Additions to the crab spider fauna of Iran (Araneae: Thomisidae)

In this study, the crab spider (Thomisidae) fauna of Fars Province in Iran is investigated and some additional new records are given for both the country and the province. The species Monaeses israeliensis Levy, 1973, Synema anatolica Demir, Aktas & Topçu, 2009, Thomisus unidentatus Dippenaar-Schoeman & van Harten, 2007 and Xysticus abramovi Marusik & Logunov, 1995 are new records for Iran, while Heriaeus spinipalpus Loerbroks, 1983, Ozyptila tricoloripes Strand, 1913, Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837), Synema globosum (Fabricius, 1775), Thomisus zyuzini Marusik & Logunov, 1990, Xysticus kaznakovi Utochkin, 1968, X. loeffleri Roewer, 1955 and X. striatipes L. Koch, 1870 are new to the fauna of Fars Province.


Distribution in Iran.
Fars (new record, southernmost known locality across its entire range). Comments. Compared to the figures provided by Levy (1973) and Bayram et al. (2007), in the absence of more material our identification in this case should be considered as provisional. In comparison to Levy (1973), our male specimen has a more oblique VTA, and although RTA has a stellate tip, one of its arms does not have a pointed and dentate tip. Furthermore, the tutacular apophysis is rounded and not narrowing.
This species can be distinguished from other Ozyptila species by having a tegulum with three crescentic folds and a forked embolic tip. The epigynum is characterised by its hood-like structure on the epigynal plate, which distinguishes it from O. confluens (C. L. Koch, 1845) which has no hood, but has a large downward-projecting septum (Levy 1975).
This species can be distinguished from others by having a very short VTA and a cone-shaped RTA. The epigynum is characterised by its transparent central hood with its opening directed towards the epigastric furrow, and two dark sclerotic rings (Levy 1973 This species can be distinguished from S. plorator (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) by its unique embolic tip shape and its RTA structure. The epigynum is also different in the shape of the spermathecae, which are reniform (Demir et al. 2009). Habitat. The specimens were collected by hand from milkvetch plants (Astragalus spp.) and spurges (Euphorbia spp.). Global distribution. Turkey (WSC 2016), Iran (new record). Distribution in Iran. Fars (new record, south-easternmost across its entire range).
This species can be distinguished from S. plorator by having a small palp, with its tibia distinctly longer than wide, its spiniform RTA and thinner embolic tip. The epigynum is characterised by the form of the spermathecae and their accompanying structures (Levy 1975). Habitat. The single specimen was found using beating nets, while it hunted on spurges (Euphorbia sp.). This species can be distinguished from T. zyuzini Marusik & Logunov, 1990 by its long VTA and RTA and the arrangement of the basal tibia tubercle on the male palp, and the circular shape of intromittent orifice which is directed anteriad in the epigynum (Marusik & Logunov 1990, 1995. Habitat. The specimens were found on a variety of flowers and herbs, usually at their flowering peak. They were collected by hand and by using sweeping and beating nets.  This species closely resemble T. citrinellus Simon 1875, but can be distinguished by its single crescent-shaped RTA in the male palp and two crescent-shaped intromittent orifices in the epigynum. Habitat. The specimens were found on a variety of flowers and flowering trees and were collected by hand and by using sweeping and beating nets. Global distribution. Yemen (WSC 2016), Iran (new record). Distribution in Iran: Fars (new record, northernmost across its entire range). Marusik & Logunov, 1990 (Fig. 9) Determination. Marusik & Logunov (1990, 1995, Demir et al. (2008). This species can be distinguished from T. onustus by its short VTA and RTA and basal tibia tubercle arrangement on the male palp, and a circular-shaped intromittent orifice which is directed downwards in the epigynum (Marusik & Logunov 1990, 1995. Habitat. Same as T. onustus, this species is quiet common on flowers and were collected by hand, and by using sweeping and beating nets. This species can be distinguished from other Xysticus species by having the characteristic embolic tip which is situated at the backside of the tutaculum and distal part of the tegulum, which is not visible in ventral view, and by the form of the spermathecal structures of the female (Demir et al. 2010).

Thomisus zyuzini
Habitat. The specimens were found on shrubs and on the ground and were collected by hand. Global distribution. Tajikistan, Turkey (WSC 2016), Iran (new record). Distribution in Iran. Fars (new record, southernmost locality across its entire range). Comments. Identification of the male specimens was based on the figures provided by Demir et al. (2010). Because of minor differences of the specimens in comparison to the figures in the two mentioned references , it is possible that these populations could belong to different species. Utochkin, 1968 (Fig. 11) Determination. Utochkin (1968), Marusik & Logunov (1990), Demir (2015). This species can be distinguished from X. bicolor L. Koch, 1867 by its characteristic RTA and the shape of the embolic tip. Females also have characteristic furrowed and reniform spermathecae which separate them from X. soderbomi Schenkel, 1936(see Demir 2015. Habitat. The specimens were found on the ground and in meadows and were collected by hand. Global distribution. Macedonia to Central Asia (WSC 2016).

Xysticus loeffleri
This species closely resemble X. tristrami (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) and can be distinguished by a wider VTA and the shape of the epigynum (Marusik & Logunov 1990). Habitat. Specimens were found under stones while guarding their eggs or under bushes, and were collected by hand. Global distribution. Greece, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia. Distribution in Iran. Gilan, Fars (new province record, southernmost known locality across its entire range). Comments. In the absence of male specimens this identification should be considered provisional.
This species can be distinguished by its claw-like RTA and embolus with a frizzy tip. The epigynal structure is very characteristic with its longitudinal cylinder. Habitat. The specimens were found in habitats with no or low vegetation cover and were collected by hand, sweeping and beating nets.  This species can be distinguished by its oval-shaped embolus and body setae which are blunt and thick. Females are often confused with X. ferus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1876 and X. rectilineus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), but can be separated by different spermathecal structures (Levy 1976). Habitat: The specimens were found under stones and were collected by hand. Global distribution. Crete, Turkey, Saudi Arabia to Central Asia. Distribution in Iran. Fars.

Conclusions
Until recently, 51 species of Thomisidae have been recorded from Iran, but a higher number is still expected (about 60-65) (Zamani et al. 2016b). Only a few studies have been conducted exclusively on this family in Iran during the last decade. For example Mirshamsi et al. (2000) identified five thomisid species in four genera from the Khorasan region, Ono & Martens (2005) based on their expedition to Alborz Mountains in the northern and north-western Iran collected 18 species in nine genera, and Zamani et al. (2014) recorded seven species for Iran, mostly from northern and eastern parts of the country. During the present study, 14 thomisid species were collected with four new records for Iran, increasing the number of known Iranian thomisid species to 55. Because of the seasonal nature of the spider sampling, their camouflage in their natural habitats and our time constraints, it is assumed that further sampling could potentially lead to the discovery of more species in this province. Finding male specimens is practically very difficult outside their mating periods, whereas the biology of crab spiders in Iran has not been studied so far and their phenology is not well-known; partly due to different climatic variabilities within this country.