Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia

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  Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia  Abstract The conditioning variables for the establishment of Amblypygi populations and their ecological interactions are currently poorly studied. Delving deeper into this can help to conserve this group of short-range distribution species, which are useful as a model in biogeographic research. In this study, we evaluated the distribution and overlapping patterns of ecological niche in six species of amblypygids ( Phrynus araya , P. panche , P. pulchripes , Heterophrynus batesii , H. boterorum , H. cervinus ) in the Andean and Amazonian ecosystems of Colombia, revealing a clear biogeographic segregation driven by environmental gradients: Phrynus species were associated with inter-Andean valleys with high thermal and water seasonality.  While the Heterophrynus occupied more stable and humid conditions of foothills and middle elevations. Overlap analyses showed significant divergence (e.g., D=0.105 b...

Biodiversity and Distribution of Scorpions and Solifuges (Arachnida, Scorpiones, Solifugae) in Eastern Transcaucasia

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Biodiversity and Distribution of Scorpions and Solifuges (Arachnida, Scorpiones, Solifugae) in Eastern Transcaucasia

Abstract—

The data on the taxonomy and distribution of scorpions and solifuges with the aim of evaluating the current state of their fauna in eastern Transcaucasia are reported. The taxonomic list of species was compiled using the materials obtained from the available literature sources, the data of faunistic studies, and the results of studying the collection of the Azerbaijan Institute of Zoology, Baku, and the author’s own collections. Updated information on the taxonomy and distribution of scorpions and solifuges in eastern Transcaucasia is presented, with two new species of scorpions and three species of solifuges having been identified. To summarize, according to the 2022 data, the Scorpiones order in the studied region is represented by five species in three genera in a single family, while the Solifugae order, by 14 species in seven genera in five families. The maps showing the localities in eastern Transcaucasia are presented for 15 species.

Novruzov, N.E. Biodiversity and Distribution of Scorpions and Solifuges (Arachnida, Scorpiones, Solifugae) in Eastern Transcaucasia. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 50, 2160–2171 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359023090261