The first record of Shaitan (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) for Russia

The males of Shaitan elchini Kovblyuk, Kastrygina et Marusik, 2013 were discovered in materials sampled along Atraphaxis-Artemisia steppe on saline soil at Bogdinsko-Baskunchakskiy Nature Reserve (Astrakhan Area, Russia). Specimens were collected with usage of pitfall-traps in May-June 2014. This is the northernmost and first record of S. elchini for Russia. The taxonomic position of the genus Shaitan Kovblyuk, Kastrygina et Marusik, 2013 in the family Gnaphosidae is discussed together with proposed range of distribution of S. elchini. The genus Shaitan considered as closely related to Parasyrisca Schenkel, 1963 within "Haplodrassus-group" clade, suggested by Wundelich (2011).