DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) ABSTRACT This study presents DNA barcoding data for Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) and Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco. Barcode sequences were compared with publicly available reference data to support species identification, together with the evaluation of diagnostic morphological characters. Alpiscorpius dinaricus is recorded from Kosovo for the first time, representing a new national record and contributing to the knowledge of euscorpiid diversity in the region. Diagnostic illustrations of A. dinaricus are provided to facilitate reliable identification and to support future faunistic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies. Euscorpius hadzii , previously known only from Prizren district, is now reported also from Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Western Kosovo). Geci, D., Ibrahimi, H., Bilalli, A., Musliu, M., Strohmeier, T., Koblmüller, S., … S...

Domitius lusitanicus (Araneae, Nesticidae) - an umbrella species for the conservation of troglobionts in the Estremenho Karst Massif, Portugal

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Domitius lusitanicus (Araneae, Nesticidae) - an umbrella species for the conservation of troglobionts in the Estremenho Karst Massif, Portugal

Abstract

Background

Domitius lusitanicus (Fage, 1931) is a troglobiont spider, endemic from caves in the largest karst massif in Portugal, the Estremenho. It was the first described cave-adapted species from Portugal, but the male of the species was only described in 1988.

New information

Over the last two decades, the knowledge on the distribution of D. lusitanicus increased significantly. We assess the conservation status of D. lusitanicus, providing new information on its extent of occurrence and the anthropogenic threats and present a IUCN Red List profile. D. lusitanicus faces various anthropogenic threats, such as habitat loss, agriculture, pollution and tourism impacts. Despite a large part of its distribution is included in a Natural Park, it expands outside of the areas deemed for protection in the Natura 2000 network. This species has the widest spread distribution of all troglobionts in the Estremenho Massif; therefore, it may be used as an umbrella species for the protection of other cave-adapted species of invertebrates of the massif.

Alves TRL, Reboleira ASPS (2024) Domitius lusitanicus (Araneae, Nesticidae) - an umbrella species for the conservation of troglobionts in the Estremenho Karst Massif, Portugal. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e124103. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e124103