Abdullah Bayram

External Morphology of the Male Harvestman Phalangium opilio (Arachnida: Opiliones)

Abstract In opilionids, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies are necessary to identify the characters of taxonomic and systematic importance. Such studies are needed especially for understanding the functional anatomy and morphology of opilionids. In Turkey, Phalangium opilio L., Phalangium pareissi Roewer, Phalangium punctipes (L. Koch), Phalangium savignyi Audouin, and Phalangium strandi Nosek are known. There are no SEM studies on P. opilio. In this study, cuticular setae, hairs, and denticles on the segments of legs, pedipalpus, and chelicerae of P. opilio are described. Also, the description and SEM pictures of the dorsal integument and articulations, chelicerae, pedipalpus, and legs of the male specimens are given. Some of these structures will probably prove to be of diagnostic value for P. opilio.

Loxosceles spider bite in Turkey (Loxosceles rufescens, Sicariidae, Araneae)

Loxoscelism is caused by envenomation by spiders that belong to the Loxosceles genus. In loxoscelism, a local necrotic lesion appears and, in many cases, loxoscelism or necrotic araneism is considered a serious public health problem. There is no diagnostic test available to help the physician make a diagnostic or therapeutic decision. Here, we report the case of a severe dermonecrotic araneism (loxoscelism) in Turkey probably due to the bite of Loxosceles rufescens. There was little erythema at the beginning, followed by severe necrosis after 20 days, and skin grafting was needed although the case was treated.

Spiders active on snow in eastern Turkey

Abstract At temperatures below zero in winter months, a total of 202 spiders was collected by pitfall traps from a snow-covered grassland in eastern Turkey. 16 genera and 20 species were recorded, belonging to the families Gnaphosidae, Lycosidae, Linyphiidae, Thomisidae, Theridiidae, Philodromidae, Salticidae, and Tetragnathidae.

Morphological characterization of the venom apparatus in the wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, 1770)

The wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, 1770) (Lycosidae: Araneae) is distributed throughout central and eastern Europe, including Russia, Kazakhistan and Turkey. This study describes the venom apparatus morphology of L. singoriensis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its structure follows the general architecture observed in other spiders. Generally, a venom apparatus is composed by a pair of venom glands and chelicerae. L. singoriensis chelicerae are robust and consist of a stout basis and a movable apical segment (fang). The fang rests in a groove on the basal segment that is covered by different types of hair. L. singoriensis venom glands present equal size and measure about 4 mm in length. Each gland is enclosed by irregular muscular layers.

New records of funnel web spiders of the genus Malthonica Simon from Turkey (Araneae: Agelenidae)

The Agelenidae (C. L. Koch, 1837) or funnel web spiders build a sheet web that extends from a tubular retreat which may be hidden in a curled leaf, in leaf litter, in clumps of grass or in an abandoned rodent burrow. Several species of the genus Malthonica Simon were reported from Turkey in recent years: M. ferruginea (Panzer, 1804), M. maronita (Simon, 1873), M. argaeica (Nosek, 1905), M. nemorosa (Simon, 1916), M. anhela Brignoli, 1972), M. lyncea (Brignoli, 1978), M. pagana (C. L. Koch, 1840) and M. pasquinii (Brignoli, 1978) (GUSEINOV et al. 2005, TOPÇU et al. 2005, SEYYAR et al. 2008, BAYRAM et al. 2010). We can add here three more species found in south-eastern Turkey. They were collected with pitfall traps except for M. campestris for which we used the branch-beating method. All measurements are in milimetres. The specimens are deposited in the Zoological Museum of the University of Gaziantep in Turkey. Distribution is given according to PLATNICK (2008).

Comparative cheliceral morphology of the solifuge species Biton zederbaueri (Werner) and Gluviopsilla discolor (Kraepelin) through scanning electron microscopy

Abstract A detailed comparative morphology of the male chelicerae of Biton zederbaueri (Werner) and Gluviopsilla discolor (Kraepelin) is presented using stereo microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphology of the cheliceral teeth, setae, flagella and some other organs such as the stridulatory organ that are used for description and identification are described and illustrated. The flagella are membranous, but their shapes are different in both species. The stridulatory organs are similar in both daesiids, being reniform and with seven ridges. On the chelicerae, numerous long-thin, short-thin and short-thick setae are characteristic for both species.

New records for the Turkish araneo-fauna: Theridion varians Hahn, 1833, Dipoena melanogaster (C. L. Koch, 1837) and Achaearanea riparia (Blackwall, 1834) (Araneae: Theridiidae)

ANDERSON, S. C. (1979): Synopsis of the turtles, crocodiles, and amphisbaenians of Iran. – Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, ser. 4, 41: 501–528. GASPERETTI, J., A. F. STIMSON, J. D. MILLER, J. R. ROSS, P. R. GASPERETTI (1993): Turtles of Arabia. – Fauna of Saudi Arabia 13: 170–304. KAMI, H. G. (1997): First record of the Olive Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, in Iranian coastal waters (Testudines, Cheloniidae). – Zoology in the Middle East 15: 67–70. MILLER, J. D. (1989): Marine Turtles. Volume 1: An assessment of the conservation status of marine turtles in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. – Technical Report, MEPA, Coastal and Marine Management Series, Report No. 9, 209 pp. SAWYER, R. T. (1986): Leech biology and behavior. Vol. II. Feeding Biology, Ecology, and Systematics. – 420-793.

On Poecilochroa variana, recently collected in Turkey for the first time (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

Abstract The spider Poecilochroa variana is recorded in Turkey for the first time. The characteristic features are described and illustrated, and data on ecology and distribution are given. All specimens were collected from north-east Turkey.