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Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data
Abstract
The taxonomy and systematics of European house spiders, currently constituting the ill-defined Tegenaria-
Malthonica complex (including Aterigena) in the family Agelenidae, are revised. In Europe four monophyletic genera and 81 species are defined. One genus, Eratigena gen. nov., and seven species are described as new; at species level 17 new synonyms and 20 new combinations are proposed, and the original combination of 14 species is reinstated. Five species could not be placed (incertae sedis) because of insufficient material and one taxon is regarded as ‘nomen dubium’. On the basis of a detailed morphological assessment, 88 characters were chosen for a cladistic analysis. Phylogenetically informative characters include mostly spination patterns as well as spinneret and genital structures. In addition to morphology, three gene sections [cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NADH1) 28S] were analysed. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed individually and in combination applying maximum parsimony and Bayesian tree search methods. In all resulting trees Malthonica and Tegenaria in their present composition are either polyphyletic or paraphyletic. Consequently, we redefined the two genera and erected a new genus, Eratigena gen. nov. Identification keys are provided for the European agelenid genera as well as for the European species of Tegenaria and Eratigena gen. nov. The genera and most of the constituent species are described and illustrated. The new classification has also been applied to some extra European members of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex resulting in additional three new synonyms, seven reversals to the original combination, and four new combinations.
Supplementary resources (3)
Data
October 2013
Data
October 2013
... There are some discrepancies between the terminology of the genital morphology in Coelotinae (Wang 2002, Wang andZhu 2009) and Ageleninae (Bolzern et al. 2013). Here we propose to unify some of them. ...
... Here we propose to unify some of them. The "conductor dorsal apophysis" (sensu Wang 2002, Wang andZhu 2009) is considered homologous to the "dorsal part of the terminal end of conductor" (sensu Bolzern et al. 2013). We find the last term more accurate since it is not actually an apophysis, i.e. not sticking out from something. ...
... In C. vignai, there is no such cavity, neither is there one in any of the known species of this species group. What they labelled as atrium could be homologous to the "median plate -MP" sensu Bolzern et al. (2013). In addition, we prefer to call the "anterior epigynal hood" sensu Wang and Zhu (2009) simply "epigynal hood". ...
The agelenid spider species Coelotes vignai Brignoli, 1978 was described, based on
female specimens from Turkey. The unknown male is here described, based on specimens from the type locality: Bolu,
Abant Mountains, Turkey. The variation of the female copulatory organs is illustrated. The
relationships of the species with its putative closest congeners are discussed. The
discrepancy between the morphological terminology used in the Coelotinae and
Ageleninae is discussed and some suggestions how to unify them are proposed.
... Some species are also known as a troglophile (Mammola et al., 2018). Tegenaria ferruginea (Panzer, 1804) is widespread in Europe and either known from Azores It was also introduced to Venezuela ( Bolzern et al., 2013). The closest record to Belarus: Poland and Ukraine (Platnick, 2013 tica (Clerck, 1757), which is cosmopolitan and synanthropic (Bolzern et al., 2013). ...
... Tegenaria ferruginea (Panzer, 1804) is widespread in Europe and either known from Azores It was also introduced to Venezuela ( Bolzern et al., 2013). The closest record to Belarus: Poland and Ukraine (Platnick, 2013 tica (Clerck, 1757), which is cosmopolitan and synanthropic (Bolzern et al., 2013). ...
... Abdomen has a distinctly reddish median band, flanked by prominent whitish patches, large anteriorly and reduced to small spots posteriorly (Roberts 1995) (Fig. 2). The pattern on the sternum consists of three pairs of symmetrically arranged bright dots on the sides and a light strip through the center, which in the back narrows or dips with dots ( Fig. 3E) (Bolzern et al., 2013). ...
First record of the spider Tegenaria ferruginea (Panzer, 1804) from Belarus, along with taxonomic diagnosis and photographs are presented. Contrary to the expectations, males and females were found during overwintering in the silken sac in the fort of Brest, Belarus.
... However, given the previous acceptance of duellica by the World Spider Catalog (2018), that is the name used here. Recently, Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013) proposed, on the basis of both molecular (mtDNA) and morphological evidence, that members of the Tegenaria atrica group belong to a different, newlyerected genus, Eratigena, and that the three species should be regarded as one species, E. atrica. This nomenclatorial change is now accepted by the World Spider Catalog (2018) and has been quickly adopted elsewhere. ...
... The placement of the species in a genus different to Tegenaria is well supported by the evidence presented by Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013). They showed that there are deep divisions in both morphological and molecular phylogenies between Tegenaria and the new genus Eratigena and that the species considered here fall well within Eratigena. ...
... There seem to be three possibilities. First, Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013) and Barrientos & Ribera (1988) may have confused species because they did not appreciate fully the precise orientation of the genitalia required to separate them reliably and, as a result, failed to find either morphological and, in the case of Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013), mtDNA differences between them. Interpretation of the latter depends critically on correct identification. ...
DNA analyses may reveal groupings of species that are discordant with phylogenies constructed using morphological characters. Here, we examine the taxonomic status of what, historically, was called the Tegenaria atrica group of large house spiders: T. atrica, T. saeva, and T. duellica (gigantea). A recent phylogenetic analysis, based largely on European material, proposed that this group should be transferred to a new genus, Eratigena, and that a lack of morphological and mtDNA distinctiveness between constituent members indicated a single species: Eratigena atrica. The new genus is well supported but the synonymy of the three species is inconsistent with information from Britain. Here, we sequence new specimens from Britain, and examine morphologically both this and additional material from Britain, continental Europe, and North America. We test the hypothesis that, although the three species are distinct in Britain, in continental Europe hybridization may have led to their fusion into a single entity. Our mtDNA sequence data confirm the previously demonstrated small genetic distances and complex phylogenetic relationships between taxa. However, we show that three distinct morphological groupings exist across the range of the species and that, as a result, the specific names atrica s.s., saeva, and duellica should be resurrected.
... En áreas naturales, estas arañas habitan desde los bosques hasta los desiertos (Foelix, 2011;Bolzern et al., 2013). Además, los agelénidos son notables por su habilidad de correr rápidamente en superficies horizontales, incluyendo sustratos irregulares tales como el follaje arbustivo y herbáceo (Spagna, 2006). ...
... Debido a que no se apreciaron diferencias acentuadas entre los valores de distancia de las secuencias completas y truncadas, se optó por continuar el análisis con secuencias sin recortar. La topología de distancias se elaboró con el análisis de Neighbor-Joining con los parámetros estándar del El proceso tegular lateral (= "cuerno basal" Lehtinen, 1967; "apófisis tegular" Stocks, 2009) En los géneros estudiados es común la presencia de espolones (= "guías del atrio" Gering, 1953; "dientes del epigineo" Bolzern et al., 2013). El epigineo en su parte dorsal presenta los componentes internos de la genitalia de la hembras: conductos de copulación, espermatecas y conductos de fertilización. ...
... Diagnosis: Arañas araneomorfas de tamaño pequeño a mediano con tres uñas tarsales, ecribeladas, entelegineas, ocho ojos, hileras laterales posteriores de dos segmentos, largas y delgadas con el segmento distal reduciéndose hacia la punta, tarsos con tricobotrias incrementándose en longitud hacia la parte distal, colulus pareado (Jocqué y Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2006;Bolzern et al., 2013). (Chamberlin y Gertsch 1930). ...
... Subsequently, they were put in an enzymatic lens cleaner solution overnight, washed, and transferred back to ethanol. The morphological terminology follows Bolzern et al. (2013a). The following abbreviations are used (see also Figs. 8,9,11,[14][15][16][18][19][20]22,27,28): AER, anterior eye row; ALE, anterior lateral eyes; ALS, anterior lateral spinnerets; AME, anterior median eyes; bulbL, distance of the cymbium base to the most distal tip of the male bulb (including conductor); C, conductor; CB, cymbium breadth; CD, copulatory duct; CL, carapace length; CLY1, clypeus height under AME; CLY2, clypeus height under ALE; CO, copulatory opening at female epigyne; CW, carapace width; DB, dorsal branch of RTA; DP, distal portion of conductor; DS, distal sclerite at MA; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; MA, median apophysis of male bulb; OL, opisthosoma length; OW, opisthosoma width; PER, posterior eye row; PLE, posterior lateral eyes; PLS, posterior lateral spinnerets; PM, posterior membrane (internal posterior limit of female genital area); PME, posterior median eyes; PMS, posterior median spinnerets; PS, epigynal posterior sclerite; PT, epigynal 'pseudo teeth'; R, retroventral ridge of palpal tibia; RC, receptaculum; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis (used here as the sum of all structures on the retrolateral aspect of the tibia of the male pedipalp); STL, sternum length; STW, sternum width; T, tegulum; TR, transversal ridge at conductor; VB, ventral branch of RTA. ...
... likelihood and parsimony (MP) analyses resulted in essentially identical best trees ( Fig. 1, MP tree not shown). The higher level classification proposed by Bolzern et al. (2013a) is supported by the molecular data presented here and summarized as follows (see also Fig. 1): (1), Agelenidae is split into the two monophyletic subfamilies Ageleninae and Coelotinae; (2), the genera Tegenaria and Eratigena are separate monophyletic clades. However, the relationships between genera are unclear due to low supporting values. ...
... 1-4 (in part). Full synonymy: see Roth (1968) and Bolzern et al. (2013a). ...
Based on specimens from several museum collections and recently sampled spiders during a field excursion to Mexico in 2014, the 11 species of Tegenaria s. l. endemic to the United States of America and Mexico are revised. Morphological characters and mitochondrial DNA sequences (CO1, NADH1, 16S) serve as the basis for proposed new combinations and new species. Tegenaria chiricahuae Roth, 1968 remains the only endemic Tegenaria species in the Western Hemisphere. All other specific names (T. are transferred to the genus Eratigena Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013. Six new species are described: E. edmundoi, E. fernandoi, E. guanato, E. queretaro, E. xilitla, and E. yarini. In addition, females of E. flexuosa, and E. gertschi, and the male of E. florea are described for the first time. A phylogeny based on maximum likelihood analysis of combined mtDNA sequences, an identification key and images of all diagnosed species are provided.
... Furthermore, males of Textricini species lack a tegular (= median) apophysis (vs present in all other agelenids; also see Discussion). For other characters, see Lehtinen (1967) and Bolzern et al. (2010Bolzern et al. ( , 2013. ...
... The terminology of one particular palpal sclerite in Maimuna has been controversial: Lehtinen (1967) suggested that a tegular (= median) apophysis is lacking (i.e., "totally reduced") in species of this genus, which was not followed by Levy (1996), Bolzern et al. (2013), and Dimitrov (2022). It became evident in our examination of the expanded bulbs that all species of Maimuna indeed lack a tegular apophysis, as the structure that the aforementioned authors considered as the "median apophysis" arises from the conductor, not the tegulum. ...
Türkiye is known to have the highest diversity of the spider family Agelenidae in the Western Palaearctic and the highest diversity of the subfamily Ageleninae globally. The new agelenid genus Anatextrix gen. nov. (Ageleninae, Textricini) and its type species, A. spectabilis sp. nov. (♂♀; Mersin and Adana provinces, southern Türkiye), are described. A key to all four genera of Textricini is provided.
... Leg measurements were taken from the dorsal side, measurements of pedipalps and legs are given in the order of femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus/cymbium. The morphological terminology follows Bolzern (Bolzern et al., 2013). RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; TEC, terminal end of conductor. ...
... Future biodiversity discovery efforts are anticipated to identify other microendemic components of the Levantine arachnofauna that may be of high priority for conservation efforts. A detailed diagnosis for the genus is given by Bolzern et al. (2013), including the main following characters which fits well with all the seven new species described herein: 1. all leg trochanter straight or slightly curved; 2. leg patellae with two dorsal but no lateral spines; 3. absence of ventral spines at all leg tarsi; 4. male pedipalp with lateroventral ridge on RTA, filiform embolus, lamelliform conductor with a mostly simple ventral terminal ending, and elongated MA with distal sclerite; 5. female epigynum with a separated median region and vulva without either diverticula or long appendages at any duct. The colulus, which is usually developed as trapezoidal plate in the genus Tegenaria, is inconspicuous in the Israeli troglobite species. ...
Caves have long been recognized as a window into the mechanisms of diversification and convergent evolution, due to the unique conditions of isolation and life in the dark. These lead to adaptations and reduce dispersal and gene flow, resulting in high levels of speciation and endemism. The Israeli cave arachnofauna remains poorly known, but likely represents a rich assemblage. In a recent survey, we found troglophilic funnel-web spiders of the genus Tegenaria in 26 caves, present mostly at the cave entrance ecological zone. In addition, we identified at least 14 caves inhabited by troglobitic Tegenaria, which are present mostly in the twilight and dark ecological zones. Ten of the caves, located in the north and center of Israel, are inhabited by both troglophilic and troglobitic Tegenaria. These spiders bear superficial phenotypic similarities, but differ in the levels of eye reduction and pigmentation. To test whether these taxa constitute separate species, as well as understand their relationships to epigean counterparts, we conducted a broad geographic sampling of cave-dwelling Tegenaria in Israel and Palestine, using morphological and molecular evidence. Counterintuitively, our results show that the troglobitic Tegenaria we studied are distantly related to the troglophilic Tegenaria found at each of the cave entrances we sampled. Moreover, seven new troglobitic species can be identified based on genetic differences, eye reduction level, and features of the female and male genitalia. Our COI analysis suggest that the Israeli troglobitic Tegenaria species are more closely related to eastern-Mediterranean congeners than to the local sympatric troglophile Tegenaria species, suggesting a complex biogeographic history.
... The tree for this family is based on the detailed study by Bolzern et al. (2013), combining morphological and molecular data for a dense sample of species. The deep relationships of the genera show major differences compared to the analysis of Wheeler et al. (2017), which included individual representatives of the same genera. ...
... These disagreements illustrate how fragile some of the results of even the most recent molecular analyses still can be. The arrangement proposed by Bolzern et al. (2013) is preferred, as the molecular results in this case agree quite closely with those of a morphological analysis, while in the trees presented by Wheeler et al. (2017) and Crews et al. (2020) in particular the placement of Coelotes deeply within the remaining Agelenidae s. str. is unexpected (the genus is typically placed in the subfamily Coelotinae, which is sometimes even considered a separate family Coelotidae). Agelena longipes is a phantom species as defined by Breitling et al. (2015Breitling et al. ( , 2016, i.e., it was not rediscovered since its original description in 1900. ...
The recent accumulation of increasingly densely sampled phylogenetic analyses of spiders has greatly advanced our understanding of evolutionary relationships within this group. Here, this diverse literature is reviewed and combined with earlier morphological analyses in an attempt to reconstruct the first fully resolved phylogeny for the spider fauna of the British Isles. The resulting tree highlights parts of the group where data are still too limited for a confident assessment of relationships, proposes a number of deviations from previously suggested phylogenetic hypotheses, and can serve as a framework for evolutionary and ecological interpretations of the biology of British spiders, as well as a starting point for future studies on a larger geographical scale.
... Range is the only record of this species outside caves (one specimen captured in a xerophytic steppe-like vegetation on limestone, by pitfall traps) (Komnenov 2014). Bolzern et al. (2013) did not specify any localities or habitats for their observations from Greece and Turkey. The new record for Turkey confirms the preference of this species to caves and similar habitats. ...
... Its ecology remains poorly known; the only available description of the habitat is the one provided by Bolzern et al. (2013;"crevices in caves") and that of the new record, which both suggest that the species may prefer dark and shaded environments. ...
A list of spiders is provided (Arachnida: Araneae), collected in April 2019 in the south-west of Turkey (Antalya Province, Kemer district). In total 95 species from 28 families have been recorded. Sintula karineae spec. nov. is described based on female specimens.
Brigittea innocens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), a relatively unknown and poorly documented species, is redescribed. Besides the newly described member of Sintula, further eight species are new for the fauna of Turkey: Canariphantes nanus (Kulczyński, 1898), Cyclosa algerica Simon, 1885, Hogna effera (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), Lepthyphantes magnesiae Brignoli, 1979, Oecobius navus Blackwall, 1859, Phrurolithus azarkinae Zamani & Marusik, 2020, Pseudeuophrys rhodiensis Schäfer, 2018 and Theridion helena Wunderlich, 2011. One female of Ozyptila Simon, 1864 (Araneae: Thomisidae) is described and illustrated and possibly represents the unknown female of O. spirembola Wunderlich, 1995, but no accompanying male was collected. Moreover, the findings of several other species already known from Turkey represent important records for the local fauna: Berinda cooki Logunov, 2012, Harpactea sturanyi (Nosek, 1905), Heriaeus setiger (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), Improphantes turok Tanasevitch, 2011, Mermessus denticulatus (Banks, 1898), Nomisia orientalis Dalmas, 1921, Philodromus femurostriatus Muster, 2009, Tegenaria faniapollinis Brignoli, 1978, Tegenaria vankeerorum Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013 and Zaitunia kunti Zonstein & Marusik, 2016. Photos and drawings of most of these species are provided.
... Here, we report phenology and life-history data for two species of funnel weavers (Araneae: Agelenidae): the hobo spider Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer) (formerly Tegenaria agrestis; Bolzern et al., 2013) and the giant house spider Eratigena atrica (Koch) (formerly Tegenaria duellica; Bolzern et al., 2013), with a focus on E. agrestis. These two congeneric species were introduced to the coastal Pacific Northwest of North America from Europe a century ago (Crawford and Vest 1989). ...
... Here, we report phenology and life-history data for two species of funnel weavers (Araneae: Agelenidae): the hobo spider Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer) (formerly Tegenaria agrestis; Bolzern et al., 2013) and the giant house spider Eratigena atrica (Koch) (formerly Tegenaria duellica; Bolzern et al., 2013), with a focus on E. agrestis. These two congeneric species were introduced to the coastal Pacific Northwest of North America from Europe a century ago (Crawford and Vest 1989). ...
The life history of the funnel weaver Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer) (Araneae: Agelenidae) is not well studied despite its widespread occurrence in Europe and its establishment and spread in the Pacific Northwest of North America since its introduction in the early 20th century. We report phenology and life-history data for E. agrestis and another co-occurring funnel weaver, Eratigena atrica (Koch), in two study sites in British Columbia, Canada. The most notable difference in phenology between the two Eratigena species was the timing of emergence: E. atrica spiderlings emerge in the fall whereas E. agrestis spiderlings emerge in the spring. Surprisingly, the contrasting densities of E. atrica in the two study sites and the presence of the western black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin and Ivie (Araneae: Theridiidae), in one study site had little effect on the life history of E. agrestis . This unexpected finding may be explained by (i) low overall competition pressure in the study habitats, (ii) conspecifics and heterospecifics exerting equivalent competition or predation pressures; and/or (iii) aggregations of heterospecifics providing benefits that offset costs associated with any competition.
... Eratigena atrica, also known as the giant house spider, belongs to the family Agelenidae (funnel-web spiders). It is native to Europe (Bolzern et al., 2013) and is an introduced species to Northern America (Crawford & Vest, 1989). The webs of E. atrica's could be found indoors (on floor or walls) and outdoors (logs and under rocks). ...
Methods for using spider webs as passive air samplers have been developed over recent years and applied in over a dozen articles. In this paper, we present the typical procedures followed when using this new tool and make a critical review connected with its application in air pollution assessment. To understand the state of research and application of spider webs in this field, we describe some advantages and disadvantages of their use in the analyses of air contaminants. The aim is to summarize the current knowledge on this subject, highlight gaps in the present studies, and arouse the interest of scientists on this issue. The increased effort could result in the standardization of the method at the national and international level. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.© 2022 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
... Subsequently, 21 papers concerning Sardinian spider fauna, or including Sardinian material, have been published. In 2013, after the publication of the catalogue, Bolzern et al. (2013) and Planas et al. (2013) published phylogenetic and molecular data with taxonomical implications respectively for the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex and the genus Lycosa, whereas Colombo & Manunza (2013) reported the first case of malacophagy in Cteniza sauvagesi (Rossi, 1788). The following year, the Sardinian endemic mygalomorph Amblyocarenum nuragicum Decae, Colombo & Manunza, 2014 was described. ...
We present new distributional data of 24 spider species in Sardinia, including 7 endemic and 1 poorly recorded species. Sixteen species from 7 families and six species from 2 families are recorded for the first time in Sardinia and Italy, respectively. Among these, the reported presence of Cepheia longiseta and five other species allows us to include the Synaphridae family and five genera (Anagraphis, Hahnia, Minyriolus, Thaumatoncus, Trabea) in the Sardinian spider checklist, and two genera (Anagraphis and haumatoncus) in the Italian spider checklist. Relevant faunistic and distribution notes of poorly collected species are also provided.
... Roberts 1985). Tegenaria parietina is distributed throughout Europe (Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi 2013) but within the UK is restricted to England, predominately in the south (Spider Recording Scheme 2020;pers. obs.). ...
... Countries are indicated by two-letter codes according to ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 2A). This specimen is clearly distinct from E. bucculenta as illustrated by Machado (1941), Brignoli (1978), and Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013); most importantly, the copulatory ducts are considerably longer. However, this is in good agreement with the females illustrated by Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi as E. bucculenta s. lat. ...
Eric Duffey's spider collection in the Manchester Museum, accumulated over more than 40 years, contains more than 300 samples from a diverse range of biotopes in most southern European countries. Most of this material was previously unsorted. It has now been sorted and identified to species level. It contains more than 2500 specimens of more than 500 species in 240 genera and 42 families. The collection details of all of these samples are listed here, and a number of selected specimens are illustrated.
... Agelenidae C. L. Koch, 1837 is a relatively large spider family with 1327 extant species belonging to 83 genera (World Spider Catalog 2020). Limits of the family as well as its infrafamilial classification remain subjects of debate (Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi 2013). In the global revision of cribellate spiders, Lehtinen (1967) considered two subfamilies in Agelenidae: Ageleninae C. L. Koch, 1837 and Coelotinae F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893. ...
Agelenini occurring in Iran and Tajikistan are reviewed. As a result, four new genera are established: Persiscape gen. n., to include P. caspica sp. n. (♂♀, Mazandaran, northern Iran), P. ecbatana sp. n. (♂♀, Hamedan, western Iran), P. nassirkhanii sp. n. (♂, Lorestan, southwestern Iran), P. zagrosensis sp. n. (♂, Ilam, western Iran), P. caucasica (Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005) comb. n. (♀, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan), P. gideoni (Levy, 1996) comb. n. (♂♀, Turkey to Israel, Iran), and P. levyi (Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005) comb. n. (♂♀, Azerbaijan) (all three comb. n. ex. Agelescape). Extreme morphological variation occurs in the copulatory organs of females of this genus leading us to synonymize Agelescape dunini Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005 syn. n. (♂♀, Azerbaijan) with P. gideoni and A. talyshica Guseinov, Marusik &Koponen, 2005 syn. n. (♀, Azerbaijan) with P. levyi, recorded in Iran for the first time. Agelescape Levy, 1996 is redefined to include only two species: A. livida (Simon, 1875) and A. affinis (Kulczyński, 1911); Gorbiscape gen. n., to include G. gorbachevi sp. n. (♂♀, Dushanbe, Khatlon, western Tajikistan) and G. agelenoides (Walckenaer, 1841) comb. n. (♂♀, Western Mediterranean, ex. Agelena); Asiascape gen. n., to include A. parthica sp. n. (♂♀, Golestan, North Khorasan, northeastern Iran); Persilena gen. n., to include P. sengleti sp. n. (♀, Ilam, western Iran). In addition, Agelena tadzhika Andreeva, 1976 (♂♀, Tajikistan and northern Ciscaspian region) is transferred to Benoitia Lehtinen, 1967 (= Benoitia tadzhika (Andreeva, 1976) comb. n.).
... Tegenaria is second largest genus in the family and largest in Tegenariini. Judging from the significant variation in the shape of epigynes and male palps, Tegenaria is most likely paraphyletic, if not polyphyletic [Bolzern et al., 2013]. Abbreviations: Ac -anterior part of copulatory ducts, Ar -accessorial receptacle, Pc -posterior branch of conductor, Rereceptacle, Sc -scape. ...
Two Tegenariini genera occurring in Iran, Azerithonica Guseinov, Marusik et Koponen, 2005 and Tegenaria Latreille, 1804 are revised. As a result, the former genus and its type species, Azerithonica hyrcanica Guseinov, Marusik et Koponen, 2005 are recorded in Iran for the first time. A new species, A. sagartia sp.n. (♀, Mazandaran) is described from northern Iran, representing the second species of Azerithonica, enabling us to provide an updated diagnosis for the genus. Furthermore, six new species of Tegenaria are described from western and northern Iran, namely: T. arsacia sp.n. (♀, Hamedan), T. daylamanica sp.n. (♀, Gilan), T. eros sp.n. (♀, Golestan), T. guseinovi sp.n. (♀, Kermanshah), T. rahnamayi sp.n. (♀, Mazandaran) and T. shirin sp.n. (♂, Kermanshah). In addition, T. halidi Guseinov, Marusik et Koponen, 2005, previously known from Azerbaijan only, is newly recorded for the fauna of Iran, and new distribution records are provided for T. domestica (Clerck, 1757), T. lenkoranica Guseinov, Marusik et Koponen, 2005 and T. pagana C.L. Koch, 1840. With the exception of the widely-distributed and well-known T. domestica and T. pagana, all of the remaining species are illustrated, and known distributions of Azerithonica spp. and all Iranian Tegenaria spp. are mapped.
... As a result, a larger number of young arachnologists became involved in the taxonomic analysis of distinct taxa and thus helped to broaden our knowledge of the spiders of Greece considerably (e.g. Bosmans, 2009;Bolzern, Burckhardt, & Hänggi, 2013;Komnenov, Pitta, Zografou, & Chatzaki, 2016;Wu, Wang, Zheng, & Li, 2016, and many others). Apart from signing the first catalogue of the spiders of Greece, R. Bosmans has contributed tremendously to the listing of the arachnofauna of Greece, having performed numerous expeditions in many parts of the country, which resulted in important papers and checklists, like that on Lesvos Bosmans, 2011;) and on Crete (Bosmans et al., 2013). ...
This paper is an overview of the progress being made in the taxonomy, ecology and biogeography of spiders in Greece over the past twenty years. Starting from a chronology of the arachnological research in previous times, the milestones in cataloguing the spiders of Greece are cited and the most important arachnologists who contributed to it are referred to. The paper then focuses on the current state of taxonomic knowledge divided per family and per geographical region within the country. Currently 1,121 species are recorded in the country’s national checklist, organized in a handy electronic catalogue, and 323 species have been described from Greek areas. As regards the biogeography and ecology of Greek spiders, ten papers are analyzed. While contributing to the otherwise limited knowledge of the ecological preferences and restraints of selected species,
these studies are mostly valuable in revealing trends of responses of spider assemblages and how these are tuned under specific historical or geographical conditions across the mosaic of the Greek territory. They also provide evidence for surrogates of environmental change (e.g. climate or human disturbance), useful for future conservation research and for planning strategies on biodiversity on a national level and beyond.
... Sono poi indicati i riferimenti bibliografici, l'eventuale materiale inedito e brevi commenti per le specie più interessanti. Tegenaria parmenidis Brignoli, 1971Bolzern et al., 2013a. Alicata, 1964Kritscher, 1960; Alicata, 1964a. ...
Spiders of Calabria (Arachnida, Araneae). A summary is provided of the knowledge of the Araneofauna of Calabria based on scientific publications to date and unpublished material. 456 species are reported for the region referring to 213 genera and 41 families. Zelotes balcanicus, Z. khostensis, Porrhomma montanum, Walckenaeria incisa, Rhomphaea rostrata and Paratrachelas validus are reported for the first time in Italy while for 48 other species the data given constitute the only reports for Calabria. A new species of Dysderidae, Kaemis gasparoi n. sp. is described.
... Taxonomic note. Tegenaria saeva and Tegenaria gigantea have been synonymized by Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi (2013) as Eratigena atrica (C. L. Koch, 1843). ...
The current state of knowledge of the spiders, harvestmen and pseudoscorpions of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia is summarized. Forty-six spider species, 1 harvestman and 1 pseudoscorpion species are listed for the Falkland Islands and 6 spider species for South Georgia. Introduced species not yet proven to be established are also listed. The distribution of species within the islands and their biogeography is discussed.
... The three arachnid species exploit subterranean environments for a significant part of their lives and are among the major cave predators (Manenti, Lunghi & Ficetola, 2015;Novak et al., 2010). We grouped all detected individuals as Tegenaria sp. because identifying spiders at the species level in the genus Tegenaria is difficult without using invasive methods (Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013). Chilostoma planospira is a snail that feeds on vegetal organic matter and even lichens (Albano et al., 2014;Baur et al., 2007), while the genus Limax contains large slugs (Limax were only identified to genus) that feed on residual organic matter (Horsák, Zelený & Hájek, 2014). ...
Seasonality impacts species distributions through changes of the environmental
conditions that affect the presence of individuals at a given place. Although the dynamics
of cave microclimates are well known, only a few studies have evaluated the effects
of such dynamics on non-strictly cave species. Here we assessed if species exploiting
subterranean environments show changes in habitat occupation related to seasonal
variation of cave microclimates. We surveyed 16 caves in central Italy every month for
one year. Caves were subdivided into longitudinal sectors of three meters. In each sector
we measured cave morphology and microclimatic features, assessed the occurrence
of eight non-troglobitic taxa (orthopterans, spiders, gastropods and amphibians),
and related species distribution to environmental features and sampling periods. The
occurrence of most species was related to both cave morphology and microclimatic
features. The survey month was the major factor determining the presence of species
in cave sectors, indicating that cave-dwelling taxa show strong seasonality in activity
and distribution. For multiple species, we detected interactions between sampling
period and microclimatic features, suggesting that species may associate with different
microhabitats throughout the year. The richest communities were found in sites
with specific microclimates (i.e., high humidity, warm temperature and low light)
but seasonality for species richness was strong as well, stressing the complexity of
interactions between outdoor and subterranean environments.
... nov., Cabolena huiztocatl sp. nov., Cabolena kosatli (a) species are not discernible on the basis of mtDNA sequences according to a barcode gap; (b) species do not form distinguishable molecular clades; and (c) specimens from different species present a continuum of genital morphologies that may represent a single and highly variable species (Paquin & Hedin 2004;Bolzern et al. 2013). According to genetic distances, the species of Rothilena are not discernible, suggesting that COI may not be a suitable gene to separate these species, compared to other agelenids (Croucher et al. 2004). ...
Four new genera of funnel-web spiders of the family Agelenidae C.L. Koch, 1837 from the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico are described and illustrated. Bajacalilena gen. nov. is represented by B. bolzerni sp. nov. and B. clarki sp. nov. Cabolena gen. nov. is represented by C. huiztocatl sp. nov., C. kosatli sp. nov., and C. sotol sp. nov. Callidalena gen. nov. is represented by C. quintin sp. nov. and C. tijuana sp. nov. Lagunella gen. nov. is represented by L. guaycura sp. nov. Additionally, the males of Calilena angelena Chamberlin & Ivie, 1941, Hololena septata Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942, and Rothilena sudcaliforniensis Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2013 are described for the first time. New records for C. angelena, H. septata, R. cochimi Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2013, R. pilar Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2013, and R. sudcaliforniensis are also provided. Molecular analysis of a fragment of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) provides support for the monophyly of the new genera and facilitated sorting of conspecific males and females. Finally, an identification key to native Nearctic and Neotropical genera of the subfamily Ageleninae is provided.
... All these results were first suggested by J. . Bolzern et al. (2013) obtained a different composition for agelenines, including Textrix and Tegenaria. ...
We present a phylogenetic analysis of spiders using a dataset of 932 spider species, representing 115 families (only the family Synaphridae is unrepresented), 700 known genera, and additional representatives of 26 unidentified or undescribed genera. Eleven genera of the orders Amblypygi, Palpigradi, Schizomida and Uropygi are included as outgroups. The dataset includes six markers from the mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) and nuclear (histone H3, 18S, 28S) genomes, and was analysed by multiple methods, including constrained analyses using a highly supported backbone tree from transcriptomic data. We recover most of the higher-level structure of the spider tree with good support, including Mesothelae, Opisthothelae, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae. Several of our analyses recover Hypochilidae and Filistatidae as sister groups, as suggested by previous transcriptomic analyses. The Synspermiata are robustly supported, and the families Trogloraptoridae and Caponiidae are found as sister to the Dysderoidea. Our results support the Lost Tracheae clade, including Pholcidae, Tetrablemmidae, Diguetidae, Plectreuridae and the family Pacullidae (restored status) separate from Tetrablemmidae. The Scytodoidea include Ochyroceratidae along with Sicariidae, Scytodidae, Drymusidae and Periegopidae; our results are inconclusive about the separation of these last two families. We did not recover monophyletic Austrochiloidea and Leptonetidae, but our data suggest that both groups are more closely related to the Cylindrical Gland Spigot clade rather than to Synspermiata. Palpimanoidea is not recovered by our analyses, but also not strongly contradicted. We find support for Entelegynae and Oecobioidea (Oecobiidae plus Hersiliidae), and ambiguous placement of cribellate orb-weavers, compatible with their non-monophyly. Nicodamoidea (Nicodamidae plus Megadictynidae) and Araneoidea composition and relationships are consistent with recent analyses. We did not obtain resolution for the titanoecoids (Titanoecidae and Phyxelididae), but the Retrolateral Tibial Apophysis clade is well supported. Penestomidae, and probably Homalonychidae, are part of Zodarioidea, although the latter family was set apart by recent transcriptomic analyses. Our data support a large group that we call the marronoid clade (including the families Amaurobiidae, Desidae, Dictynidae, Hahniidae, Stiphidiidae, Agelenidae and Toxopidae). The circumscription of most marronoid families is redefined here. Amaurobiidae include the Amaurobiinae and provisionally Macrobuninae. We transfer Malenellinae (Malenella, from Anyphaenidae), Chummidae (Chumma) (new syn.) and Tasmarubriinae (Tasmarubrius, Tasmabrochus and Teeatta, from Amphinectidae) to Macrobuninae. Cybaeidae are redefined to include Calymmaria, Cryphoeca, Ethobuella and Willisius (transferred from Hahniidae), and Blabomma and Yorima (transferred from Dictynidae). Cycloctenidae are redefined to include Orepukia (transferred from Agelenidae) and Pakeha and Paravoca (transferred from Amaurobiidae). Desidae are redefined to include five subfamilies: Amphinectinae, with Amphinecta, Mamoea, Maniho, Paramamoea and Rangitata (transferred from Amphinectidae); Ischaleinae, with Bakala and Manjala (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Ischalea (transferred from Stiphidiidae); Metaltellinae, with Austmusia, Buyina, Calacadia, Cunnawarra, Jalkaraburra, Keera, Magua, Metaltella, Penaoola and Quemusia; Porteriinae (new rank), with Baiami, Cambridgea, Corasoides and Nanocambridgea (transferred from Stiphidiidae); and Desinae, with Desis, and provisionally Poaka (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Barahna (transferred from Stiphidiidae). Argyroneta is transferred from Cybaeidae to Dictynidae. Cicurina is transferred from Dictynidae to Hahniidae. The genera Neoramia (from Agelenidae) and Aorangia, Marplesia and Neolana (from Amphinectidae) are transferred to Stiphidiidae. The family Toxopidae (restored status) includes two subfamilies: Myroinae, with Gasparia, Gohia, Hulua, Neomyro, Myro, Ommatauxesis and Otagoa (transferred from Desidae); and Toxopinae, with Midgee and Jamara, formerly Midgeeinae, new syn. (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Hapona, Laestrygones, Lamina, Toxops and Toxopsoides (transferred from Desidae). We obtain a monophyletic Oval Calamistrum clade and Dionycha; Sparassidae, however, are not dionychans, but probably the sister group of those two clades. The composition of the Oval Calamistrum clade is confirmed (including Zoropsidae, Udubidae, Ctenidae, Oxyopidae, Senoculidae, Pisauridae, Trechaleidae, Lycosidae, Psechridae and Thomisidae), affirming previous findings on the uncertain relationships of the “ctenids” Ancylometes and Cupiennius, although a core group of Ctenidae are well supported. Our data were ambiguous as to the monophyly of Oxyopidae. In Dionycha, we found a first split of core Prodidomidae, excluding the Australian Molycriinae, which fall distantly from core prodidomids, among gnaphosoids. The rest of the dionychans form two main groups, Dionycha part A and part B. The former includes much of the Oblique Median Tapetum clade (Trochanteriidae, Gnaphosidae, Gallieniellidae, Phrurolithidae, Trachelidae, Gnaphosidae, Ammoxenidae, Lamponidae and the Molycriinae), and also Anyphaenidae and Clubionidae. Orthobula is transferred from Phrurolithidae to Trachelidae. Our data did not allow for complete resolution for the gnaphosoid families. Dionycha part B includes the families Salticidae, Eutichuridae, Miturgidae, Philodromidae, Viridasiidae, Selenopidae, Corinnidae and Xenoctenidae (new fam., including Xenoctenus, Paravulsor and Odo, transferred from Miturgidae, as well as Incasoctenus from Ctenidae). We confirm the inclusion of Zora (formerly Zoridae) within Miturgidae.
... The recent publications are due to the investigations of Beron (2015Beron ( , 2016, Bolzern et al. (2013), Bosmans (2009), Bosmans et al. (2013), Deltshev (2011a, b), Deltshev et al. (2011aDeltshev et al. ( , b, 2012Deltshev et al. ( , 2014, Deltshev & Ćurĉić (2011), Demircan & Topçu (2015), Gasparo (2011Gasparo ( , 2014, Komnenov (2009Komnenov ( , 2011Komnenov ( , 2014, Kostova et al. (2016), Langourov et al. (2014), Lopez-Panacorbi et al. (2013), Pavicevic et al. (2012), Stoev et al. 2014, Tanasevitch & Wunderlich (2015, Wang & Li (2010, Wu et al. (2016). The present contribution summarizes previously unpublished data and adds records of newly collected cave-dwelling spiders from the Balkan Peninsula in the period 2009 -2016. ...
The contribution summarizes previously unpublished data and adds records of newly collected cave-dwelling spiders from the Balkan Peninsula. New data on the distribution of 91 species from 16 families, found in 157 (27 newly established) underground sites (caves and artificial galleries) are reported due to 337 original records. Twelve species are new to the spider fauna of the caves of the Balkan Peninsula. The species Histopona palaeolithica (Brignoli, 1971) and Hoplopholcus longipes (Spassky, 1934) are reported for the first time for the territory of Balkan Peninsula, Centromerus cavernarum (L. Koch, 1872), Diplocephalus foraminifer (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875) and Lepthyphantes notabilis Kulczyński, 1887 are new for the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cataleptoneta detriticola Deltshev & Li, 2013 is new for the fauna of Greece, Asthenargus bracianus Miller, 1938 and Centromerus europaeus (Simon, 1911) are new for the fauna of Montenegro and Syedra gracilis (Menge, 1869) is new for the fauna of Turkey. Seventy two new species records are announced for 47 caves with known spider fauna. Thus, the number of spiders established in the Balkan caves was increased up to 410 species.
... Distribution. SW-Bulgaria (Deltshev, 2008); NE-Greece (Bolzern et al., 2013). Chorotype. ...
The National Park of Dadia in NE Greece (Thrace) was established as a nature reserve in 1980, mainly due to its great diversity in birds of prey. Since then many studies have taken place, focusing on other birds, reptiles, amphibians and some invertebrates (grasshoppers, beetles and butterflies), but up to now none was conducted on spiders. The aim of the present paper was to create the first extensive checklist on the spiders of this important natural reserve. For this purpose, pitfall traps were set in 15 sites located in and around the National Park, resulting in a large spider collection. The results of the taxonomical revision of this collection are here presented, giving rise to 132 species in total, which belong to 24 families. Of them, 11 species (Centromerus valkanovi Deltshev, 1983, Crosbyarachne silvestris (Georgescu, 1973), Ipa terrenus (L. Koch, 1879), Sintula spiniger (Balogh, 1935), Tenuiphantes floriana (van Helsdingen, 1977), Alopecosa taeniopus (Kulczyñski, 1895), Liocranum rupicola (Walckenaer, 1830), Zodarion turcicum Wunderlich, 1980, Gnaphosa modestior Kulczyñski, 1897, Philodromus krausi Muster & Thaler, 2004, Cozyptila thaleri Marusik & Kovblyuk, 2005) are new records for the Greek territory. Seven species (Dysdera kati sp. n., Dysdera krisis sp. n., Harpactea ice sp. n., Harpactea wolfgangi sp. n.—Dysderidae, Phrurolithus thracia sp. n.—Phrurolithidae, Zodarion beroni sp. n.—Zodariidae, Drassyllus dadia sp. n.—Gnaphosidae) are here proposed as new species for science.
... (2) The Hawaiian Doryonychus raptor (Tetragnathidae) (Simon, 1900), which does not build a web, was collected from Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve on Kauai; July, 1996. (3) Another Hawaiian endemic, the large, sheet-web building, in the genus Orsonwelles (Linyphiidae) (Hormiga, 2002) was collected from Pahole Natural Area Reserve on Oahu; July, 1996, and (4) the funnel-weaving spider Eratigena agrestis (Agelenidae) (Walckenaer, 1802;Exline, 1951;Bolzern et al., 2013) was collected from an abandoned shipyard in Marysville, Snohomish County, Washington; August, 1998. ...
Spider venom composition typically differs between sexes. This pattern is anecdotally thought to reflect differences in adult feeding biology. We used a phylogenetic approach to compare intersexual venom dimorphism between species that differ in adult niche dimorphism. Male and female venoms were compared within and between related species of Hawaiian Tetragnatha, a mainland congener, and outgroups. In some species of Hawaiian Tetragnatha adult females spin orb-webs and adult males capture prey while wandering, while in other species both males and females capture prey by wandering. We predicted that, if venom sexual dimorphism is primarily explained by differences in adult feeding biology, species in which both sexes forage by wandering would have monomorphic venoms or venoms with reduced dimorphism relative to species with different adult feeding biology. However, we found striking sexual dimorphism in venoms of both wandering and orb-weaving Tetragnatha species with males having high molecular weight components in their venoms that were absent in females, and a reduced concentration of low molecular weight components relative to females. Intersexual differences in venom composition within Tetragnatha were significantly larger than in non-Tetragnatha species. Diet composition was not different between sexes. This striking venom dimorphism is not easily explained by differences in feeding ecology or behavior. Rather, we hypothesize that the dimorphism reflects male-specific components that play a role in mating biology possibly in sexual stimulation, nuptial gifts and/or mate recognition.
... Los trabajos más recientes sobre arañas que atañen a dicha provincia versan sobre un elenco variado de especies (Morano & Benhadi, 2012y Benhadi-Marín et al., 2013, en torno a los géneros Tegenaria Latreille, 1804 y Eratigena Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013(Morano, Carrillo & Cardoso, 2014.1) y de cuevas y ambientes subterráneos (Fernández-Pérez, Castro & Prieto, 2014). ...
New records of spiders (Araneae) from Cantabria (northern Iberian Peninsula)
We present data of 26 spider species from Cantabria province (northern Iberian Peninsula). Seven species were collected in three caves, 21 in two beech forests, and two in both habitats. 20 new records are added to the Cantabrian checklist. Remarkable species are Saloca diceros (O.P.-Cambridge 1871) and Walckenaeria stylifrons (O. P.-Cambridge, 1875), third records for the Iberian Peninsula, and Theonoe minutissima (O.P.-Cambridge 1879), third record for Spain.
Key words: Araneae, spiders, faunal survey, beech forests, Spain, Cantabria.
... Tegenaria spec.: A single male specimen was collected, but so far could not be matched with any of the known species. There is a high level of endemism of this genus in the Balkans, and for several described species the male is not known yet (Bolzern et al, 2013). Further investigations might still match the male to its female counterpart, else it will be described as a new species in a future paper. ...
During an inventory in Albania in the spring of 2014, 154 species of spiders of 27 families were collected and partly identified. At least 42 species are recorded for the first time for Albania. A small number of specimens remain under study as they could not be linked to a described species with certainty. The Albanian spider fauna proves to be less well investigated than of most other Balkan countries and needs much attention in the future.
... Note. Findings of the male proved that this species belongs to Tegenaria sensu stricto, but not to the related Eratigena Bolzern, Burckhardt & Hänggi, 2013, and fit the diagnosis provided by Bolzern et al. (2013): six retromarginal teeth of subequal size, presence of a lateroventral ridge (lacking in Eratigena) and bifid apex of the conductor. ...
The spider family Agelenidae is a large-sized, globally-distributed family currently comprising 1174 species in 70 genera (World Spider Catalog 2015). The largest genus of the family, Tegenaria Latreille, 1804, consists of 114 accepted species, primarily distributed in the Palaearctic, but also with some species occurring in the Oriental and Nearctic regions (World Spider Catalog 2015; Kaya et al. 2010). So far, only four species of this genus have been recorded from Iran: T. domestica (Clerck, 1757), T. lenkoranica (Guseinov, Marusik & Koponen, 2005), T. pagana C.L. Koch, 1840 and T. zamanii Marusik & Omelko, 2014 (Zamani et al. 2015). Two of these species, T. lenkoranica and T. zamanii are currently known only from females. Latter species was originally described on the basis of recently collected specimens from a cave in Golestan Province of northern Iran, known as Shirabad (= Div Sepid) (Marusik et al. 2014). In July 2015, as a result of a collecting expedition made by the junior author and his team several specimens were observed and photographed in their natural habitat. A single adult male was collected, which is described and illustrated here for the first time. The specimen was photographed using an Olympus Camedia E-520 camera attached to an Olympus SZX16 stereomicroscope. Digital images were prepared using “CombineZP” image stacking software. Lengths of the leg measurements were measured on the dorsal side. The description of the palp refers to the left one. All measurements are given in millimetres. Measurements of palp and leg are listed as: total length (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). The specimen will be deposited in the Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt am Main (SMF). The junior author wishes to thank his team for their assistance during the zoological expedition made to the cave and surrounding forests in northern Iran. James W. Berry kindly checked the English of an earlier draft of the manuscript.
North African species of the genus Lycosoides Lucas, 1846 are revised. Five new species are described: L. incisofemoralis Bosmans, sp. n. () from Algeria, L. kabyliana Bosmans, sp. n. () from Algeria, L. murphyorum Bosmans, sp. n. () from Morocco, L. robertsi Bosmans, sp. n. () from Tunisia, and L. saiss Bosmans, sp. n. () from Morocco. Previously unknown sexes are first described for two species: L. leprieuri (Simon, 1875) from Algeria () and L. parva (Denis, 1954) from Morocco (). One synonym is proposed: Lycosoides subfasciata (Simon, 1870) with L. flavomaculata (Lucas, 1843), syn. n. An identification key to all Lycosoides species of the Maghreb is provided. A complicated shape of the palpal conductor, with distinct dorsal and ventral branches, appears to be an important diagnostic character for the genus Lycosoides.
South America is the fourth largest continent on the planet; its birds, mammals, and amphibian's biodiversity is relatively well known, but no outright assessment of the continent spider (Araneae) fauna has been done to date. From January 2019 to August 2020, a recompilation of all spider species registered to occur in South America was conducted based on the data available from the World Spider Catalog [2020. Version 18.5. Natural History Museum Bern. [cited Jan 2019–Aug 2020]]. The assessment revealed that the South American spider fauna comprises 83 families, 1018 genera, and 8302 species, representing 17% of the world spider fauna biodiversity; however, 94% of the spider-specific biodiversity is found nowhere else on earth. A total of 78 species have been introduced in South America, while 30 species were exported from the South American continent to other parts of the world. For all South American families, an overview of the current knowledge is presented: distribution, endemism, taxonomical inconsistency, and problems are discussed. The complete checklist of spiders occurring in SA with distribution given by countries and the complete list of introduced and exported species with details of their native region and current known distribution are presented.
The funnel web spiders (Agelenidae) are a diverse and taxonomically challenging worldwide distributed family. The genus Tegenaria Latreille, 1804, includes more than 100 valid species, mostly circumscribed to Europe and western Asia, although some species may have been subsequently introduced to other regions by anthropogenic action. Here we revise and investigate phylogenetic relationships of a group of morphologically similar species from the south-western Black Sea region and Anatolia. We remove the species Tegenaria boitanii Brignoli, 1978 stat. rev. and Tegenaria bithyniae Brignoli, 1978 from synonymy of Tegenaria percuriosa Brignoli, 1972. Tegenaria boitanii stat. rev. is restored as a valid species, re-described and re-diagnosed, and T. bithyniae syn. nov. is placed as its junior synonym. We also provide an updated diagnosis for T. percuriosa, describe a new species, Tegenaria euxinica Dimitrov sp. nov. from the mesophilic beech forests (Fagus orientalis) in Bulgaria, and review the members of T. percuriosa complex.
We provide new photographs for selected species, and a map of the updated distribution ranges of all the species in the complex. The phylogenetic position and internal structure of T. percuriosa species-complex is investigated by combining available morphological and molecular (target sequencing) data with new data from the species of interest. Finally, we propose to test in future studies the hypothesis that major climatic changes during the Miocene drove diversification of the group and imprinted its biogeography.
The genus Eratigena is reported for the first time from China including a new species E. bowoensis n. sp. (male and female) is described. Detailed description of new species genitalic characters, somatic features by means of photographs and line drawings, as well as comparisons with closely related species and locality map are provided.
A catalogue of subterranean spiders (troglobites and troglophiles) from Montenegro is presented based on critical analysis of literature and unpublished data by the author. For each taxon the following data are displayed: type locality, collection records, new records, distribution, ecology and remarks. Subterranean spiders from Montenegro are composed of 33 species and 2 subspecies from 8 families: Agelenidae — 7, Anapidae — 1, Dysderidae — 6, Leptonetidae — 4, Linyphiidae — 10, Nesticidae — 2, Pholcidae — 2 and Tetragnathidae — 3.
A new species –Tegenaria gordani sp. nov. (♂) is described and illustrated. One
new synonym is established: Tegenaria animata Kratochvíl & Miller, 1940 syn. nov.
= Tegenaria bosnica Kratochvíl & Miller, 1940. The genus Troglohyphantes is the
most numerous among troglobite spiders with 4 species. Troglobite spiders are present in five families: Agelenidae — 1, Dysderidae — 5, Leptonetidae — 2, Linyphiidae — 5 and Nesticidae — 2.
A new cave-dwelling species of Tegenaria, T. lazarovi sp. nov., is described from southern Turkey, based on both sexes. The new species belongs to the T. ariadnae species-complex which is distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean (Crete, northern Libya). The new species is compared to its morphologically closest con-geners. New taxonomically relevant pictures are given for two of them. The distribution of the Tegenaria ariadnae species-complex is summarized and discussed.
Systematic data collection on species and their exploited environments is of key importance for conservation studies. Within the less-known environments, the subterranean ones are neither easy to be studied, nor to be explored. Subterranean environments house a wide number of specialised organisms, many of which show high sensitivity to habitat alteration. Despite the undeniable importance to monitor the status of the subterranean biodiversity, standardised methodologies to record biotic and abiotic data in these environments are still not fully adopted, impeding therefore the creation of comparable datasets useful for monitoring the ecological condition in the subterranean environments and for conservation assessment of related species.
In this work we describe a methodology allowing the collection of standardised abiotic and biotic data in subterranean environments. To show this, we created a large dataset including information on environmental features (morphology and microclimate) and abundance of five predators (one salamander, three spiders and one snail) occurring in seven caves of the Monte Albo (Sardinia, Italy), an important biodiversity hotspot. We performed 77 surveys on 5,748 m ² of subterranean environments througout a year, recording 1,695 observations of the five cave predators. The fine-scale data collection adopted in our methodology allowed us to record detailed information related to both morphology and microclimate of the cave inner environment. Furthermore, this method allows us to account for species-imperfect detection when recording presence/abundance data.
Hybridization and introgression in the wild between two species
in the Eratigena atrica group of large house spiders, E. duellica
and E. saeva, are well documented. However, the morphology
of known F1 hybrids and subsequent F2 and backcross generations
has not previously been explored. The phenotypes of these
interspecific offspring have implications for the ease of introgression
and for the morphological identification of individuals
of hybrid origin. Here, the progeny from laboratory crosses are
analysed using both simple characters and multivariate statistical
techniques. F1 hybrids in both sexes are, morphologically,
significantly biased towards E. duellica but backcross progeny
tend to resemble their non-F1 parents more than expected in a
model of additive, unlinked quantitative trait loci (QTL). It is
possible that loci on the X-chromosomes affect the phenotype or
that there are maternal influences. These biases may have consequences for the ease and direction of gene flow between the
species. While female F1 hybrids can be distinguished from pure
parents, for later generations, and for all generations of males,
confusion with the parental species is highly likely and may
have affected previous conclusions.
Although the European fauna of spiders is relatively well studied, in the Balkans still have places for which little or almost nothing is known, especially Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro. The spider fauna of Montenegro is still poorly known, and the number of relevant publications is very low, even with catalogs and quoted information is about 90. Only for the cave fauna has more in-depth observations. The aim of this study is to summarize and presents all available data of the spiders of Montenegro, both from the literature and from original records. A total of 144 spider species were collected and after incorporating literature reports, the number of identified species is 289, from 38 families. From them 84 species and two families are new for the country. The presented study provides the first annotated checklist and catalog of the spiders in Montenegro (as a result of a database with 1150 rows/records) with additional taxonomic and faunistic data.
Eighty five species of spiders belonging to 18 families are found in Taman Peninsula and Tuzla Island, from which 13 species were collected in Tuzla Island and 80 species in Taman Peninsula. The following species, Eratigena agrestis (Walckenaer, 1802), Singa hamata (Clerck, 1758), Devade tanella (Tystshenko, 1965), Lathys stigmatisata (Menge, 1869), Harpactea alexandrae Lazarov, 2006, Gnaphosa cumensis Ponomarev, 1981, G. leporina (L. Koch, 1866), G. ukrainica Ovtsharenko, Platnick et Song, 1992, Haplodrassus orientalis (L. Koch, 1866), Zelotes hermani (Chyzer in Chyzer et Kulczyński, 1897), Z. orenburgensis Tuneva et Esyunin, 2003, Centromerus abditus Gnelitsa, 2007, Sintula retrovesus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875), Stemonyphantes lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758), Agroeca dentigera Kulczyński, 1913, Liocranoeca spasskyi Ponomarev, 2007, Evippa apsheronica Marusik, Guseinov et Koponen, 2003, Pardosa italica Tongiorgi, 1966, Pulchellodromus medius (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), Thanatus atratus Simon, 1875, Thanatus mongolicus (Schenkel, 1936), Heliophanus lineiventris Simon, 1868, Logunyllus vittatus (Thorell, 1875), Pellenes allegrii Caporiacco, 1935, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus (P. Rossi, 1790), Zodarion thoni Nosek, 1905 are recorded for Krasnodar Region for the first time. In addition, Tegenaria hasperi Chyzer, 1897 is a new record for the fauna of Russia.
This thesis focused on the work of cataloging and reorganizing the arachnological collection of the Civic Museum of Natural History of Trieste. Each tube of the examined part of the collection, containing one or more specimens, has been numbered, transcribing the relevant taxonomic information and any other available tag data, inserting it into a database. Considering the quantity of material present, for the thesis, it was agreed with the Museum to concentrate the work on two families of the Araneae order, suborder Araneomorpha: Agelenidae and Araneidae. Following the nomenclatural update, the families were also examined: Cybaeidae, Dictynidae and Tetragnathidae. Taxonomic problems have been found, especially within the Agelenidae family, which, as the literature cited in the text shows, presents many problematic situations. These are mostly described in the Tegenaria, Histopona and Coelotes genres. The italian situation of the Cybaeus genus of the Cybaeidae family is also described. The taxonomic classification of the holotype of Halocryphoeca veneta Di Caporiacco (1934) is also updated, being synonymized with in Mizaga racovitzai and also changing the family from Agelenidae to Dictynidae
The spider fauna of the Gavarres, a massif situated in the Northern part of the Catalonian coastal range, has been studied during six visits to the region in 2012 and 2013. In total, 218 species were identified, two of them, Tegenaria dalmatica Kulczyński, 1906 and Agyneta cauta (O.P. Cambridge, 1903), being new for the Iberian Peninsula. Another two species, Euophrys nigripalpis Simon, 1937 and Dipoena braccata (C.L. Koch, 1841), are new to mainland Spain and 36 more are reported from Catalonia for the forst time. Habitus photographs of more than 150 species are added, as well as illustrations of the genitalia of a few of the rarer species encountered.
In the present publication we provide a reference list containing 662 scientific publications on the terrestrial (non-aquatic) cavernicolous fauna of Greece, published during the last 154 years (1862-2016). Popular accounts, abstracts and unpublished reports or theses are not considered here. Publication titles are grouped by animal Class or Order and they are briefly discussed.
Στην εργασία αυτή παρουσιάζουμε ένα κατάλογο 662 τίτλων των επιστημονικών εργασιών για τη χερσαία (μη υδρόβια) πανίδα σπηλαιόβια της Ελλάδας που δημοσιεύτηκαν τα τελευταία 154 χρόνια (1862-2016). Δεν συμπεριλήφθηκαν εκλαϊκευμένα δημοσιεύματα, περιλήψεις ανακοινώσεων σε συνέδρια καθώς και αδημοσίευτες εκθέσεις ή διατριβές. Οι τίτλοι παρουσιάζονται ομαδοποιημένοι ανά Ομοταξία ή Τάξη των σπηλαιόβιων ζώων και σχολιάζονται πολύ συνοπτικά.
With this study, the Vankeer's funnel-web spider Tegenaria vankeerorum of the family Agelenidae is recorded for the first time from Turkey. T. vankeerorum has been sampled with both sexes from Muğla and Antalya provinces, located at the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey, which was originally described on single sex (male) from Rhodos Island of Greece in 2013. The characteristics of the species, descriptions of copulatory organs and photographs (female copulatory organ for the first time) are presented. Specimens from Turkey completely resemble the original description and the female copulation organ is unique with the structure of receptacula, it can be easily identified from the other members of the genus either from the World or Turkey.
Evolutionary biology has long been concerned with how changing environments affect and drive the spatiotemporal development of organisms. Coelotine spiders (Agelenidae: Coelotinae) are common species in the temperate and subtropical areas of the Northern Hemisphere. Their long evolutionary history and the extremely imbalanced distribution of species richness suggest that Eurasian environments, especially since the Cenozoic, are the drivers of their diversification. We use phylogenetics, molecular dating, ancestral area reconstructions, diversity, and ecological niche analyses to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of 286 coelotine species from throughout the region. Based on eight genes (6.5 kb) and 2323 de novo DNA sequences, analyses suggest an Eocene South China origin for them. Most extant, widespread species belong to the southern (SCG) or northern (NCG) clades. The origin of coelotine spiders appears to associate with either the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum or the hot period in early Eocene. Tibetan uplifting events influenced the current diversity patterns of coelotines. The origin of SCG lies outside of the Tibetan Plateau. Uplifting in the southeastern area of the plateau blocked dispersal since the Late Eocene. Continuous orogenesis appears to have created localized vicariant events, which drove rapid radiation in SCG. North-central Tibet is the likely location of origin for NCG and many lineages likely experienced extinction owing to uplifting since early Oligocene. Their evolutionary histories correspond with recent geological evidence that high-elevation orographical features existed in the Tibetan region as early as 40-35 Ma. Our discoveries may be the first empirical evidence that links the evolution of organisms to the Eocene-Oligocene uplifting of the Tibetan Plateau. [Tibet; biogeography; ecology; molecular clock; diversification].
More than 800 spiders were collected in 43 houses heated in winter, distributed mainly in the northern part of Belgium. Information required for the collections to be eligible for the project was: address, construction year, type of house, and surroundings. The spiders were qualified as ‘house spiders’ or ‘garden spiders’. Of the 93 species collected, 19 could be defined as house spiders. Pholcus phalangioides was the most common, followed by Eratigena atrica and Steatoda triangulosa. Garden spiders enter the house much more often in houses in a rural environment than in those situated in clusters, and mainly in spring. The spiders are most common in autumn when many of them are breeding. The common house spiders colonize houses shortly after their construction.
True Araenism is the definition of a genuine spider bite and the effects following envenoming like with the brown recluse associated with necrotic araenism (White et al. 1995). In Modern society there is evidence of a closed and aggressive attitude towards spiders, regardless of whether or not they pose a genuine medical threat. A simple search online for the phrase ‘killer spider invasion’ will result in dozens of articles misrepresenting non-lethal spiders to the public in UK and USA
A new species, Tegenaria vanensis sp.n. is described based on males from Van Province in Turkey. The current number of Tegenaria species in Turkey is increased to 31.
A new species of Draconarius, D. exilis sp. nov., from China is described. The species has close affinities to D. incertus Wang, 2003 (= D. parabrunneus Wang, 2003, new synonymy) and D. pseudobrunneus Wang, 2003 forming the newly proposed incertus-group of Draconarius. Species of this group share the following characters: the absence of epigynal teeth, the wrinkled anterior atrium of epigynum, the small and anteriorly extended spermathecae of female, and the short cymbial furrow (less than half cymbial length), the short embolus, the prolaterally originated, bifurcated conductor, and the simple, non spoon-shaped median apophysis.
A new species of Draconarius, D. exilis sp. nov., from China is described. The species has close affinities to D. incertus Wang, 2003 (= D. parabrunneus Wang, 2003, new synonymy) and D. pseudobrunneus Wang, 2003 forming the newly proposed incertus-group of Draconarius. Species of this group share the following characters: the absence of epigynal teeth, the wrinkled anterior atrium of epigynum, the small and anteriorly extended spermathecae of female, and the short cymbial furrow (less than half cymbial length), the short embolus, the prolaterally originated, bifurcated conductor, and the simple, non spoon-shaped median apophysis.
The monophyletic agelenid genus Barronopsis Chamberlin & Ivie is revised to include 6 species. The Cuban species B. campephila Alayón and B. cesari Alayón are synonomized under B. barrowsi (Gertsch) and B. jeffersi (Muma), respectively, and B. stephaniae new species is described. Natural history observations, distribution maps, diagnoses and descriptions, and a species identification key including B. texana (Gertsch), B. arturoi Alayón, and B. floridensis (Muma) are provided. Detailed descriptions of the male palpus and female genitalia, a review and evaluation of historical terminology used to describe agelenid palpal bulbs, and a discussion of the utility of certain male palpal characters in resolving phylogeny within Agelenidae are provided. Based on the morphology of the male and female genitalia and morphometric data, two species groups are recognized: a large-bodied B. texana species group (B. texana, floridensis, arturoi, jeffersi) and a small-bodied B. barrowsi species group (B. barrowsi, B. stephaniae). A cladistic analysis of Barronopsis, using Tortolena glaucopis (F. O. P.-Cambridge), Melpomene singula (Gertsch & Ivie), and species of Agelenopsis Giebel as outgroups identified three most parsimonious trees of 37 steps. The strict consensus tree yielded the following species relationships: (Agelenopsis (((B. texana, B. jeffersi), B. floridensis, B. arturoi), (B. barrowsi, B. stephaniae).
Twenty-eight spider species of Coelotinae from China are reviewed. Pireneitega KISHIDA 1955 is a senior synonym of Paracoelotes BRIGNOLI 1982 (syn. n.). A list of 17 new combinations of former Paracoelotes spp. is provided. Previous research by NISHIKAWA & ONO (2004) indicated that Iwogumoa KISHIDA 1955 is a senior synonym of Asiacoelotes WANG 2002. Coelotes amygdaliformis ZHU & WANG 1991 is a junior synonym of Tegenaria domestica (CLERCK 1757), and Coelotes magnidentatus SCHENKEL 1963 is a junior synonym of Coelotes microps SCHENKEL 1963 (syn. n.). The following new combinations are recognized: Coelotes taoyuandong BAO & YIN 2004 is transferred to the genus Iwogumoa; Coelotes liansui BAO & YIN 2004 and Coelotes neglectum HU 2001 are transferred to the genus Pireneitega; Coelotes triglochinatus ZHU & WANG 1991 is transferred to the genus Pireneitega; the male allotype of Coelotes triglochinatus ZHU & WANG 1991 is incorrectly matched and might be one of the described Draconarius species from Emei Mountains; the species Coelotes xizangensis Hu 1992 is transferred to the genus Himalcoelotes; Coras globasus WANG, PENG & KIM 1996 and Coras rugosus WANG, PENG & KIM 1996 are transferred to the genus Coelotes; the male paratype of Coelotes xizangensis HU 1992 was mistakenly matched and is here placed as a new species, Draconarius curvabilis sp. n. (holotype ♂ in SDU, Jinan, China). Five other new species are described: Draconarius flos sp. n., from Yunnan (holotype ♂ in SMF, Frankfurt am Main, Germany); Draconarius paratrifasciatus sp. n., from Sichuan (holotype ♀ in SMF); Draconarius sichuanensis sp. n., from Sichuan (holotype ♀ in SMF); Draconarius trinus sp. n., from Yunnan (holotype ♀ in SMF); and Platocoelotes imperfectus sp. n., from Sichuan (holotype ♀ in SMF). Draconarius gyriniformis (WANG & ZHU 1991) is re-described and re-illustrated. Twelve other species examined exhibit unique characteristics and could not be assigned to any of the existing genera. Those twelve species remain temporarily in the genus Coelotes and are re-described and re-illustrated from the examined type specimens: Coelotes brachiatus WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. Cylistus PENG & WANG 1997; C. galeiformis WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. guttatus WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. maculatus ZHANG, PENG & KIM 1997; C. microps SCHENKEL 1963; C. ningmingensis PENG, YAN, LIU & KIM 1998; C. noctulus WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. robustus WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. Septus WANG, YIN, PENG & XIE 1990; C. tiantongensis ZHANG, PENG & KIM 1997; C. wangi CHEN & ZHAO 1997. Distribution maps of the twenty-six species described in this study are provided. © E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u. Obermiller), 2007.
Notiocoelotes gen. nov. is described from China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The type species is N. palinitropus (Zhu & Wang 1994) comb. nov. from Hainan Island, China, and is transferred from Coelotes Blackwall 1841. Other species included in this new genus are: N. laosensis sp. nov. from Khammouan, Laos; N. lingulatus sp. nov. from Hainan Island, China; N. sparus (Dankittipakul, Chami-Kranon & Wang 2005) comb. nov. from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand transferred from Iwogumoa Kishida 1955, and N. vietnamensis sp. nov. from Huong Son, Vietnam. Females of Notiocoelotes gen. nov. can be recognized from other Coelotinae species by the absence of epigynal teeth and the presence of a tongueshaped atrial scape on the posterior atrium, and males by the presence of a strongly bifurcated lateral tibial apophysis and the long, coiled conductor. The species of Notiocoelotes gen. nov. are similar to the basal clade genera, i.e., Coronilla Wang 2004, Femoracoelotes Wang 2002, Alloclubionoides Paik 1992, and Robusticoelotes Wang 2002 in lacking epigynal teeth and having a simple or reduced median apophysis, but the long conductor and the absence of a conductor dorsal apophysis are similar to the genera Pireneitega Kishida 1955 and Iwogumoa Kishida 1955.
Malthonica bozhkovi sp. nov. (male/female) is described and illustrated from several localities in Rhodopy Mountains (South Bulgaria). The new species correspond well to the campestris species group. Tegenaria paragamiani sp. nov. (male/female) is described and illustrated from a cave in Rhodopy Mountain (North Greece). In morphological respect it fits well to the domestica species group. Malthonica ramblae (Barrientos, 1978) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Tegenaria.
Ten new Draconarius species are described: D. acutus spec. nov., D. complanatus spec. nov., D. expansus spec. nov., D. magnarcuatus spec. nov., D. pseudocoreanus spec. nov., D. subabsentis spec. nov., D. sublutulentus spec. nov., D. tensus spec. nov., D. ventrifurcatus spec. nov. and D. zonalis spec. nov. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these new species are provided.
A new genus of Coelotinae, Lineacoelotes gen. nov., is described. Lineacoelotes includes five species from central and western China. The females of L. bicultratus (Chen, Zhao & Wang, 1991) comb. nov. from Hubei (transferred from Coelotes), the males and females of L. funiushanensis (Hu, Wang & Wang, 1991) comb. nov. from Henan (transferred from Draconarius), the females of L. nitidus (Li & Zhang, 2002) comb. nov. from Hubei (transferred from Coelotes) are redescribed, the males of L. nitidus are described for the first time. Two new species from both males and females, L. longicephalus sp. nov. from Sichuan and L. strenuus sp. nov. from Hubei, are described. The females of this new genus have distinct, unusually long spermathecal heads, and the males have a broad, long patellar apophysis and a strongly modified conductor but lack a lateral tibial apophysis and a conductor dorsal apophysis. Comparison of male palps of Lineacoelotes gen. nov. suggests that none of the modified apophyses on the dorsal edge of the conductor is homologous to the conductor dorsal apophysis found in many other Coelotinae, but this assumption should be tested in a future phylogenetic analysis. As in other Coelotinae, spinnerets of representatives of Lineacoelotes gen. nov. have PMS with 2 cylindrical spigots on the lateral sides and 2 minor ampullate spigots on the middle, and PLS long with 1–2 cylindrical spigots on its base, and the trichobothrium has a transversely striped large hood and a smooth small hood.
Two new species of Coelotinae, Draconarius suttisani sp. n. and D. promontorioides sp. n., are described and illustrated from material collected in northern Thailand. Draconarius suttisani sp. n. belongs to the venustus-group. Draconarius promontorioides sp. n. belongs to the lutulentus-group.
Until recently, Malthonica lusitanica Simon, 1898 was the only species of the genus to be known from the Iberian Peninsula. Due to intensive fieldwork made in Portugal, a new undescribed species was found, here described as Malthonica oceanica sp. n. This work provides a taxonomic revision of the genus Malthonica Simon, 1898 in the Iberian Peninsula (excluding the Balearic Islands) and gives a first account on the potential distribution and phenology of both species.
A new species of the funnel-web spiders from Thailand, Allagelena monticola sp. n., is described and illustrated. The types of this species were collected from remnant patches of pristine evergreen hill forest in the Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The new species resembles the widely distributed species A. opulenta (L. Koch), which is known from China, Korea and Japan. This discovery expands the known zoogeographical distribution of the genus Allagelena southwards into tropical Southeast Asia.
A new species of the funnel-web spiders from Thailand, Allagelena monticola sp. n., is described and illustrated. The types of this species were collected from remnant patches of pristine evergreen hill forest in the Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The new species resembles the widely distributed species A. opulenta (L. Koch), which is known from China, Korea and Japan. This discovery expands the known zoogeographical distribution of the genus Allagelena southwards into tropical Southeast Asia.
Ageleradix sichuanensis, a new genus and new species, is reported based on specimens from western Sichuan, China. Ageleradix gen. n. is distinguished from the other genera of Agelenidae by having a special sclerite between tegulum and embolus in males, a well-developed posterior plate in the epigynum and a broad copulatory bursa in females. Two species are included in the new genus, the type species and Ageleradix cymbiforma (Wang, 1991) comb. n.
Ten new Draconarim species are described: D. acutus spec. nov., D. complanatus spec. nov., D. expansus spec. nov., D. magnarcuatus spec. nov., D. pseudocoreanus spec. nov., D. subabsentis spec. nov., D. sublutulentus spec. nov., D. tensus spec. nov., D. ventrifurcatus spec. nov. and D. zonalis spec. nov. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these new species are provided.
Malthonica bozhkovi sp. nov. (male/female) is described and illustrated from several localities in Rhodopy Mountains (South Bulgaria). The new species correspond well to the campestris species group. Tegenaria paragamiani sp. nov. (male/female) is described and illustrated from a cave in Rhodopy Mountain (North Greece). In morphological respect it fits well to the domestica species group. Malthonica ramblae (Barrientos, 1978) comb. nov. is transferred from the genus Tegenaria.
A new genus of Coelotinae, Lineacoelotes gen. nov., is described. Lineacoelotes includes five species from central and western China. The females of L. bicultratus (Chen, Zhao & Wang, 1991) comb. nov. from Hubei (transferred from Coelotes), the males and females of L. funiushanensis (Hu, Wang & Wang, 1991) comb. nov. from Henan (transferred from Draconarius), the females of L. nitidus (Li & Zhang, 2002) comb. nov. from Hubei (transferred from Coelotes) are redescribed, the males of L. nitidus are described for the first time. Two new species from both males and females, L. longicephalus sp. nov. from Sichuan and L. strenuus sp. nov. from Hubei, are described. The females of this new genus have distinct, unusually long spermathecal heads, and the males have a broad, long patellar apophysis and a strongly modified conductor but lack a lateral tibial apophysis and a conductor dorsal apophysis. Comparison of male palps of Lineacoelotes gen. nov. suggests that none of the modified apophyses on the dorsal edge of the conductor is homologous to the conductor dorsal apophysis found in many other Coelotinae, but this assumption should be tested in a future phylogenetic analysis. As in other Coelotinae, spinnerets of representatives of Lineacoelotes gen. nov. have PMS with 2 cylindrical spigots on the lateral sides and 2 minor ampullate spigots on the middle, and PLS long with 1-2 cylindrical spigots on its base, and the trichobothrium has a transversely striped large hood and a smooth small hood.
A new species of the funnel-web spiders from Thailand, Allagelena monticola sp. n., is described and illustrated. The types of this species were collected from remnant patches of pristine evergreen hill forest in the Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. The new species resembles the widely distributed species A. opulenta (L. Koch), which is known from China, Korea and Japan. This discovery expands the known zoogeographical distribution of the genus Allagelena southwards into tropical Southeast Asia.
Notiocoelotes gen. nov. is described from China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The type species is N. palinitropus (Zhu & Wang 1994) comb. nov. from Hainan Island, China, and is transferred from Coelotes Blackwall 1841. Other species included in this new genus are: N. laosensis sp. nov. from Khammouan, Laos; N. lingulatus sp. nov. from Hainan Island, China; N. sparus (Dankittipakul, Chami-Kranon & Wang 2005) comb. nov. from Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand transferred from Iwogumoa Kishida 1955, and N. vietnamensis sp. nov. from Huong Son, Vietnam. Females of Notiocoelotes gen. nov. can be recognized from other Coelotinae species by the absence of epigynal teeth and the presence of a tongue-shaped atrial scape on the posterior atrium, and males by the presence of a strongly bifurcated lateral tibial apophysis and the long, coiled conductor. The species of Notiocoelotes gen. nov. are similar to the basal clade genera, i.e., Coronilla Wang 2004, Femoracoelotes Wang 2002, Alloclubionoides Paik 1992, and Robusticoelotes Wang 2002 in lacking epigynal teeth and having a simple or reduced median apophysis, but the long conductor and the absence of a conductor dorsal apophysis are similar to the genera Pireneitega Kishida 1955 and Iwogumoa Kishida 1955.
The hobo spider, Tegenaria agrestis (Walckenaer 1802), was accidentally introduced into the United States probably in Seattle, Washington during the early 1900's and gradually spread through Washington, Oregon, Idaho and into southern British Columbia during the 20th Century. Concurrent with the expansion in range, there have been reports of necrosis in humans allegedly caused by bites from Loxosceles reclusa Gertsch & Mulaik 1940 (which does not occur in the Pacific Northwestern U.S or Canada) or T. agrestis. The geographic range of T. agrestis now extends into Montana, Utah, Nevada and most recently, central and southwestern Wyoming.
Six new coelotine spider species are described from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces, northern Thailand: Draconarius abbreviatus sp. n., D. anthonyi sp. n., A inthanonensis sp. n., A siamensis sp. n., D. subulatus sp. n. and Coelotes thailandensis sp. n. The specific name Coelotes wangi Hu, 2001, from Tibet, China, is a junior homonym of Coelotes wangi Chen & Zhao, 1997 and is here replaced by Coelotes hui nom. n.
Six ageIenid spider species belonging to the genera Agelena, Ageleradix and Benoitia occurring in China are diagnosed, described and illustrated. The name Agelena micropunctala Wang, 1992 is placed in the synonymy of Agelena poliosata Wang, 1991; Agelena otiforma Wang, 1991 is transferred to the genus Ageleradix; Benoitia agraulosa (Wang & Wang, 1990) is newly reported from Xinjiang Province of China. Three new species are described: Ageleradix schwendingeri sp. n., Ageleradix sternseptum sp. n. and Ageleradix zhishengi sp. n.