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...

Taxonomy of Linyphiidae (Arthropoda, Araneae) in Théniet El Had National Park with new records for Algeria

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Taxonomy of Linyphiidae (Arthropoda, Araneae) in Théniet El Had National Park with new records for Algeria

Background

Cedrus atlantica, a species of coniferous tree in the Pinaceae family, is endemic to Algeria and Morocco. It originated in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, hence the name Atlas Cedar. Cedar forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Yet despite their importance as a rich reservoir of fauna, very few faunistic studies have been carried out in Algeria in this type of ecosystem, particularly for the Araneae. Théniet El Had National Park (34.25 km2) is a unique national park in the western part of Algeria with centuries-old cedars. The present work is the first of its kind, consisting of establishing a preliminary list of Lyniphiidae in this typical ecosystem.

New information

A preliminary checklist of Linyphiidae of the National Park is provided, following a sampling period between January and December 2019. A total of 24 species were collected belonging to 15 genera of which Pelecopsis is the richest genus with six species. Pelecopsis oujda Bosmans & Abrous, 1992 and Walckenaeria heimbergi Bosmans, 2007, only known from Morocco so far, were collected for the first time in Algeria. Their distribution area is, thus, more extensive than present.


Saadi A, Bakhouche B, Djemadi I, Beladjal L, Kherbouche-Abrous O (2024) Taxonomy of Linyphiidae (Arthropoda, Araneae) in Théniet El Had National Park with new records for Algeria. Biodiversity Data Journal 12: e125331. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.12.e125331