Bioacoustics of Iraponia

DESCRIPTION: Moderate-sized caponiids (figs. 1–4, 8, 9, 17, 18, 23–25) with six eyes, four lateral eyes with distinct lenses (fig. 19), although those of posterior lateral pair less elevated than those of anterior, especially in males (figs. 28, 29). Carapace broadly oval, anteriorly narrowed to less than half its maximum width, pars cephalica depressed behind ocular area, with elevations extending toward coxae, pars thoracica short, sloping; cuticle with small hexagonal cells; few dorsally directed strong bristles on clypeus; scattered needle-like hairs on carapace; thoracic groove short, almost obsolete (figs. 26, 27). Six eyes, medians dark, separated by their radius, set back from anterior margin of clypeus by about three times their diameter, surrounded by oval ring of black pigment, laterals white, with high, rounded lenses on anteriors, lenses lower on posteriors (especially in males). Cheliceral paturon with long, strong bristles, overlapping medially; base of fang unmodified; median lamina long, with sharply pointed anteromedian tip (fig. 34); most of space between lamina and base of fang occupied by white membranous lobe; lateral surface with stridulatory ridges (figs. 31–33), pick on prolateral side of palpal femur, situated at about one-fifth of femur length (figs. 53, 59). Endites convergent, acuminate, covered with many long setae (figs. 20, 22), with strong distal serrula consisting of single tooth row (fig. 35). Labium triangular, fused to sternum (fig. 30), slightly invaginated at base, covered with few scattered setae, anterior surface with transverse rows of tiny teeth (fig. 37); labrum long, narrow, triangular, distally elevated (fig. 36). Sternum as wide as long, microsculpture consisting of hexagonal cells, without radial furrows between coxae, covered with scattered setae, not fused to carapace (fig. 11); cephalothoracic membranes without epimeric sclerites, but long triangular sclerites extend from sternum between coxae I and II, II and III, and III and IV, shorter triangles extending to each coxae. Leg formula 4213; legs without spines; metatarsi and tarsi entire, without subsegmentation or membranous processes; tarsi with three claws; paired claws with about six teeth (more on leg I), distal teeth largest; unpaired claw shorter than paired ones, without teeth. Tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi with trichobothria in single row, bases ridged (fig. 38); tarsal organ exposed (fig. 39); female palpal tarsus elongated, prolateral surface densely covered with setae. Abdomen of males with extensive postepigastric scutum covering anterior three-quarters of venter, extending dorsally on both sides, not completely surrounding pedicel; epigastric region slightly protruding, with two pairs of respiratory spiracles; posterior spiracles connected by rebordered groove extending farther back at middle than at sides (fig. 46), leading to two large tracheal trunks extending anteriorly into cephalothorax, single narrower trunk extending posteriorly for most of abdominal length, and few short, small trachaeoles extending posteriorly (fig. 13); postepigastric scutum not fused to epigastric scutum; two small platelets visible in oval, unsclerotized male epigastric area (figs. 2, 10, 12). Males with only four spinnerets (fig. 40), posterior medians lacking; anterior laterals with single, presumably major ampullate gland spigot (fig. 41), posterior laterals with about seven aciniform gland spigots (fig. 42); females with six spinnerets (fig. 54), anterior laterals as in male (fig. 55), posterior medians with large, flattened minor ampullate gland spigot (figs. 56, 57), posterior laterals as in male (fig. 58). Male palpal patella and tibia short, unmodified; cymbium ovoid, prolateral surface densely covered with strong setae; bulb stout; embolus broad ribbon, slightly bent distally at about half its length, tip directed retrolaterally (figs. 5–7, 14–16, 43–45). Female genitalic area with postepigastric scutum represented only by pair of triangular sclerites at posteromedian corners (figs. 4, 21). Internal female genitalia consisting of long, posteriorly directed receptacular sac (figs. 47, 48), copulatory opening narrow (fig. 49), surface of sac with pores for secretory glands (figs. 50–52). Distribution: Known only from Kohgiluyeh Province, Iran .