First catalog of spiders of Egypt (Araneae)

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  First catalog of spiders of Egypt (Araneae) Abstract This study provides a comprehensive catalog of the spider fauna of Egypt, comprising 389 species assigned to 197 genera and 40 families. For each species, all published locality records are compiled and accompanied by complete bibliographic references. The dataset has been carefully reviewed and critically evaluated in light of the most recent taxonomic and faunistic information. Among the recorded species, 55 (14.13%) are currently known only from Egypt and are thus considered endemic. Based on the World Spider Catalog (2026), 28 species are treated as nomina dubia, 23 species lack confirmed records from Egypt, which is not correct, 10 have to be omitted from the Egyptian list and 8 are species inquirenda. Despite the relatively high number of documented species, the Egyptian araneofauna remains insufficiently explored. Given the country’s ecological diversity and biogeographical position, further research is expected to signi...

A blast from the past: Acanthoctenus alux Arizala, Labarque & Polotow, 2021, an exotic spider in The Netherlands, imported many decades ago (Araneae: Ctenidae)

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A blast from the past: Acanthoctenus alux Arizala, Labarque & Polotow, 2021, an exotic spider in The Netherlands, imported many decades ago (Araneae: Ctenidae)

Abstract 

Exotic species can be introduced accidentally through human activity to regions where they do not occur naturally. Fruit and produce shipments offer a means by which trapped specimens can accidentally travel long distances bringing, for example, tropical species deep into temperate regions. Documenting, identifying, and tracking these introductions can help evaluate the potential threats these species could pose for local biodiversity and, in rare cases, human health. We report a new exotic species in the Netherlands from a specimen captured more than 60 years ago from a fruit shipment. The species, Acanthoctenus alux (Arizala, Labarque & Polotow, 2021), was described recently in a revision of the genus Acanthoctenus, and is only known from female specimens. Here, we provide documentation of the specimen including the external genitalia, and somatic characters like eyes, spinnerets, calamistrum, and the cribellum.

Rivera-Quiroz, F. A., Helsdingen, P. J. van & Miller, J. A. (2025). A blast from the past: Acanthoctenus alux Arizala, Labarque & Polotow, 2021, an exotic spider in The Netherlands, imported many decades ago (Araneae: Ctenidae). Arachnology 20(2): 313-315.