Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation

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  Passive transponder implantation in Theraphosidae: A tool for traceability and conservation Abstract Illegal wildlife trade represents a major global threat to biodiversity, with tarantulas among the most heavily trafficked invertebrate groups due to increasing demand in the international pet market, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulatory frameworks and reliable specimen-level traceability systems to distinguish legally bred individuals from illegally sourced ones. Individual identification is essential to support legal trade, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and reduce illegal trafficking; therefore, this study evaluated the feasibility and safety of passive integrated transponder microchip (PIT TAG) implantation for individual identification in multiple tarantula species under controlled laboratory conditions. Post-implantation parameters assessed included anaesthesia recovery time, feeding behaviour, ecdysis frequency, PIT TAG retention across successive moults...

New data on species of Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) in Central Asia

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New data on species of Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) in Central Asia

Abstract 

Two new species of Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) are described on the basis of male holotypes collected in Central Asia: Z. doroshkini sp. n. from GornoBadakhshan in eastern Tajikistan, and Z. kattakum sp. 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. mongolicum Marusik & Koponen, 2001. Detailed descriptions, figures, diagnoses, distribution maps and photographs of habitats of the studied species are provided. 

Fomichev, A. A. & Zamani, A. (2024). New data on species of Zodariellum Andreeva & Tyshchenko, 1968 (Araneae: Zodariidae) in Central Asia. Arachnology 19(8): 1055-1059.