The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini

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  The pholcid spiders of Tunisia (Araneae: Pholcidae): new species, new records, and deep COI divergence in Holocnemus reini Abstract Tunisia features a rapid transition between Mediterranean and Saharan biogeographical zones, resulting in a high degree of environmental heterogeneity. Despite this ecological diversity, Tunisian spiders have received limited attention compared to those of neighboring Maghreb countries. Here we combine the results of recent collections in Tunisia focusing on Pholcidae with a comprehensive review of previously published information, resulting in a total of six genera and eleven species. We present first records of the genera Micropholcus Deeleman-Reinhold & Prinsen, 1987 and Spermophorides Wunderlich, 1992 for Tunisia, represented by four new species: M. kahinae Huber sp. nov., M. echebbii Huber sp. nov., S. nabilae Huber & Kmira sp. nov., S. bchirae Huber sp. nov.; in addition, we redescribe S. huberti (Senglet, 1973) from Tunisian specimens,...

Insights on the diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Ouarsenis mountains of northwestern Algeria

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Insights on the diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Ouarsenis mountains of northwestern Algeria


Abstract

This study is an empirical observation of the feeding behavior of the Buthus Leach, 1815, in the wild of the Ouarsenis Mountains (Tissemsilt and Tiaret regions, Northwestern Algeria) during the study period (2021–2022). We have observed 29 instances of Buthus species eating arthropods. The identifications of this prey yielded a list of 20 species belonging to 15 families and 9 orders. We note a dominance of the Orthoptera and Coleoptera, with 3 families and 5 species for each. Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae are the most represented, with 3 and 2 species, respectively. Also, we record some insects larvae eating and many cases of cannibalism and intraguild predation. All of the Buthus species' prey are intermediate or smaller arthropods.