The new species differs from K. rostratus and K. vanharteni in having an interrupted frontal margin in the cephalothorax, and from K. tamei, K. korshunovi, and K. agnellii in having the inner lobe of schisma longer than outer one and the distal part of the male pleopod 1 endopodite bent inward with pointed apex. Koweitoniscus shafieii was found in southern Iran and according to current knowledge appears to be endemic to this region.

Distribution

Iran (endemic): Jiroft district.

Genus Somalodillo Taiti & Ferrara, 1982

Type species. Somalodillo squamatus Taiti & Ferrara, 1982 by original designation.

Somalodillo sp.

Figure 6

Material examined

Sistan va Balouchistan, [17] 1 ♀, Chabahar, 9 Feb. 2009, leg. E. Entezari (PCGMK 2111).

Remarks

This is the first record of the genus Somalodillo reported from Iran. According to Taiti & Ferrara (1982; 2004), pereonite 1 with a schisma and sulcus arcuatus (Figure 6A–C), the telson with a rectangular distal part, uropod with minute exopodite inserted dorsally close to distal margin (Figure 6D), and pleopod exopodite 2 with monospiracular lungs clearly identify the specimen as a member of the genus Somalodillo. With no available male specimens, it was not possible to identify this female to specific level.

Figure 6. 

Somalodillo sp. A lateral view B cephalothorax and pereonite 1–2 in lateral view C cephalothorax in frontal view D pleon in dorsal view. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Discussion

Despite several contributions on the terrestrial isopod fauna of Iran, especially in recent years, the knowledge on this taxon is relatively poor. In the present work, four eubelid species were found restricted to south and south-western Iran. The broad distribution of Koweitoniscus tamei can be explained by the range expansion of the species to the south-western part of Iran while Periscyphis vittatus and Somalodillo sp. are most probably introduced to Iran by human activities. The new species, Koweitoniscus shafieii, is endemic to southern Iran. It seems that southern Iran represents the northernmost border for distribution of eubelid terrestrial isopods in the region. This work expands our knowledge on the oniscidean fauna of Iran, adding two genera and three species to the fauna of the country. Prior to the present study, 41 species were reported from Iran and this contribution raised the number to 44, which is still far from the real number of species probably present in the country.

Acknowledgments

We cordially thank Hasan Salehi, Ehsan Entezari, Hasan Maddahi, and Mehrdad Rezaei for donating their specimens to PCGMK. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Helmut Schmalfuss and Dr. Stefano Taiti who made invaluable suggestions and useful comments. Dr. Nathalie Yonow is appreciated for improving the English. This study was supported in part by a grant from INSF (project no: 96003230).

References

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