'Burning Violin': The Medically Important Spider Genus Loxosceles (Araneae: Sicariidae) in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, With Two New Species. Issue 2 (10th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zamani, Alireza; Mirshamsi, Omid; Marusik, Yuri M
• Editors: Johnson, Richard
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical entomology. Volume 58:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 666
• Page End: 675
• Publication Date: 2020-12-10
• Subjects: Central Asia -- loxoscelism -- Peru -- recluse spiders -- violin spiders; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2585

Abstract

Abstract: The taxonomic status of the medically important spider genus Loxosceles Heineken et Lowe, 1832 (Sicariidae) in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan is revised. Two species are described as new to science: Loxosceles coheni sp. n. ( ♂ ♀, southwestern Iran) and Loxosceles turanensis sp. n. ( ♂ ♀, southern Turkmenistan and eastern Iran). Additionally, Loxosceles alicea Gertsch, 1967 syn. n. (♀, Peru) is synonymized with Loxosceles rufescens (Dufour, 1820). The local distribution of all treated species is mapped (including several new records), and reported cases of loxoscelism from this region are briefly reviewed.