Nilotonia (Dartiella) hormozgana Pešić & Smit & Saboori 2012, sp. nov.

Nilotonia (Dartiella) hormozgana sp. nov.

(Figs. 9A – H, 10A – C)

Material examined. Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Iran, Hormozgan Province, IR16-2011, shallow stream N of Bandar Abbass, 27º 27.622 N, 56º 20.590 E, 130 m asl, 16.vii.2011 (RMNH). Paratypes: 6/14/0 (0/1/0 mounted), same data as holotype (RMNH).

Further records. Iran, Hormozgan Province, IR19-2011, Banglayan village N of Bandar Abbass, stream, 27º 45.695 N, 56º 32.402 E, 577 m asl, 18.vii.2011 0/1/0; IR21-2011, Rudan city, 5 km after Rudan, Rudan stream, 27º 28.226 N, 57º 15.153 E, 200 m asl, 21.vii.2011 2/0/0 (mounted); IR22-2011, 5 km N of Rudan city, Rudan stream, 27º 28.748 N, 57º 15.648 E, 210 m asl, 21.vii.2011 1/0/0.

Diagnosis. Setae of D2 and D3 long; posterior dorsal plate moderately large (L/W <115/100, in both sexes); postgenital sclerite in male with moderately developed secondary sclerotization; postgenital sclerite in female smaller and not extending anteriorly as in male; pregenital sclerite of female moderate, bowed and not extending anteriorly.

Description. Male (holotype, in parentheses measurements of paratype specimens from IR16-2011, n = 4; in square brackets specimens from IR21-2011, n = 2) — Idiosoma soft, L/W 725 (690 – 741) [594 – 681]/556 (500 – 572) [403 – 438]. Dorsum with one large posterior platelet (Fig. 9A), L/W 100 (83 – 100) [109]/91 (75 – 91) [99]; setae of glandularia D2 and D3 (sensu Wiles 1997a) long. Coxal field L 419 [385 – 394], Cx-III W 422 [347 – 353]; Cx-I separated medially; Cx-III medially with a widely rounded corner anteriorly of genital field. Genital field (Figs. 9D – E) L/W 103 (109 – 117) [102 – 108]/89 (83 – 88) [83 – 84], with three pairs of elongated acetabula; pregenital sclerite moderate in size, bowed; posteriorly of genital field a somewhat triangular postgenital sclerite, L/W 93 (84 – 89) [87]/47 (36 – 38) [39 – 49]. Ejaculatory complex L 186. Palp (Fig. 9F): total L 386 [317 – 336]; dL: P-1, 25 [22 – 24]; P-2, 122 [102 – 106]; P-3, 71 [59 – 65]; P-4, 137 [109 – 115]; P-5, 31 [25 – 26]; L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.89 [0.92 – 0.94]; P-2 with a long ventral seta, L 72 [65 – 66]; ventral margin of P-2 distally with small denticles; P-3 with a long medial seta which extends beyond posterior margin of P-4; P-4 with a short setal tubercle, ventral margin with four setae of various length, the seta on the setal tubercle being the longest; gnathosoma vL 159 [150 – 151]; chelicera total L 309 [262 – 263], claw L 94 [78]. Legs: L of I-L-2-6: [75 – 78], [84 – 87], [105 – 108], [127 – 133], [125 – 134]; I-L-4 with four heavy distal setae, two longer, two shorter (Fig. 9C); L of IV-L-3-6: 124 [112 – 116], 208 [172 – 175], 252 [200 – 211], 268 [212 – 216]; IV-L-4 with five heavy distal setae, some of these serrated; IV-L-5 with three heavy distal setae, at least the longest of these serrated; IV-L-6 with a long subterminal seta, L 92 [94 – 95]; claws of legs I – III with a comb and a clawlet.

Female (paratype, in parentheses some measurements of paratype specimens from IR16-2011, n = 4) — Idiosoma soft, L/W 813 (694 – 969)/594 (431 – 687). Dorsum with one large posterior platelet, L/W 110 (88 – 112)/98 (75 – 92); setae of glandularia D2 and D3 (sensu Wiles 1997a) long. Coxal field L 438, Cx-III W 467; Cx-I separated medially; Cx-III with a blunt corner medially, anteriorly of genital field. Genital field L/W 155 (150 – 153)/ 113 (109 – 114), with three pairs of elongated acetabula; pregenital sclerite as in male, but smaller (Fig. 10B); postgenital sclerite in female smaller and not extending anteriorly as in male; maximum egg diameter L 144. Palp: total L 426; dL: P-1, 31; P-2, 134; P-3, 75; P-4, 152; P-5, 34; L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.88; P-2 ventral seta L 77; palp as in male; gnathosoma vL 180; chelicera total L 353, claw L 113. Legs: as in male; L of I-L-3-6: 94, 122, 141, 148; L of IV-L-2-6: 123, 140, 228, 270, 284; subterminal seta of IV-L-6 L 91.

Etymology. The species is named for its occurrence in Hormozgan Province.

Remarks. Due to the similar general shape of the coxal field, palp and legs, as well the presence of long setae of D2 and D3, the specimens from Iran closely resemble Nilotonia longiseta Smit & Pešić, 2010 from northern Oman (Smit & Pešić 2010). The species from Oman differs from Nilotonia hormozgana sp. nov. in much larger dimensions of the dorsal plate (L/W 160 – 218/ 112 – 148 in male, 150 – 196/ 106 – 128 in female) and postgenital sclerite (L/W 106/ 104 in the holotype male) in both sexes, and in the shape of the female pregenital sclerite which is strongly extended anteriorly (see Smit & Pešić 2010).

Habitat. Sandy/bouldery streams, often with strong exposure to sunlight (Fig. 44B, D).

Distribution. Iran, Hormozgan Province.