Survey of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in southwestern Iran, with new records

Abstract

Twenty-nine locations in Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad Province in southwestern Iran were sampled for spiders (Araneae) in 2016–17 using different sampling methods (hand collection, pitfall traps, and aspirators). A total of 196 identifiable specimens were collected which represented 49 species belonging to 38 genera and 15 families. Six species, namely Cheiracanthium elegans Thorell, 1875 (Cheiracanthiidae), Cryptodrassus helvolus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (Gnaphosidae), Enoplognatha macrochelis Levy & Amitai, 1981 (Theridiidae), Xysticus xerodermus Strand, 1913 (Thomisidae), Zelotes babunaensis (Drensky, 1929) and Z. potanini Schenkel, 1963 (both Gnaphosidae) had not been previously reported from Iran. Also, an additional number of 35 species represent new records for the province.