On three species of Hogna Simon, 1885 (Aranei: Lycosidae) from the Near East and Central Asia

The paper presents a diagnosis and description of a new wolf spider Hogna ackermanni sp.n. (male female) from Afghanistan, and redescriptions of two Near East Hogna species that to date have been known from the original descriptions only: viz., H. sinaia Roewer, 1959 (female) from Egypt (Sinai) and H. effera (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) from Israel. Distribution of all three species is mapped. The lectotype (male) is designated for H. effera. Two new combinations are proposed: Arctosa afghana (Roewer, 1%0) comb.n. (ex Hogna), and Hogna effera (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), comb.n. (ex Hyaenosa). Two new synonyms are proposed: Tarentula iaffa Strand, 1913 syn.n. (female) from Israel and Geolycosa altera Roewer, 1955, syn.n. (female) from Iran; both with H. effera. Additionally, comments on the taxonomy and distribution of the Mediterranean Hogna ferox (Lucas, 1838) are given; this species is illustrated based on the female from Gran Canaria.