Document Type : Research articles
Authors
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Jiroft, Jiroft, Iran
Abstract
The spider fauna of Iran is remarkably diverse but remains incompletely documented, particularly in the south-central area. We present here the result of a faunistic survey conducted in Darab County, Fars Province. A total of 28 species representing 23 genera and 11 families were collected and identified. All species represent new records for Darab County, among them a new record for Iran fauna (Langona pallida, Prószyński, 1993), 13 species are newly recorded for the Fars Province spider fauna, including Berlandina artaxerxes Zamani et al. 2021, Cryptodrassus helvolus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), C. iranicus Zamani et al., 2021, Cyrba ocellata (Kroneberg, 1875), Filistata maguirei Marusik & Zamani, 2015, Langona pallida Prószyński, 1993, L. tartarica (Charitonov, 1946), Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958, Zimiris doriae Simon, 1882, Plexippus minor Wesołowska & van Harten, 2010, P. paykulli (Audouin, 1826), Steatoda trianguloides Levy, 1991, and Wadicosa fidelis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872). Additionally, we discovered three species belonging to the families Dysderidae, Gnaphosidae, and Salticidae as possibly new species, highlighting the region’s unexplored diversity. One of these species belongs to the genus Dysdera (♂, Dysderidae) from the ninni–group, diagnosed by the extremely short stylus and distinctive triangular projection on the anterior side of the posterior apophysis. Another species, Berinda sp. (Gnaphosidae), differs from its congener in the longer and thinner tibial apophysis, shallowly bifurcated retrolateral tibial apophysis, and pitchfork-shaped median apophysis in lateral view. Moreover, Evarcha sp. (♂, Salticidae) is distinguished by a short and thin retrolateral tibial apophysis and a short triangular apophysis in the lateroventral view.
This species list is composed of widespread Palearctic elements and Iranian endemics, confirming Fars Province as a biogeographic confluence of diversity and highlighting the need for continuing research. This work establishes a foundational dataset and demonstrates that targeted surveys in poorly explored regions of Iran yield significant faunistic discoveries.
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