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A new species of the lyrate curtain-web spider genus Trechona C. L. Koch, 1850, Trechona minuana sp. nov., is described, based on males and females from Santa Catarina state, South Brazil. It is the first species of the genus from this Brazilian region. Additionally, we describe for the first time the female of Trechona excursoraPedroso, Miranda & Baptista, 2019 based on specimens from its type localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new jumping spider species belonging to the genus OkinawiciusPrószyński, 2016 is described from India: O. tekdi Tripathi & Kulkarni sp. n. (♂♀), collected from the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra, India. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations of the male palp and female genitalia are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the jumping spider genus Carrhotus Thorell - Carrhotus piperus sp. nov. - is described based on the male holotype collected from Tamil Nadu, India. Detailed description and illustrations are provided. The new species can be separated from the closely related taxa by the prolateral protrusion of the bulb arising from an 8 o'clock position and directed dorsad, and the retrolaterally directed beak-shaped embolus. The number of known Carrhotus species reaches to 10 and 37 in India and in the world, respectively. A key to species of the genus Carrhotus from India is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jumping spider species Gedea pinguis Cao & Li, 2016 is newly recorded from Vietnam and redescribed based on the sole male specimen. A detailed redescription, illustrations of the copulatory organs, and somatic features, along with an updated distribution map are provided. DNA barcode derived from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene of the species G. pinguis from Vietnam is also included for future use and to compare the genetic distances with Gedea cf. tibialis Zabka, 1985 from Malaysia. With the addition of a new record, the genus Gedea Simon, 1902 in Vietnam now reaches 3 species, but doubts arise regarding the conspecificity of the two opposite sex species, Gedea tibialis Żabka, 1985 (male) and Gedea typica (Żabka, 1985) (female), as they share the same type locality. Additionally, a dichotomous key to all Gedea species is also given in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are a diverse group of non‐web‐building predators and the most species‐rich spider family. The Salticidae Tribe Nannenini consists of a small group of Oriental jumping spiders that are very poorly known. The use of explicit phylogenetic analyses to establish its affinities has so far remained limited. The Nannenini genus Epidelaxia has a peculiar morphology, making its systematic position uncertain. In this study, we present a comprehensive dataset combining molecular and morphological data for Nannenini, including exemplars from all genera. This dataset comprises DNA sequences of approximately 2400 bp, including nuclear genes (18S, 28S and H3) and the mitochondrial gene CO1, sequenced for 40 taxa (20 ingroups and 20 outgroups), along with 61 morphological characters. Notably, both DNA sequences and morphological traits were analysed separately and concurrently for the first time. The Nannenini clade is recovered with high support. Further, Epidelaxia is monophyletic and sister to Tubalaxia gen. n. This is the first hypothesis on the internal phylogenetic structure of Epidelaxia and its placement within the Tribe Nannenini. A new genus Tubalaxia gen. n. and the following new species are described: E. bharathi sp. n., E. somasundaram sp. n., T. castanea sp. n., T. aurea sp. n. The following new combination is proposed: Tubalaxia minuta (Prószyński, 1992) comb. n. Epidelaxia albostellata, E. albocruciata and E. obscura are redescribed. It is worth noting that the newly described species face endangerment due to their limited distribution and small population sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus HibanaBrescovit, 1991, previously known only from the Americas, is described from Ascension Island, based on both sexes: Hibana ascensionensissp. nov. complemented with colour photographs of specimen habitus, male chelicera, and the copulatory organs of both sexes. Hitherto, the family Anyphaenidae Bertkau, 1878 had not been recorded from Ascension Island, nor any other mid-Atlantic island. The new species is related to, but distinct from, H. tenuis (L. Koch, 1866) and H. talminaBrescovit, 1991. The unusual indentation of male chelicerae in Hibana is documented and figured in detail for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unknown male of Echemus escaleraiSimon, 1909 from Morocco is described for the first time, and the epigyne and vulva are illustrated for the first time. The position of the species in the genus EchemusSimon, 1878 is discussed. Cryptodrassus helvolus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872), previously known from Cyprus, Russia (Northern Ciscaspia), and Israel, is reported for the first time in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Brazilian genus of curtain-web spiders, family Dipluridae Simon, 1889, Harpathelegen. nov., is described, with Harpathele gymnognathacomb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) (Rio de Janeiro state) as its type species. The new genus is a lyrate Diplurinae and it is known only from southeast Brazil. It may be recognized by the relatively small body, maxilla with dorsal transverse suture showing distinct curve at its basal third, a field of numerous long and thin setae above that suture, and a field of small rigid bristles below it, among other characters. Harpathele gymnognathacomb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) is revalidated and redescribed, with the designation of a neotype and the first description of a male, based on specimens collected in its type locality that match the original description and illustrations, and is pointed as senior synonym of Diplura annectens (Bertkau, 1880). Additionally, two species of the new genus are described: Harpathele cariacicasp. nov., based on females from Espírito Santo state, and Harpathele salinassp. nov., based on males from Rio de Janeiro state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new dictynid species of the genus ThallumetusSimon, 1893 with a highly modified male palpal patella and tibia, combined with a unique shape to the epigyne, is described from Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean: Thallumetus ascensionensissp. nov. The new species represents the first report of of the family Dictynidae from Ascension and also the first Old World record of Thallumetus. The northernmost and southernmost limits of the family are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of ZodariellumAndreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) are described on the basis of male holotypes collected in Central Asia: Z. doroshkinisp. n. from Gorno-Badakhshan in eastern Tajikistan, and Z. kattakumsp. n. from Surxondaryo in southeastern Uzbekistan. Additionally, Z. turanicum Zamani & Marusik, 2022 is recorded from Uzbekistan for the first time, and new distribution records are provided for Z. bactrianum (Kroneberg, 1875) and Z. mongolicumMarusik & Koponen, 2001. Detailed descriptions, figures, diagnoses, distribution maps and photographs of habitats of the studied species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two ant-mimicking jumping spider species of the genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839 (Araneae: Salticidae): Myrmarachne melanocephala and M. kiboschensis are recorded from Manipur, India. Ecologically, M. melanocephala are dominant as compared to M. kiboschensis and ecological niche seems to overlap in many cases. In the present study, the males and females of these species are re-described through morphometric data and their copulatory organ structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arachnid fauna of the Maltese Islands has not yet been adequately investigated. In the present work, from a total of 117 species sampled, 36 taxa represent newly recorded spider species (Araneae) for Malta, with an additional new record of a harvestman (Opiliones). These new records include three new spider families and one new harvestman family for the Maltese archipelago: Anyphaenidae Bertkau, 1878, Mimetidae Simon, 1881, Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869 and Sclerosomatidae Simon, 1879; as well as two species which are recorded from Europe for the first time: Acartauchenius insigniceps (Simon, 1894) and Zelotes poecilochroaeformis Denis, 1937. Ecological, distributional, biogeographical and taxonomic notes are provided for the newly recorded species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus, Turanobiusgen. n. (Araneae: Oecobiidae: Oecobiinae), is described from Iran and Central Asia, comprising the following four species: T. ferdowsii (Mirshamsi, Zamani and Marusik, 2017) comb. n. (♂; Iran, Kazakhstan), T. hissaricussp. n. (♂; Tajikistan), T. leptonychussp. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan), and T. tadzhikus (Andreeva and Tyshchenko, 1969) comb. n. (♂♀; Tajikistan); both new combinations are ex. Oecobius Lucas, 1846. Known distribution records of all four species are mapped. Additionally, a discussion is presented on the taxonomy of Oecobius and the potential revalidation of several genera currently considered synonymous with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate assessment of species diversity is a cornerstone of biology and conservation. The lynx spiders (Araneae: Oxyopidae) represent one of the most diverse and widespread cursorial spider groups, however their species richness in Asia is highly underestimated. In this study, we revised species diversity with extensive taxon sampling in Taiwan and explored species boundaries based on morphological traits and genetic data using a two-step approach of molecular species delimitation. Firstly, we employed a single COI dataset and applied two genetic distance-based methods: ABGD and ASAP, and two topology-based methods: GMYC and bPTP. Secondly, we further analyzed the lineages that were not consistently delimited, and incorporated H3 to the dataset for a coalescent-based analysis using BPP. A total of eight morphological species were recognized, including five new species, Hamataliwa cordivulvasp. nov., Hamat. leporaurissp. nov., Tapponia auriolasp. nov., T. parvasp. nov. and T. rarobulbussp. nov., and three newly recorded species, Hamadruas hieroglyphica (Thorell, 1887), Hamat. foveata Tang & Li, 2012 and Peucetia latikae Tikader, 1970. All eight morphological species exhibited reciprocally monophyletic lineages. The results of molecular-based delimitation analyses suggested a variety of species hypotheses that did not fully correspond to the eight morphological species. We found that Hamat. cordivulvasp. nov. and Hamat. foveata showed shallow genetic differentiation in the COI, but they were unequivocally distinguishable according to their genitalia. In contrast, T. parvasp. nov. represented a deep divergent lineage, while differences of genitalia were not detected. This study highlights the need to comprehensively employ multiple evidence and methods to delineate species boundaries and the values of diagnostic morphological characters for taxonomic studies in lynx spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of the genus Bifurcia are described: B. kangding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. labahe sp. nov. (♂), B. luding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. shuangqiao sp. nov. (♂♀), and B. xiaojin sp. nov. (♂♀) from western Sichuan, China. A distribution map of the species and illustrations of genital characters are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of the genus Opopaea Simon, 1892 from southern China are recognised, including four new species: Opopaea mangun Tong & Li, sp. nov., Opopaea taibao Tong & Yang, sp. nov., Opopaea wenshan Tong & Zhang, sp. nov. and Opopaea yuhuang Tong & Li, sp. nov. from Yunnan and one newly-recorded species: Opopaea foveolata Roewer, 1963 from Hainan. Detailed diagnoses, descriptions and photomicroscopy images of new species are provided, based on specimens of both sexes. A key to species of the genus Opopaea from China is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jumping spider genus Iranattus Prószyński, 1992, distributed from Africa to southwestern Asia, has been placed within the Harmochirina because of their male palp structures and elongated third legs. Here, we present phylogenomic evidence that it belongs instead to the subtribe Plexippina, further supported by the presence of two coupling pockets in the female epigyne. In this study, we redescribe I. principalis (Wesołowska, 2000) and I. rectangularis Prószyński, 1992. Additionally, the female of I. rectangularis, the type species of the genus, is described for the first time, and we report its range extension east to India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of the genera Thiania C. L. Koch, 1846 and Yaginumaella Prószyński, 1979 are described and named as T. bamian sp. nov. (♂♀), T. flacata sp. nov. (♀) and Y. curvata sp. nov. (♂♀), from Hunan Province, China. Detailed descriptions, photos of somatic features and copulatory organs, as well as a distribution map are provided. Nucleotide data for the barcoding gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of T. bamian sp. nov. (♂♀) and Y. curvata sp. nov. (♀) are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus KirinuaLi & Lin, 2021 belonging to the family Symphytognathidae was established based on the type species, Kirinua maguaiLi & Lin, 2021. A total of three cavedwelling Kirinua species were recorded from Guangxi, China. In this paper, another new troglobitic spider species from the limestone Jinlong Cave in southern China is described under the name Kirinua jinlong sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and diagnosis are given to this new species, as well as a distribution map for all known species of the genus Kirinua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salticidae is the largest family of spiders in terms of described species. Chira Peckham & Peckham, 1896 is a genus with a Neotropical distribution, with 13 described species, but only six have both sexes known. Among the described species, 10 occur in Brazil, including Chira simoni Galiano, 1961 that has only the male described. The main objective of this work is to redescribe Chira simoni, 1961 and describe the female for the first time. The species Chira distincta Bauab-Vianna, 1983 is synonymized with Chira spinosa (Mello-Leitão, 1939), syn. nov. and Chira reticulata (Mello-Leitão, 1943) is synonymized with Chira thysbe Simon, 1902, syn. nov. A discussion about the groups of Chira species is presented, as well as new diagnoses and an update on the distribution of the genus Chira in the Neotropical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 252 species, Pseudopoda Jäger, 2000, is the largest genus in the family Sparassidae and is widely distributed in South (49 species in Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan), East (158 species in China and Japan) and Southeast Asia (51 species in Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). Few species have been found in more than one region. In this paper, three new species of Pseudopoda are described from East and Southeast Asia. Among them, one from China: P. fengtongzhaiensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀); one from Laos: P. baimai Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀); and one from Thailand: P. inthanonensis Jäger & Liu, sp. nov. (♀). Additionally, the female of P. kavanaughi Zhang, Jäger & Liu, 2023 is described for the first time. Photos of the habitus and genitalia, as well as a distribution map of all four species, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eight new species are described from the subtropical parts of Yunnan Province in southwestern China: Belisana honghe Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. jiuxiang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. lincang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. luxi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tengchong Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tongi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. yongsheng Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂), and B. yunnan Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀). They add up to a total of 31 Belisana species from Yunnan in an updated list provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species of the long-legged sac spider genus Cheiracanthium C. L. Koch, 1839 collected from China are diagnosed and described as new to science: Cheiracanthium bannaensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan Province and C. bifurcatum sp. nov. (♂♀) from Xinjiang Uyger Autonomous Region. Photos of the habitus and copulatory organs are given. In addition, DNA barcode information of the two new species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salticidae (jumping spiders) usually exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in adult morphology, particularly body coloration and size and shape of the first legs. Consequently, the male and female from the same species might be erroneously assigned to different species or even different genera, which could generate synonymies in classification if only morphological data were used. Phintella is a species‐rich genus of Salticidae, which currently exhibits 76 named species. However, the male–female counterpart is unknown for nearly half of the species. In this study, we used a molecular approach to delineate the species boundaries for Phintella and Phintella‐like specimens collected in Vietnam, using morphological information as supporting data. We used three gene fragments (mitochondrial COI, 16S‐ND1, and nuclear 28S) and biogeographical considerations for species delimitation. A total of 22 putative species were recognized: 18 species of the genus Phintella, one species of the genus Lechia (L. squamata), and three species of the genus Phinteloides. Eleven undescribed species were discovered, of which seven have a male–female combination, two species have only males, and two species have only females. The crown age of Phintella was estimated at the Serravallian stage of the Miocene after the increase of species number around 16 MYA. The crown ages of most putative species recognized in this study were estimated in the Pleistocene, and the divergence among sister species likely occurred from the mid‐Miocene to the Pliocene. Our ancestral range reconstruction results showed that the diversification of our ingroup was governed by progressive dispersal events, i.e., Phintella and their related species in Vietnam diversified while expanding their range on the continent. Our results provide fundamental biodiversity data for a high‐diversity genus in Vietnamese Phintella spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new genus of comb-tailed spider (Hahniidae), Sinahahnia gen. nov., is described based on three new species from the high-altitude areas of China: Sinahahnia eyu sp. nov. (♂♀, Chongqing and Hubei), S. fanjingshan sp. nov. (♂♀, Guizhou), and S. yintiaoling sp. nov. (♀, Chongqing). Digital images, illustrations, and a distribution map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study documents novel egg parasitoid-host associations between two genera of baeine wasps and a myrmecomorph spider, Myrmaplata plataleoides (O. Pickard-Cambridge) from West Bengal, India. Until now, no egg parasitoids have been reported from any myrmecomorph spiders. Of the two species, Idris bharati Debnath and Rajmohana sp. nov. is described as new, while Odontacolus markadicus Veenakumari is reported for the first time from the eggs of M. plataleoides. The mt COI DNA barcode sequences for these two species are the only sequences of baeine wasp species from India. Additionally, a preliminary phylogenetic tree has been provided for the members of Idris. Some interesting observations on the nesting behaviour and maternal care of M. plataleoides are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the genus Anyphaena Sundevall, 1833 collected from Xizang, China, are described: A. cibagou Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A. linzhi Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A. shufui Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀) and A. yejiei Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀). Diagnostic photos of the habitus and copulatory organs and a distributional map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Orchestina, O. dapojing Tong & Yang, sp. nov. (♂♀) and O. hyperofrontata Tong & Yang, sp. nov. (♂) are described from Yunnan, China. Descriptions, diagnoses and photographs of habitus and copulatory organs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of pholcid spiders, Pholcus fengmeii Zhang, He & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), is described from Liaoning Province, China. The new species belongs to the speciose phungiformes species group. Taxonomic keys to four closely related species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten new species of jumping spiders are described from China, including Attulus jimani sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan, Colaxes cibagou sp. nov. (♂♀), Epeus pengi sp. nov. (♂♀), Evarcha zayu sp. nov. (♂♀), Icius zang sp. nov. (♂♀), Pancorius nyingchi sp. nov. (♂♀), Stertinius liqingae sp. nov. (♂♀), and Synagelides medog sp. nov. (♀) from Xizang, S. tianquan sp. nov. (♂♀), and Yaginumaella erlang sp. nov. (♂♀) from Sichuan. The hitherto unknown female of Phintella longapophysis Lei & Peng, 2013 is described for the first time. Diagnostic photos and the distributional maps for all species are provided. Four new combinations are proposed: Epeus dilucidus (Próchniewicz, 1990), comb. nov., and E. guangxi (Peng & Li, 2002), comb. nov. transferred from Plexippoides Prószyński, 1984, Phintella sufflava (Jastrzębski, 2009), comb. nov. transferred from Carrhotus Thorell, 1891, and Yaginumaella armata (Jastrzębski, 2011), comb. nov. transferred from Pancorius Simon, 1902. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new genus of plexippine jumping spiders from the Western Ghats of India based on the new species Ghatippus paschima gen. et sp. nov. While it bears a superfi- cial resemblance to Pancorius in body form and Hyllus in membrane-bearing embolus, our UCE phylogenomic data--the first to resolve broad relationships within the Plexippina--as well as morphological features justify its status as a new genus. In addition to the molecular data and morphological descriptions, we provide photographs of living specimens of Ghatippus paschima gen. et sp. nov. and information on their natural history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxonomic notes on the Talaus species from China are provided. Two new species, T. yuyang Yao & Liu, sp. nov. and T. zhangjiangkou Yao & Liu, sp. nov. are described and illustrated, and a further three species are redescribed based on their genitalic characters: T. dulongjiang Tang, Yin, Ubick & Peng, 2008, T. niger Tang, Yin, Ubick & Peng, 2008, and T. sulcus Tang & Li, 2010. The species T. xiphosus Zhu & Ono, 2007 is considered a junior synonym of T. triangulifer Simon, 1886 based on an examination of many recently collected female and male specimens from Guangxi Province, China. Diagnoses, detailed illustrations and a map of distributional records of the six treated species of Talaus in China are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven leptonetid species belonging to four genera collected in Jiangxi and Fujian Provinces, China are presented. Ten new species of midget cave spiders from southern China are diagnosed, described, and illustrated: Leptonetela dawu Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. yuanhaoi Yao & Liu, sp. nov. and L. zuojiashanensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov. from Jiangxi; Longileptoneta guadunensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. huboliao Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. jiaxiani Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. letuensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. renzhouensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov., L. tianmenensis Yao & Liu, sp. nov., and Pararana mingxuani Yao & Liu, sp. nov. from Fujian. Furthermore, Falcileptoneta monodactyla (Yin, Wang & Wang, 1984) is recorded from Jiangxi province for the first time. Distributions records are given for all investigated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven new species of the primitive segmented spider genus Liphistius are described and assigned to species groups based on characters of the male palp and vulva plate. The bristowei group includes L. dawei Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀) from southeastern Myanmar, L. choosaki Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♀) from northwestern Thailand, and L. lansak Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♀) from western Thailand; the trang group (Complex A) contains L. kaengkhoi Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), L. hintung Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), L. buyphradi Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀), and L. champakpheaw Sivayyapram & Warrit, sp. nov. (♂♀) from central Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species in two genera of the family Cheiracanthiidae Wagner, 1887 are studied from Hainan Island, China, including two new species: Cheiracanthium bawanglingense sp. n. (♀♂) and Eutittha hainanensis sp. n. (♀). Cheiracanthium ningmingense Zhang and Yin, 1999 syn. n. is synonymised with C. exquestitum Zhang and Zhu, 1993, and C. adjacensoides Song, Chen and Hou, 1990 stat. resurr. (♀♂) is removed from synonymy with C. approximatum O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1885. Cheiracanthium insigne O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1874 (♀♂) and C. taegense Paik, 1990 (♀♂) are reported from Hainan Province, China, for the first time. Photos of habitus and genitalia and a distribution map of all species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species and three known species of the genus Orchestina Simon, 1882 are recorded from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province: O. clavulata Tong & Li, 2011 (♂), O. colubrina Liu, Henrard & Xu, 2019 (♂♀), O. concava Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂), O. menglun Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂), O. subclavulata Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂), O. truncatula Tong & Li, 2011 (♂♀), O. wengnan Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂) and O. xui Tong & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀). The males of O. colubrina Liu, Henrard & Xu, 2019 is described for the first time. An identification key to species of the genus Orchestina from Xishuangbanna is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four morphologically similar species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group, occurring in geographic proximity of China's Qinling Mountains, were recognised, based on morphology and four methods of molecular species delimitation. They comprise two new species, namely Pholcus ankang sp. nov. and P. baoji sp. nov. and two previously described species: P. ovatus Yao & Li, 2012 and P. taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992. Their DNA barcodes were obtained to estimate p-distances and K2P distances. In addition, an identification key for the four closely-related species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the chrysilline genus Phintella – P. dentis sp. nov. (♂♀), P. handersoni sp. nov. (♂♀), P. luna sp. nov. (♀) and P. rajbharathi sp. nov. (♂) – are described from India. Additionally, the unknown female of Phintella platnicki Sudhin, Sen & Caleb, 2023 is described and new distributional data are provided for this species. Notes on the type locality and distribution of P. accentifera (Simon, 1901) are provided along with clarification on the identity of other non-type materials. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and a distributional map are also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plesiopelma longisternale is a widespread tarantula in Argentina and its limit is difficult to determine due to their morphological variation among populations. Males are distinguishable by the following character combination: a field of spines on the apical half of the palpal tibia, a very long embolus and a field of spines on the reotrolateral face of cymbium; females are characterized by long spiraled ducts distant from each other. Here, we used mitochondrial DNA (cox1) to reconstruct the first phylogeny of P. longisternale , in combination with morphological data and molecular species delimitation, to assess the taxonomic limits of this species. Our phylogenetic results confirm a close relationship among the populations from central Argentina and a new evolutionary independent lineage identified as a new species, Plesiopelma absconditus , which is here diagnose, described and illustrated. We further analyzed the diagnostic characters of P. longisternale through the examination of the types and specimens from many populations and found that their morphological intraspecific variations largely overlap. Altogether, our results demonstrate that some of the variability of P. longisternale in central Argentina represent polymorphisms of a single species supported by molecular data. In addition, we discovered a new species from this genus distinguishable by molecular and morphological data and highlight the need for multiple lines of evidence to solve the taxonomic problems in species of tarantulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The salticid species Rudakius ludhianaensis (Tikader, 1974) was discovered while studying the role of spiders in controlling insect pests on mango trees in the Giza Governorate. This species is thus recorded from Egypt for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new genera and 11 new species of Hahniidae Bertkau, 1878 are described. The new genera are Goblinia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species G.tiane Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Guangxi, China; Myahnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species M.kanpetlet Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Chin, Myanmar; Troglohnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species Tr.qiubei Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan, China and Typhlohnia Lin & Li, gen. nov., with the type species Ty.rongshui Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Guangxi, China. Seven additional new species are described: Tr.dafang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Guizhou, China; Tr.shidian Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀) from Yunnan, China; Tr.wuding Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Yunnan, China; Ty.banlaksao Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀) from Bolikhamxay, Laos; Ty.kaiyang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀) from Guizhou, China; Ty.sondoong Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♂♀) from Quang Binh, Vietnam and Ty.suiyang Lin & Li, sp. nov. (♀) from Guizhou, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Pholcidae C.L. Koch, 1850 is highly diverse in Guizhou Province, southwestern China, and currently contains four genera and 22 species. Nevertheless, the distribution of pholcid spiders is conspicuously patchy in Guizhou. Species from Guiyang are poorly studied, and only Pholcus spilis Zhu & Gong, 1991 has been recorded. A survey was undertaken for the first time to study the pholcids in Guiyang. A total of four species are reported, comprising Belisana yuhaoi Yang & Yao, sp. nov. and three other species: Leptopholcus tanikawai Irie, 1999 (new record for Guiyang), Pholcus spilis Zhu & Gong, 1991 and Spermophora senoculata (Dugès, 1836) (new record for Guizhou). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

survey of spiders from Moroccan caves is provided (Arachnida: Araneae), collected between July 2012 and October 2022. All material originates from 38 caves in various mountainous areas located in the northern part of the country. In total 24 species from eight families have been recorded. A new cave-dwelling spider species from the Moroccan High Atlas, a representative of the Dysdera crocata-complex, is described: Dysdera agadirensis Lecigne spec. nov. Another new cave dwelling species, Centromerus caecus Lecigne spec. nov., the first known eyeless representative of Centromerus in North Africa, is described and illustrated as well. Two further agelenid species spiders are also newly described: Eratigena talassemtane Lecigne & Bosmans spec. nov. and Textrix maroccana Lecigne spec. nov. The male of Lepthyphantes leknizii Barrientos, 2020 was discovered and is described here for the first time. Two other records represent new species records for the fauna of Morocco: Amaurobius barbarus Simon, 1911 and Scotargus pilosus Simon, 1913. Lepthyphantes pieltaini Machado, 1940 is a poorly known species; we provide a redescription based on several specimens of both sexes. The findings of several other species already known from Morocco are noteworthy taxa (either endemic or recently described species, but also species with a poorly known taxonomy, ecology or distribution) and hence represent important records for the local fauna: Lepthyphantes aelleni Denis, 1957, Lepthyphantes fadriquei Barrientos, 2020, Lepthyphantes maurusius Brignoli, 1978, Lepthyphantes taza Tanasevitch, 2014, Maghreba aurouxi (Barrientos, 2019), Palliduphantes banderolatus Barrientos, 2020 and Tama edwardsi (Lucas, 1846). Drawings and photographs of most of these species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic Peruvian genus Anqasha with type species Anqasha picta (Pocock 1903) is revised. A female of A. picta from the type locality of Caraz is herein described for the first time. The recently described females of A. picta coming from Recuay are transferred to the new taxon, which is herein described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Males of A. minaperinensis sp. nov. differ from that of A. picta in the shape of retrolateral branch of subapical apophyses on male tibia I, which is apically flattened and having three short spines. Females of A. minaperinensis sp. nov. differ from A. picta in the shape of seminal receptacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven new species from the Scytodoidea group are described from mainland Ecuador: in the family Drymusidae, Drymusa pristirana sp. nov. (female) and in the family Scytodidae, Scytodes amazonica sp. nov. (male, female); S. argelia sp. nov. (female), S. ayampe sp. nov. (female), S. choco sp. nov. (male, female), S. costa sp. nov. (female), S. jaguar sp. nov. (male), S. loja sp. nov. (female), S. minus sp. nov. (male); S. orellana sp. nov. (male, female); and S. tayos sp. nov. (male). The new species D. pristirana sp. nov. presents a unique morphological character on the ventral surface of the female abdomen. The type specimens of S. lineatipesTaczanowski, 1874 from French Guiana and S. luteola Simon, 1893 from Venezuela are imaged for the first time, and S. romitii Caporiacco, 1947 is removed from synonymy with S. lineatipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Okkarai area of Pachamalai hills, Eastern Ghats, Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India, was studied for spider diversity in the current study. In total, 178 spiders were recorded, belonging to 12 distinct families (Araneidae, Desidae, Linyphiidae, Nephilidae, Oxyopidae, Pholcidae, Pisauridae, Salticidae, Sparassidae, Tetragnathidae, Theridiidae and Thomisidae), and 17 and 20 different genera and species, respectively. Araneidae family dominated the spider population, and the family dominance curve was in the ascending order of Araneidae (25.28%) > Oxyopidae (14.04%) > Pholcidae (14.04%) > Thomisidae (10.11%) > Tetragnathidae (7.86%) > Linyphiidae (6.74%) > Nephilidae (6.17%) > Sparassidae (5.05%) > Theridiidae (4.49%) > Pisauridae (3.37) > Salticidae (2.24%) > Desidae (0.56%). Araneidae (17.64%) had the most genera per family, and Araneidae and Oxyopidae (20.00%) had the most species per family; and about species composition, Pholcus phalangioides dominated with 14.04%. Spider guilds were represented by web patterns as well as hunting patterns. Web pattern comprised orb web (60.86%), cobweb (34.78%) and sheet web (4.34%). Orb web was represented by families Araneidae, Nephilidae and Tetragnathidae; cobweb by Desidae, Pholcidae, Pisauridae and Theridiidae; while Linyphiidae for sheet web. Ambushers (53.22%) and stalkers (46.77%) represented the hunting pattern wherein Pisauridae, Sparassidae and Thomisidae represented ambushers, and Oxyopidae and Salticidae represented stalkers. Araneidae and Oxyopidae had high species richness indicated by Hill's (4), Margalef's (1.33), and Menhinick's (0.299) indices. Salticidae had high species evenness denoted by Alatalo's (0.578), Pielou's (0.488), Shannon's (1.471) and Sheldon's (1.413) indices; while Linyphiidae represented Heip's index (1.347). Araneidae scored high on other indices, viz., Berger-Parker dominance (25.28%), community dominance (1.24), and relative dominance (20.00%); while Salticidae had a high Hill's number abundance (1.413%), and Pholcidae had a high relative frequency (0.55). This study will contribute to the data on spider biodiversity, taxonomy, it's abundance, distribution, and community organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floronia huishuiensis Zhou & Xu, sp. nov. (♂♀) is the first species in the genus Floronia to be described from Baiyan Cave in Guizhou Province, China. The new species is similar to F. zhejiangensis Zhu, Chen & Sha, 1987 but differs in structural details of the genital organs, primarily by the presence of a well-developed retrolateral tibial apophysis, a hook-shaped distal end of the radix in the male palp, and the rectangular posterior median plate in the epigyne. The illustration of copulatory organs of F. bucculenta (Clerck, 1757) and F. zhejiangensis Zhu, Chen & Sha, 1987 were reproduced here for comparison. A detailed description, photographs of the habitus and copulatory organs of the new species and a distribution map is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notes on four Festucula species are provided. One species, F. botswana sp. nov., is described as new to science (♀, Botswana). The name F. monticola is revalidated and the male of this species is assigned. The female of F. lawrencei is described for the first time. A new record of F. leroyae is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Tricholathys, found for the first time in China, is surveyed and seven new species, T. burangensis sp. nov. (♂♀, Thibet), T. chenzhenningi sp. nov. (♂♀, Qinghai), T. hebeiensis sp. nov. (♀, Hebei), T. lhunzeensis sp. nov. (♂♀, Tibet), Tricholathys relictoides sp. nov. (♂♀, Xinjiang), T. serrata sp. nov. (♂♀, Tibet), and T. xizangensis sp. nov. (♂♀, Tibet), are described. A new combination is proposed for Tricholathys alxa (Tang, 2011) comb. nov., ex. Argenna Thorell, 1870. Descriptions of all new species are provided, together with digital images, illustrations, and a distribution map. The DNA barcode information of four recently collected species is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]