Project description:BackgroundCalathotarsus simoni Schiapelli & Gerschman 1975 is the only species of Migidae in Argentina. It is a rare and endemic spider only found in relict grassland of mountain systems in the province of Buenos Aires. This species is a habitat specialist spider occupying specific areas with certain microclimatic conditions on hilly and rocky grassland areas at about 500-1500 meters above sea level.New informationThe observed extent of occurrence (EOO) is 7207 km2 and the area of occupancy (AOO) is 16 km2. Two locations are identified based on the threat event related to the invasion of the species habitat by alien woody plants. In addition, intensive cattle production and agriculture also constitute relevant threats to the species.

| S-EPMC5665003 | biostudies-literature

Continental data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (Arachnida: Araneae).

Project description:BackgroundSpiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are widespread in subterranean ecosystems worldwide and represent an important component of subterranean trophic webs. Yet, global-scale diversity patterns of subterranean spiders are still mostly unknown. In the frame of the CAWEB project, a European joint network of cave arachnologists, we collected data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe in order to explore their continental diversity patterns. Two main datasets were compiled: one listing all subterranean spider species recorded in numerous subterranean localities across Europe and another with high resolution data about the subterranean habitat in which they were collected. From these two datasets, we further generated a third dataset with individual geo-referenced occurrence records for all these species.New informationData from 475 geo-referenced subterranean localities (caves, mines and other artificial subterranean sites, interstitial habitats) are herein made available. For each subterranean locality, information about the composition of the spider community is provided, along with local geomorphological and habitat features. Altogether, these communities account for > 300 unique taxonomic entities and 2,091 unique geo-referenced occurrence records, that are made available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Mammola and Cardoso 2019). This dataset is unique in that it covers both a large geographic extent (from 35° south to 67° north) and contains high-resolution local data on geomorphological and habitat features. Given that this kind of high-resolution data are rarely associated with broad-scale datasets used in macroecology, this dataset has high potential for helping researchers in tackling a range of biogeographical and macroecological questions, not necessarily uniquely related to arachnology or subterranean biology.

| S-EPMC6794329 | biostudies-literature

Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n., a new cave-dwelling blind spider species from the Aegean region of Turkey (Araneae, Nesticidae).

Project description:A new species of the troglobitic spider genus Typhlonesticus is described from specimens found in Keloğlan Cave (Denizli Province, Dodurgalar Town), Turkey. Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n. is described on the basis of both sexes; and its phylogenetic relationships with closely related European genera and species are discussed based on morphological and molecular data (the cox1, rrnL and H3 genes). Three new combinations are proposed: Typhlonesticus idriacus (Roewer, 1931), comb. n., Typhlonesticus morisii (Brignoli, 1975) comb. n. and Typhlonesticus obcaecatus (Simon, 1907), comb. n. all ex Nesticus.

| S-EPMC4109453 | biostudies-literature

A new cave-dwelling spider of the genus Speleoticus (Araneae, Nesticidae) from Sichuan, China

Project description:Abstract Background Speleoticus Ballarin & Li, 2016 is a relatively small spider genus of the family Nesticidae, currently including five cave-dwelling species, distributed exclusively in East Asia, four of which are known from China. New information A new troglobitic spider of the genus Speleoticus from the limestone Cave Hanwang Dong, north-eastern Sichuan, China, is described under the name of S.hei Yu & Lin, sp. n. Detailed descriptions, photographs and a distribution map of the new species are provided.

| S-EPMC10463029 | biostudies-literature

Two new oonopid spider species from Yunnan, China (Araneae, Oonopidae)

Project description: Not available

| S-EPMC10568317 | biostudies-literature

Cave-adapted millipedes from Portugal: species conservation profiles.

Project description:BackgroundAmongst the cave-dwelling millipedes (Diplopoda), there are several endemic species in Portugal with a very small geographical distribution. These species play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter in subterranean ecosystems and are vulnerable to disturbance from human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution infiltrating from the surface and cave tourism.New informationWe present the IUCN Red List profiles for cave-adapted millipedes (Diplopoda) from Portugal and propose conservation measures to prevent extinction. Overall, cave-adapted millipedes from Portugal represent an endemic part of the country's biodiversity and conservation efforts will help maintain the delicate ecological balance of subterranean ecosystems.

| S-EPMC10838078 | biostudies-literature

Systematics, conservation and morphology of the spider genus Tayshaneta (Araneae, Leptonetidae) in Central Texas Caves.

Project description:The spider genus Tayshaneta is revised based on results from a three gene phylogenetic analysis (Ledford et al. 2011) and a comprehensive morphological survey using scanning electron (SEM) and compound light microscopy. The morphology and relationships within Tayshaneta are discussed and five species-groups are supported by phylogenetic analyses: the anopica group, the coeca group, the myopica group, the microps group and the sandersi group. Short branch lengths within Tayshaneta contrast sharply with the remaining North American genera and are viewed as evidence for a relatively recent radiation of species. Variation in troglomorphic morphology is discussed and compared to patterns found in other Texas cave invertebrates. Several species previously known as single cave endemics have wider ranges than expected, suggesting that some caves are not isolated habitats but instead form part of interconnected karst networks. Distribution maps are compared with karst faunal regions (KFR's) in Central Texas and the implications for the conservation and recovery of Tayshaneta species are discussed. Ten new species are described: Tayshaneta archambaultisp. n., Tayshaneta emeraldaesp. n., Tayshaneta fawcettisp. n., Tayshaneta grubbsisp. n., Tayshaneta madlasp. n., Tayshaneta oconnoraesp. n., Tayshaneta sandersisp. n., Tayshaneta sprouseisp. n., Tayshaneta vidriosp. n. and Tayshaneta whiteisp. n. The males for three species, Tayshaneta anopica (Gertsch, 1974), Tayshaneta devia (Gertsch, 1974) and Tayshaneta microps (Gertsch, 1974) are described for the first time. Tayshaneta furtiva (Gertsch, 1974) and Tayshaneta uvaldea (Gertsch, 1974) are declared nomina dubia as the female holotypes are not diagnosable and efforts to locate specimens at the type localities were unsuccessful. All Tayshaneta species are thoroughly illustrated, diagnosed and keyed. Distribution maps are also provided highlighting areas of taxonomic ambiguity in need of additional sampling.

| S-EPMC3272638 | biostudies-literature

A new spider species, Heser stoevi sp. nov., from Turkmenistan (Araneae: Gnaphosidae).

Project description:BackgroundThe genus Heser (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) belongs to the Zelotes group, and is currently known to comprise 10 species distributed in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The type species is Heser malefactor Tuneva, 2004 from Kazakhstan.New informationA new spider species, Heser stoevi sp. nov. (male and female) found in Koytendag Mountains, southeastern Turkmenistan is described and illustrated. It is morphologically close to H. aradensis (Levy, 1998) from Israel but can be readily distinguished by the longer embolus, the smaller and flattened conductor, the lack of retrolateral tibial apophysis, all this coupled with very distinctive female copulatory organs. The new species was found under stones in arid grassland habitats.

| S-EPMC5018111 | biostudies-literature