Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

Posted by
  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

The role of the burrow structure in the characterisation of trap door spiders Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)

Posted by

 


The role of the burrow structure in the characterisation of trap door spiders Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)

Abstract 

Three new species of the trap-door spider genus Nemesia Audouin, 1826 are described from southern Portugal, namely Nemesia bonali sp. nov. from Portimão and Alvor, Nemesia molerobaltanasi sp. nov. from Castelão (Loulé), and Nemesia rebellis sp. nov. from Odeleite. These species have specific morphological and/or behavioral similarities with N. athiasi Franganillo, 1920, N. fagei Frade & Bacelar, 1931, and N. ungoliant Decae, Car-doso & Selden, 2007, but are easily distinguishable if attention is paid to all details including the size, the prosoma shape and the burrow structure. The available literature on N. fagei is discussed and the need to consider the burrow as a possible character for diagnosis when describing and identifying species of the genus Nemesia is illustrated. Finally, a few guidelines are proposed to aid in the study of these spiders, both at the species level and for the general understanding of spiders of this genus. 


Pertegal, Cristian, y Ginés Rodriguez-Castilla. 2024. «El Papel De La Estructura Del Nido En La caracterización De Las Especies De arañas De Trampilla Nemesia Audouin, 1826 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)». 
Graellsia 80 (1-2):e755. https://doi.org/10.3989/graellsia.2024.v80.755.