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

Abstract

<p>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 <em>Cheiracanthium elegans</em> Thorell, 1875 (Cheiracanthiidae), <em>Cryptodrassus helvolus</em> (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (Gnaphosidae), <em>Enoplognatha macrochelis</em> Levy & Amitai, 1981 (Theridiidae), <em>Xysticus xerodermus</em> Strand, 1913 (Thomisidae), <em>Zelotes babunaensis</em> (Drensky, 1929) and <em>Z. potanini</em> Schenkel, 1963 (both Gnaphosidae) had not been previously reported from Iran. Also, an additional number of 35 species represent new records for the province.<br /></p>