[Arachnida • 2024] Micropholcus abha, M. bashayer, M. dhahran, M. ghar, M. shaat, ... • Old World Micropholcus spiders, with first records of acrocerid parasitoids in Pholcidae (Araneae)

 

A Micropholcus dhahran Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, W of Dhahran Al Janub; B M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, SE of Harajah; 
C, D M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, S of Al Fara; 
E M. abha Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, N of Abha; F M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, NW of Tanomah; 
G M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, NW of Al Bashayer; H M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov., male from Mecca, NW of Maysaan.

in Huber & Meng, 2024.

DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.133178 

Photographs Bernhard A. Huber.

Abstract  

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 is one of only two Pholcidae genera known to occur both in the Old and New Worlds. However, there are major morphological and ecological differences among geographically separate groups of species, and it was mainly molecular data that have resulted in our current view of uniting all these species into a single genus. In the Old World, only four species have previously been described. Here, current knowledge about Old World Micropholcus is reviewed, redescribing three of the four previously known species, and describing twelve new species, originating from Saudi Arabia (M. dhahran Huber, sp. nov., M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., M. abha Huber, sp. nov., M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov.), Oman (M. darbat Huber, sp. nov., M. shaat Huber, sp. nov.), Morocco (M. ghar Huber, sp. nov., M. khenifra Huber, Lecigne & Lips, sp. nov.), and the Philippines (M. bukidnon Huber, sp. nov.). We provide an exploratory species delimitation analysis based on CO1 barcodes, extensive SEM data, and first records of Acroceridae (Diptera) larvae in Pholcidae, extracted from book lungs.   

Key words: CO1 barcode, genetic distances, Morocco, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, species delimitation, taxonomy

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen; live specimens from Saudi Arabia
A M. dhahran Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, W of Dhahran Al Janub; B M. harajah Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, SE of Harajah; C, D M. alfara Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, S of Al Fara; 
E M. abha Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, N of Abha; F M. tanomah Huber, sp. nov., male from ‘Asir, NW of Tanomah; G M. bashayer Huber, sp. nov., female with egg-sac from ‘Asir, NW of Al Bashayer; H M. maysaan Huber, sp. nov., male from Mecca, NW of Maysaan. Photographs BAH.

Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen; live specimens from Oman, Morocco, and the Philippines
A, B M. darbat Huber, sp. nov., male and female with egg-sac from Oman, Dhofar, near Qairoon Hairitti C M. shaat Huber, sp. nov., male from Oman, Dhofar, Shaat sinkhole
D, E M. agadir (Huber), male and female with egg-sac from Morocco, Souss-Massa, Paradise Valley

F M. ghar Huber, sp. nov., male from Morocco, Fès-Meknès, Kef El Ghar G M. khenifra Huber, Lecigne & Lips, sp. nov., male from Morocco, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, near Sidi Ben Daoud H M. bukidnon Huber, sp. nov., male from Philippines, Mindanao, Blue Water Cave.

 Photographs BAH.

 Bernhard A. Huber and Guanliang Meng. 2024. Old World Micropholcus spiders, with first records of acrocerid parasitoids in Pholcidae (Araneae). ZooKeys. 1213: 95-182. DOI:  doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1213.133178 [26 Sep 2024]

[Crustacea • 2025] Alpheus sarapis • A New, conspicuously coloured Snapping Shrimp (Decapoda: Alpheidae) from the north-western Indian Ocean

 

Alpheus sarapis 

Anker, 2025 

 DOI: doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2025.65.008

Abstract

A new, brightly coloured and morphologically distinctive species of the alpheid genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 is described based on a single female specimen collected in shallow waters of Masirah Island, Oman. Alpheus sarapis sp. nov. appears to be morphologically somewhat intermediate between the A. leviusculus Dana, 1852, A. edwardsii (Audouin, 1826) and A. paracrinitus Miers, 1881 species groups, although the presence of slight sinuses on the major chela palm suggests that it may be a derived member of either of the former two groups.

Keywords: Caridea, Alpheid shrimp, New taxon, Oman, Indo-West Pacific, Marine biodiversity

Alpheus sarapis sp. nov. 

Arthur Anker. 2025. A New, conspicuously coloured Snapping Shrimp from the north-western Indian Ocean (Malacostraca: Decapoda: Alpheidae: Alpheus). Papéis Avulsos De Zoologia. 65; e202565008. DOI: doi.org/10.11606/1807-0205/2025.65.008

 x.com/PAZ_journal/status/1994362857547252095

[Entomology • 2025] Davidlivingstonia mooseri • A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East

[A-B]. Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020;
[C-D] Davidlivingstonia mooseri Yakovlev, Müller, Saldaitis & Prozorov, 2025 
 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693  

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024

 Abstract

A new species, Davidlivingstonia mooseri sp. n. is described from Oman and compared with the closely related D. boisduvalii (Herrich-Schäffer, 1854), which is known from Sierra Leone. Additionally, Davidlivingstonia lenzi Yakovlev, 2020 is recorded for Egypt for the first time. These new records significantly extend the known distribution of the Afrotropical genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020, demonstrating its range reaches much farther north and northeast than previously documented.

 

Keywords: Cossoidea, Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia, new species, taxonomy

Davidlivingstonia, adult males and their genitalia:
A. D. lenzi, male, S. Egypt; B. D. lenzi, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0457;
C. Davidlivingstonia mooseri, Holotype; D. D. mooseri, male genitalia, slide Prozorov 2022 0458.

 

Roman V. Yakovlev, Günter C. Müller, Aidas Saldaitis and Alexey M. Prozorov. 2025. A New Species and A New Record of the Afrotropic Genus Davidlivingstonia Yakovlev, 2020 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in the Middle East. Zoology in the Middle East. 71(1); 63-67. DOI: doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2025.2444693 [09 Jan 2025]

  Researchgate.net/publication/387878024_A_new_species_of_Davidlivingstonia_in_the_Middle_East

Yakovlev, R.V. 2020. On the taxonomy of Zeuzera boisduvalii Herrich-Schäffer, 1854 (Cossidae, Zeuzerinae) species complex with description of A New Genus and Three New Species. Ecologica Montenegrina. 38, 215–226. DOI: doi.org/10.37828/em.2020.38.31

[Herpetology • 2024] Platyceps gallagheri, P. hajarensis & R. masirae • Three New Cliff Racer Species (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Sultanate of Oman and Zoogeographic Traits of its Herpetofauna

Platyceps hajarensis

Schätti, Tillack, Stutz & Kucharzewski, 2024

DOI: doi.org/10.35929/RSZ.0132  

 Abstract 

This study investigates the distribution and geographic variation of East Arabian taxa of the Platyceps rhodorachis complex. Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov. from the Eastern Oman Mountains and their periphery deviates in morphological characters from P. r. rhodorachis (Jan, 1863) distributed beyond the Gulf (Iran) and P. gallagheri sp. nov. of the Ras Musandam area. Cliff racers from Masirah Island and central Al-Wusta (P. masirae sp. nov.) considerably differ vis-à-vis polymorphic P. hajarensis and Dhofar populations with as yet unresolved taxonomic status. Morphologically, the latter are most similar to East Yemen cliff racers. The distribution of the new Omani taxa is compared to geographic patterns observed among the regional terrestrial herpetofauna. Ranges of certain southern Arabian reptiles and the systematics of P. variabilis (Boulenger, 1905) are briefly reviewed.

KEYWORDS: Platyceps spp. nov., Dhofar, Hajar, Masirah, Musandam, Endemism, systematics, P. variabilis

Platyceps gallagheri sp. nov.

Gallagher's Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals 243-245, subcaudals ≥141 (n=1, extreme tail tip possibly missing), sum ≥386 (1); a single subocular (presubocular or postsubocular absent); neck transversely patterned; 19-19-13 dsr, first transverse reduction level lateral or paravertebral; 18 maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species name honours Michael Desmond Gallagher (1921-2014), the collector of the holotype and an unlocated Khasab specimen, for his invaluable impact on the investigation of reptiles in the Sultanate of Oman and the support he offered to this project.

Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov. (♂ holotype, MHNG 2664.71) from Fanjah, Ad-Dakhiliyah, Sultanate of Oman.

Platyceps hajarensis sp. nov.

Hajar Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals usually 226-235 (as few as at least 222 along Gulf of Oman), subcaudals 126-140, sum usually 354.5-374 (as few as 349); usually a single subocular (presubocular uncommon, postsubocular absent); barred or banded at least on neck (zipper-shaped or chequered behind), or unmarked throughout; 19-19-13 dsr (19-19-11 in some ♂♂), first transverse reduction level variable; usually 17-18 (16, rarely 19) maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species' scientific name refers to its distribution centre in the Hajar Range.

General aspect of Platyceps masirae sp. nov. (Masirah Island) in life. Courtesy of Roberto Sindaco.

Platyceps masirae sp. nov.

Masirah Cliff Racer

Diagnosis: Ventrals 203-209, subcaudals 110 (MCZ paratype) and 115-124, sum 317 (ibid.) and 318-333; regular subocular present, presubocular (40% of bilateral counts in insular sample) and postsubocular (50%, ibid.) common; dorsum barred or with two mid-dorsal rows of marks; 19-19-13 or 19-19-11/13 (♂♂) dsr, first reduction lateral; 17-18 maxillary teeth.

Etymology: The species' scientific name alludes to the origin of its type series, Masirah Island (Sultanate of Oman) in the Arabian Sea.

Platyceps forma inquirenda

Diagnosis: Ventrals 215-233, subcaudals 119-135, sum 335-361; usually a single subocular (presubocular uncommon, unilateral postsubocular exceptional); chequered or with transverse pattern on forebody, or unmarked throughout; 19-19-13 dsr (occasionally 19-19-11 in ♂♂) and first reduction usually paravertebral; 15-16 maxillary teeth in Dhofar (up to 17 in Yemen).

Beat Schätti, Frank Tillack, Andrea Stutz and Christoph Kucharzewski. 2024. Three New Cliff Racer Species from the Sultanate of Oman (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubrinae) and Zoogeographic Traits of its Herpetofauna. Revue suisse de Zoologie. 131(2); 451-486. DOI: doi.org/10.35929/RSZ.0132  

[Ichthyology • 2022] Oxyurichthys omanensis • A New Eyebrow Goby (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from Oman

Oxyurichthys omanensis

Zarei, Al Jufaili & Esmaeili, 2022 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.3

 

Abstract

Oxyurichthys omanensis sp. nov. is described as a new gobiid species from a mudflat/estuary habitat in northern Oman. The new species is diagnosed among all currently recognised congeners by the following combination of character states: elongate tentacle on dorsoposterior surface of the eye; nape with well-developed membranous crest; nape scaled to above anterior half of opercle along sides with naked median along membranous crest, scales never reaching to above preopercle; opercle and pectoral base naked; scales ctenoid laterally on trunk posterior to base of second dorsal fin 3rd element; lateral scale rows 51–58, usually 51–56; transverse forward scale rows 23–29, usually 24–28; transverse rearward scale rows 14–16, usually 14–15; upper lip usually constricted at premaxillary symphysis; infraorbital transverse papillae row 2 reaching eye margin dorsally and markedly short of longitudinal row d ventrally; additional short transverse papillae rows between rows 2 and 3i present; dark saddle present over caudal peduncle; snout length 34.9–45.4% HL; second dorsal-fin longest ray 1.1–1.6 head depth; pelvic fin always reaching or passing anal-fin origin. The K2P genetic distances (%) in the mtDNA COI barcode region between O. omanensis and the other Oxyurichthys species were all high (11.2–30.6%) with the K2P nearest neighbor distance of 11.2% to O. cornutus and O. ophthalmonema.

Keywords: Pisces, Endemic, Gobioidei, Gobionellinae, Systematics, DNA Barcoding, Oman Sea basin

 Live specimens of Oxyurichthys omanensis collected from Yeti, northern Oman.
 Upper) ZM-CBSU S105-1, 54.5 mm SL, male, paratype;
lower) ZM-CBSU S105-3, 61.9 mm SL, male, paratype.

Oxyurichthys omanensis sp. nov.

Fatah Zarei, Saud M. Al Jufaili and Hamid Reza Esmaeili. 2022. Oxyurichthys omanensis sp. nov., A New Eyebrow Goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Oman. Zootaxa. 5182(4);361-376. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5182.4.3

[Entomology • 2022] Odontochrydium arabicum • A New Species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula

Odontochrydium arabicum Soliman & Rosa,

in Soliman, Rosa & Dhafer, 2022. 

DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.2.8

 

Abstract

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., a new chrysidid species from Oman, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen is described, illustrated and compared with the African species, O. bicristatum Rosa from Kenya.

Key words: Afrotropical, male genitalia, new species, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., male, holotype.
 A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Habitus, dorsal view; C. Habitus, ventral view.

Scale = 1.0 mm.

Odontochrydium arabicum sp. nov., female, paratype.
 A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Head, frontal view; C. Mesosoma and T1, detail; D. T2–T3.

 Scales = 1.0 mm.

Odontochrydium arabicum Soliman & Rosa, sp. nov.

Diagnosis. Body metallic dark blue, with violet and greenish reflections (Figs 1, 4); mesoscutal median area reticulate-foveate, with two stout longitudinal ridges forming elongate fovea between ridges (Figs 2E, 4C); meta-somal tergites sparsely, largely punctate (Figs 1B, 3C, 4C, D); T3 apico-median tooth longer to distinctly longer than lateral ones (Figs 3C, 4D); S1 and S2 with pair of widely separated black spots, adjacent to lateral margin of sternites (Fig. 3D).

Etymology. The new species name refers to the Arabian Peninsula, where the type specimens were collected.

Distribution. Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

  Ahmed M. Soliman, Paolo Rosa and Hathal M. Al Dhafer. 2022. Description of A New Species of Odontochrydium Brauns (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) from the Arabian Peninsula. Zootaxa. 5100(2); 287-295. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5100.2.8

[Arachnida • 2020] On Sahastata (Araneae: Filistatidae): Complementary Description of the Generotype and Two New Species from Oman and Morocco

[upper] Sahastata wesolowskae from Oman, &

 [lower] S. wunderlichi from Morocco.

Magalhaes, Stockmann, Marusik & Zonstein, 2020

DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4899.1.12 

twitter.com/6eyes8legs 

Abstract

The Filistatinae genus Sahastata Benoit, 1968 is distributed in arid and semi-arid areas, from westernmost Sahara to India, and includes seven known species. Four of these are only known from one sex, including Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897), the type species. Here we present the first description of a male of this species collected near the type locality in Muscat, Oman. Additionally, two new species are described: S. wunderlichi sp. nov. (♂♀, Morocco) and S. wesolowskae sp. nov. (♂♀, Oman). Sahastata infuscata (Kulczyński, 1901) is newly recorded from Kenya and Yemen and S. nigra is newly recorded from the United Arab Emirates. DNA barcodes are given for S. nigra and the two new species. We observed some details of the life cycle of three Sahastata species, including clutch size, time to maturation, and a biased sex ratio for individuals raised from egg sacs, indicating that only 20–25% of specimens reaching adulthood are males. We provide SEM images of spiders of this genus, some observations on the morphology of spinnerets and male palps, and a distribution map of the species included in the genus.

Keywords: Araneae, Arabia, barcode, desert, Filistatinae, Maghreb, Sahara, spider, taxonomy

FIGURE 1. Sahastata spp., living specimens. 
A–B  Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897) from Jebel Shams, Oman, male (A) and female (B); 
C–D Sahastata wesolowskae sp. nov. from Salalah, Oman, male holotype (C) and female (D); 
E-F Sahastata wunderlichi sp. nov. from Zag, Morocco, male (E) and female (F). 

Scale bars: 10 mm (except E, 5 mm). 

FIGURE 2. Sahastata habitats and webs. 
A–B, G Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897) from Jebel Shams mountains, Oman; 
C, H Sahastata wesolowskae sp. nov. from Al Wusta, Oman; D S. wesolowskae sp. nov. from Salalah, Oman (type locality); 
E Sahastata sp. from Sudh, Oman; 
F Sahastata wunderlichi sp. nov. from Assa-Zag, Morocco.

FIGURE 24. 
A–B Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897): A Male from Jebel Shams mountains, Oman (MACN-Ar 39464), left bulb, prolateral; B Female from Jebel Shams mountains, Oman (MACN-Ar 38368), spermathecae, dorsal. 
C–D Sahastata wunderlichi sp. nov.: C Male paratype from Zag, Morocco (MACN-Ar 39465), left bulb, prolateral; D Female paratype from the same locality (MACN-Ar 38366), spermathecae, dorsal;
 E–F. Sahastata wesolowskae sp. nov., E Male holotype from Salalah, Oman (SMNH), right bulb, prolateral, mirrored; F Female paratype from the same locality (MACN-Ar 39466), spermathecae, ventral. Scale bars: 100 μm, all figures to scale. 

Abbreviations: BBS—basal bulb sclerite; CIC—cymbium internal crest; F—fundus; K—embolus keel; tM29—tendon of the claw flexor muscle. 

Ivan L. F. Magalhaes, Mark Stockmann, Yuri M. Marusik and Sergei L. Zonstein. 2020. On Sahastata (Araneae: Filistatidae): Complementary Description of the Generotype and Two New Species from Oman and Morocco. Zootaxa. 4899(1); 215–246. DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4899.1.12

 twitter.com/6eyes8legs/status/1344317808814010368/

Researchgate.net/publication/348013410_On_Sahastata

      

[Entomology • 2020] Pseudoathyreus zianii • Species Delimitation by A Geometric Morphometric Analysis within the Genus Pseudoathyreus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae) and Description of A New Species

Pseudoathyreus zianii 

Carpaneto & Romiti, 2020

DOI: 10.4081/fe.2020.399

 ABSTRACT

A geometric morphometric analysis, conducted as part of a taxonomic review of the genus Pseudoathyreus (Coleoptera: Bolboceratidae), allowed us to highlight the differences within a group of closely related species spread from the Sahel region to India, supporting the traditional morphological approach and confirming the presence of a newly discovered species (Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp.).

Keywords: Morphology, biometry, taxonomy, biogeography, arid environments.

 Fig. 4 – Holotype specimen of Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp.:
a-c, body from dorsal, frontal and lateral view with 5 mm scale bars; d-e, aedeagus from frontal and lateral view with 0.5 mm scale bars. Longitudinal axis of frontal view of the body (b) has been slightly tilted left side to allow a visual inspection of the external mar-gin of the left fore tibia, with five teeth rather than four teeth as on right tibia. 

Fig. 3 – Anterior pronotal border (APB) of two specimens for each investigated taxonomic unit:
a-b, P. flavohirtus complex from Fare (SA) and Massawa (ER); c-d, Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp. from Riyadh (SA) and Kerman (IR); e-f, P. orientalis from Jaisalmer (IN) and Pilani (IN). See Table 2 for country codes.

Pseudoathyreus zianii n. sp. 

Diagnosis: The new species is easily distinguished from the other two species of the same group by the anterior border of pronotum with a wide-based and a more or less stout conic horn. On the contrary, P. orientalis and P. flavohirtus share a low transverse carina in the middle of APB with the profile of a narrow curly bracket, with either a small and pointed mid-dle horn in the former species or a small and smoothed one in the latter. The central horn of the widespread African species P. porcatus (Laporte de Castelnau, 1840) looks a little like that of P. zianii but is larger, sharkfin-shaped, with a laterally compressed apex.


Geographical distribution. Eastern part of the Arabian peninsula (i.e. Kuwait, Saudi Arabian coast on the Persian Gulf, UAE, Oman), southern Iran, southern Pakistan.

Name derivation. Named for our colleague and friend Stefano Ziani, renowned specialist of Coleoptera Scarabaeidae, who sent us the material of his collection, including the first specimen that turned out to belong to the new species.

Giuseppe Maria Carpaneto and Federico Romiti. 2020. Species Delimitation by A Geometric Morphometric Analysis within the Genus Pseudoathyreus and Description of A New Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Bolboceratidae). Fragmenta entomologica. 52(1); 11–18. DOI: 10.4081/fe.2020.399

[Arachnida • 2019] Taxonomy of the Genus Ischnocolus (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in the Middle East, with Description of A New Species, I. vanandelae, from Oman and Iran

 Ischnocolus vanandelae Montemor, West & Zamani

in Montemor, West, Zamani, Moradmand, Wirth, Wendt, Huber & Guadanucci, 2019. 

  DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2020.1675994  

facebook.com/AZamni

Abstract

Spider material collected from Oman and Iran revealed a new species of the genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871, which is described as Ischnocolus vanandelae sp. n. New records of I. jickelii L. Koch, 1875 from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and United Arab Emirates show a larger distribution of this species than previously known. The natural history of I. vanandelae sp. n. and I. jickelii is described and the rather unusual colour polymorphism of the latter is discussed. The genus now includes eight species, whose distribution is mapped.

Keywords: Taxonomy, spiders, Mygalomorphae, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

Family Theraphosidae Thorell, 1869

 Subfamily Ischnocolinae Simon, 1892 

Genus Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 

Ischnocolus ignoratus Guadanucci & Wendt, 2014

Ischnocolus jickelii L. Koch, 1875

 Ischnocolus vanandelae sp. n. Immature female, from Siahhu, Hormozgan, Iran.

 (photos: A. Zamani)

 Ischnocolus vanandelae sp. n. Montemor, West & Zamani  

Etymology. This species is named after Mrs. Priscilla M. J. van Andel, a Dutch wildlife enthusiast, who, along with her husband Mr. J. H. (Hans) Raaijmakers, first found and provided specimens from the UAE for this study.

Distribution. Oman, Iran (first record of the family).  

Vivian M. Montemor, Rick C. West, Alireza Zamani, Majid Moradmand, Volker V. Wirth, Ingo Wendt, Siegfried Huber and José Paulo L. Guadanucci. 2019. Taxonomy of the Genus Ischnocolus in the Middle East, with Description of A New Species from Oman and Iran (Araneae: Theraphosidae). Zoology in the Middle East.  DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2020.1675994 

Researchgate.net/publication/336312004_Taxonomy_of_Ischnocolus_in_the_Middle_East 

 facebook.com/AZamni/posts/10213542961520187

 twitter.com/tarantupedia/status/1182282099992285185

[Arachnida • 2019] Filling the Gaps: Descriptions of Unnamed Species included in the latest Molecular Phylogeny of Pholcidae (Araneae)

Pinocchio barauna  

Huber & Carvalho, 2019

   DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4546.1.1  

Abstract

This paper provides formal descriptions of some of the unnamed taxa that were included in the most recent molecular phylogeny of pholcid spiders (Eberle et al. 2018, BMC Evolutionary Biology, 18, 141). The focus is on new genera and on species that belong to recently revised genera. Eight new genera and 25 new species are formally described. In Arteminae, three new species are described in Artema Walckenaer, 1837: A. bahla sp. n., A. ghubrat sp. n., and A. dhofar sp. n. (all from Oman); five new species in Arnapa gen. n. (eastern Indonesia and New Guinea): A. arfak sp. n., A. tinoor sp. n., A. manokwari sp. n., A. meja sp. n., A. tolire sp. n.; and one new species in Chisosa Huber, 2000: C. caquetio sp. n. (Netherlands Antilles). In Ninetinae, three new monotypic genera are described: Pemona gen. n., with the type species P. sapo sp. n. (Venezuela); Pinocchio gen. n., with the type species P. barauna sp. n. (Brazil); and Magana gen. n., with the type species M. velox sp. n. (Oman). In Modisiminae, three new species are described in Chibchea Huber, 2000 (all from Brazil): C. amapa sp. n., C. santosi sp. n., and C. hamadae sp. n.; one new species in Psilochorus Simon, 1893: P. bromelicolus sp. n. (Brazil); and three new monotypic genera, all from Brazil: Arenita gen. n., with the type species A. fazendinha sp. n.; Kairona gen. n., with the type species K. selva sp. n.; and Saciperere gen. n., with the type species S. catuaba sp. n. In Pholcinae, a new monotypic genus is described: Giloloa gen. n., with the type species G. sofifi sp. n. (Indonesia); three new species in the genus Aetana Huber, 2005 (all from Indonesia): A. ternate sp. n.; A. mokwam sp. n.; A. ondawamei sp. n.; and two new species in the genus Panjange Deeleman-Reinhold & Deeleman, 1983 (both from Indonesia): P. thomi sp. n., and P. togutil sp. n.

Artema ghubrat is a cave-dwelling species and the only (slightly) troglomorphic representative of Arteminae; A. dhofar is presumably the closest known relative of the pantropical and synanthropic A. atlanta. The new genus Arnapa is probably species rich in eastern Indonesia and New Guinea but poorly collected; its morphological delimitation from other Australasian Arteminae (Wugigarra Huber, 2001; Holocneminus Berland, 1942; Trichocyclus Simon, 1908) needs further study. Arnapa nigromaculatus (Kulczyński, 1911) comb. n. is newly transferred from Psilochorus. Pemona sapo is the first representative of Ninetinae from Venezuela. The genus Chibchea, previously known from the Andes only, is for the first time recorded from Brazil/lowland Amazonia. Arenita fazendinha is among the few species in Pholcidae with extremely reduced procursus and barely modified male chelicerae. Kairona selva is unique among Pholcidae for its brush of strong hairs on a median horn anteriorly on the ocular area. Saciperere catuaba is one of only four pholcid species currently known to occur both in the Amazon and in the Atlantic Forest; however, variation indicates that more than one species might be included. It is among the few spiders known to have asymmetric genitalia (antisymmetric female internal genitalia). The Brazilian Psilochorus bromelicolus is the first South American Psilochorus of which both sexes are adequately described; however, the assignment to Psilochorus is tentative. Aetana ternate has extremely elongated procursi and accordingly elongated female internal genitalia. Aetana ondawamei and A. mokwam have almost identical male pedipalps and chelicerae (except for size) but differ clearly in the female genitalia.

Keywords: Araneae, taxonomy, Pholcidae, Brazil, Oman, Indonesia

Bernhard A. Huber and Leonardo S. Carvalho. 2019. Filling the Gaps: Descriptions of Unnamed Species included in the latest Molecular Phylogeny of Pholcidae (Araneae). Zootaxa. 4546(1); 1–96.  DOI:  10.11646/zootaxa.4546.1.1

Unnamed Species in Pholcidae

Eight new genera and 25 new species are formally described.

• Arteminae

Artema Walckenaer, 1837: A. bahla sp. n., A. ghubrat sp. n., and A. dhofar sp. n. (all from Oman);

Arnapa gen. n. (eastern Indonesia and New Guinea): A. arfak sp. n., A. tinoor sp. n., A. manokwari sp. n., A. meja sp. n., A. tolire sp. n.;

one new species in Chisosa Huber, 2000: C. caquetio sp. n. (Netherlands Antilles). 

• Ninetinae, three new monotypic genera are described: 

Pemona gen. n., with the type species P. sapo sp. n. (Venezuela); 

Pinocchio gen. n., with the type species P. barauna sp. n. (Brazil); and 

Magana gen. n., with the type species M. velox sp. n. (Oman). 

• Modisiminae,

 three new species are described in Chibchea Huber, 2000 (all from Brazil): C. amapa sp. n., C. santosi sp. n., and C. hamadae sp. n.; 

one new species in Psilochorus Simon, 1893: P. bromelicolus sp. n. (Brazil); and 

three new monotypic genera, all from Brazil:

 Arenita gen. n., with the type species A. fazendinha sp. n.; 

Kairona gen. n., with the type species K. selva sp. n.; and 

Saciperere gen. n., with the type species S. catuaba sp. n.

 • Pholcinae,

 a new monotypic genus is described: Giloloa gen. n., with the type species G. sofifi sp. n. (Indonesia); 

three new species in the genus Aetana Huber, 2005 (all from Indonesia): A. ternate sp. n.; A. mokwam sp. n.; A. ondawamei sp. n.; and 

two new species in the genus Panjange Deeleman-Reinhold & Deeleman, 1983 (both from Indonesia): P. thomi sp. n., and P. togutil sp. n.

[Botany • 2018] Hydnora arabica • A New Species (Aristolochiaceae) from the Arabian Peninsula and A Key to Hydnora

 Hydnora arabica Bolin & Musselman

in Bolin, Lupton & Musselman, 2018.

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.338.1.8 

Abstract

The plant parasite Hydnora arabica (Aristolochiaceae) is described from the Arabian Peninsula. This species was previously identified as Hydnora africana in Oman. It can be separated from other Hydnora taxa primarily by its terete rhizome, red to orange inner perianth tube color, and tepal lobe margins entirely covered with dense strigose setae. In Oman, Hydnora arabica is known to parasitize two leguminous trees: Acacia tortilis and the introduced Pithocellobium dulce, but may parasitize additional Fabaceae. At least eleven synonyms or subspecific varieties of H. abyssinica are described in the literature, all from east or southern Africa. These synonyms are discussed in light of new observations of morphology including tepal margin ornamentation. A new key for Hydnora is proposed.

Keywords: parasitic plant, Hydnoraceae, Magnoliids

FIGURE 2. A) Hydnora arabica flower emerging from soil. White osmophores apparent on tepal apices; B) Excavated mature H. arabica flower, flower bud, and growth tip of rhizome; C) Cross section of terete rhizomes and growth tip of rhizome covered in numerous tubercle-like lateral appendages

(Fig 1A–C: J. Bolin, S. Al Rahbi, L. Musselman, JFB2014OM3);  

Hydnora arabica Bolin & Musselman, sp. nov. 
 Diagnosis: — Hydnora arabica is similar to Hydnora abyssinica, but can be distinguished by having red to orange inner perianth tube color and tepal lobe margins entirely covered with dense strigose setae.

Distribution:—Known from southern Oman (Dhofar region) and Yemen. Collected from an elevation of 200 to 680 m (Fig. 1).

Habitat and Ecology:—Hydnora arabica is an obligate root parasite of Fabaceae that is visible above the soil surface only when flowering (Fig. 2). Most of our collections in Oman occurred on Acacia tortilis and the same host was reported from Yemen (Al-Fatimi 2015). Interestingly, in a small Dhofar settlement approximately 16 km NE of Mirbat, adjacent to Ayn Ayuoon south of Jebel Samhan, we were directed to a robust H. arabica population associated with and below the non-native Pithocellobium dulce (5 m high) in the settlement courtyard and goat yard. No other potential host trees were within 50 meters, thus P. dulce was likely the host plant. The villagers mentioned that the goats fed in the nearby wadi where H. arabica was abundant and were the likely vector of Hydnora seeds into the settlement. Interestingly, in Madagascar, the same introduced host P. dulce was a common host of H. esculenta (Bolin and Musselman 2013).
....

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the distribution of H. arabica on the Arabian Peninsula.

Vernacular Name:— Thesiger reported the vernacular name as dhanuna on herbarium material from the 1940s. Miller and Morris (1998) give the Jibbali name xamleg and the Dhofari Arabic names khamlayyeh and khumla’ah. We can confirm that Jibbali settlers in Dhofar that knew the plant well as a potential food item in fruit used the name xamleg. From Yemen in the districts of Lawdar and Dathina that use the plant the Arabic local names of nabeekh, fateekh, and tarateef (Al-Fatimi et al. 2015) are used.

Conservation Status:— In the Dhofar region of Oman, dried rhizomes of H. arabica were common in most wadi beds with an abundance of its common host Acacia tortilis, though fresh flowering material was difficult to locate due to its infrequent flowering and primarily hypogeous habit. Based on our observations, the conservation status of H. arabica in southern Oman is secure. However, H. abyssinica is reported as rare in Saudi Arabia (Collenette 1999) and we have little basis to comment on H. arabica abundance in Yemen.

FIGURE 2. A) Hydnora arabica flower emerging from soil. White osmophores apparent on tepal apices; B) Excavated mature H. arabica flower, flower bud, and growth tip of rhizome; C) Cross section of terete rhizomes and growth tip of rhizome covered in numerous tubercle-like lateral appendages (Fig 1A–1C: J. Bolin, S. Al Rahbi, L. Musselman, JFB2014OM3); D) Dried berry and flower from previous season, numerous dark spherical seeds inside broken fruit (from J. Bolin, D. Lupton, L. Musselman, S. Al Rahbi, JFB2014OM1). Scale bars A) = 1 cm; B) 4 cm; C) 2 cm; D) 1 cm.

Jay F. Bolin, Darach Lupton and Lytton J. Musselman. 2018. Hydnora ­arabica (Aristolochiaceae), A New Species from the Arabian Peninsula and A Key to Hydnora. Phytotaxa. 388(1); 99–108. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.338.1.8

[Herpetology • 2018] Asaccus arnoldi • Systematics, Biogeography and Evolution of Asaccus gallagheri (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) with the Description of A New Endemic Species from Oman

Asaccus arnoldi

 Simó-Riudalbas, Tarroso, Papenfuss, Al-Sariri & Carranza, 2018

  DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2017.1403496 

Abstract

The Hajar Mountains are the highest mountain range in eastern Arabia. Despite being classified as a mountain desert, it is considered one of the top biodiversity hotspots of Arabia. As a result of its relatively old geological origin, complex topography, environmental heterogeneity and geographic isolation from other mountain ranges, its fauna and flora have diversified significantly producing high levels of endemicity, particularly amongst reptiles. Several genetic studies indicate that this diversity may still be underestimated, especially within some groups containing morphologically similar species like the nocturnal geckos of the genus Asaccus. These have radiated extensively on both sides of the Gulf of Oman, in the Hajar Mountains and the Zagros Mountains of south-west Asia, and are a good example of the faunal affinities between these two mountain ranges. In the present work, we analyse A. gallagheri, the smallest species of the Arabian radiation, using an unprecedented sampling across its entire distribution range and an integrative approach combining morphological, macroecological and multilocus molecular data with the objective of clarifying its systematics and phylogeography. The results support the presence of two allopatric species within A. gallagheri that split approximately 6 Ma. The newly discovered species is endemic to the Eastern Hajars and is described herein mainly on the basis of its smaller size and high genetic divergence from A. gallagheri. The molecular analyses also uncovered remarkable levels of genetic diversity within both species. The present study highlights the diversity of the genus Asaccus in south-east Arabia and stresses its relevance from a conservation point of view.

Key words: Arabia, biogeography, endemicity, geckos, Hajar Mountains, hypervolumes, species delimitation, taxonomy

Fig. 3. View of the type locality and general appearance in life of Asaccus arnoldi sp. nov.
1) Holotype of A. arnoldi sp. nov. (male; voucher code BMNH.2008.961);
2) Rocky sides of Wadi Bani Khalid in 2016;
3) Female (above) and male (below) A. arnoldi sp. nov. with the characteristic dimorphic tail colouration.

All photographs taken by Salvador Carranza.

Asaccus Dixon and Anderson, 1973
Asaccus arnoldi sp. nov.

Asaccus arnoldi sp. nov.

Etymology. The species epithet ‘arnoldi’ is a genitive Latin noun to honour the British herpetologist, Dr E.Nicholas Arnold, for his life-long dedication and contribution to Arabian herpetology, including the description of the little-known gecko Asaccus gallagheri 45 years ago.  

Marc Simó-Riudalbas, Pedro Tarroso, Theodore Papenfuss, Thuraya Al-Sariri and Salvador Carranza. 2018. Systematics, Biogeography and Evolution of Asaccus gallagheri (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) with the Description of A New Endemic Species from Oman. Systematics and Biodiversity.  DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2017.1403496

 ResearchGate.net/publication/321831031_Systematics_biogeography_and_evolution_of_Asaccus_gallagheri_Squamata_Phyllodactylidae_with_the_description_of_a_new_endemic_species_from_Oman
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