The spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Theridiidae) in Iran with the first record of Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948

Souri, Amir Mohammad; Shafaie, Sepideh; Moradmand, Majid; Mirshamsi, Omid

doi:10.61186/jibs.10.1.99

The spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Theridiidae) in Iran with the first record of Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Amir Mohammad Souri ¹

Sepideh Shafaie ²

Majid Moradmand ³

Omid Mirshamsi ⁴

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

² Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

³ Department of Plant and Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran [1]; Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany [2].

⁴ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran [1]; Research Department of Zoological Innovations (RDZI), Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran [2].

10.61186/jibs.10.1.99

Abstract

In this study, Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948 is recorded for the first time from Iran based on female specimens. This species was previously recorded from the eastern Mediterranean region. As a result, the number of Latrodectus species recorded from Iran is raised to six. A comparative diagnosis is provided for this species and other widow spiders previously recorded from the country. Latrodectus revivensis can be easily distinguished from its congeners by colouration, genitalic characters and the shape of the nest. This record represents the easternmost distribution limit of L. revivensis. An updated distribution map of Latrodectus species is also provided.

Graphical Abstract

The spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Theridiidae) in Iran with the first record of Latrodectus revivensis Shulov, 1948

Keywords

distribution

Iranian Plateau

Taxonomy

Theridiidae

Widow spider

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