Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus yichengicus Species Group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Central China

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  Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus yichengicus Species Group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Central China  Abstract Two new cryptic species from central China, belonging to the Pholcus yichengicus species group, were identified using an integrative approach combining morphological and three molecular species delimitation methods, and incorporating data from five related previously described species. These two new species are named Pholcus chengkou sp. nov. and P. yanan sp. nov. DNA barcodes were generated for the two new species to calculate p-distances and K2P distances, thus confirming their identities alongside the five previously described species. Additionally, revised diagnoses for the five previously described species and a distribution map encompassing all the species discussed are provided. Yan, Mei-Chen, and Zhi-Yuan Yao. 2026. "Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus y...

New records of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from East Azarbaijan Province, Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

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New records of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from East Azarbaijan Province, Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Abstract

Limited studies have been conducted on the scorpions of East Azarbaijan Province, resulting in the identification of seven Buthid species. The examination of Androctonus specimens collected from East Azarbaijan Province between 2021–2023 resulted in the identification of two new records, A. kunti Yağmur, 2023 and A. turkiyensis Yağmur, 2021. These two species were collected and described from east and south of Turkey respectively and recorded here for the first time from Iran. With the identification of A. kunti and A. turkiyensis, which before reported as Androctonus crassicauda, the total number of reported scorpion species in East Azarbaijan Province raised to eight, while the number of Androctonus species documented in Iran rose to six. Diagnostic characters of the two species and an identification key to Iranian Androctonus were provided. Understanding the distribution of various Androctonus species is crucial for determining their habitat conditions, preventing scorpion stings, and developing specific antivenoms tailored to each species for effective treatment.
Barahoei, H., Farmani, M., Shahi, M., Yousefi, S., Abbasi, M., Rahmani, F. (2025). 'New records of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from East Azarbaijan Province, Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae)', Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22067/ijab.2025.92965.1098