First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey June 2026

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  First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey June 2026 Abstract Ischnocolus valentinus (Dufour, 1820) is recorded from Muğla Province in western Turkey based on a male deposited in the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum. This also constitutes the first record of the genus Ischnocolus from Turkey.  Geci, Donard & Kunt, Kadir & Yağmur, Ersen & Sherwood, Danniella. (2026). First record of Ischnocolus Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Turkey. 23. 344-349. 10.15298/invertzool.23.2.10.  ResearchGate Acknowledgement: My sincere thanks, as always, to Danni Sherwood for sharing this manuscript. I am deeply grateful for your friendship, support, and willingness to keep me informed of new developments in the field.

Preliminary survey of midget cave spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from forest ecosystems in southern China with the description of three new species

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Preliminary survey of midget cave spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from forest ecosystems in southern China with the description of three new species

Abstract

This study reports six leptonetid species from three genera collected in karst-associated forest ecosystems of southern China. Three new midget cave spider species are diagnosed, described, and illustrated: Pararana jiufushanensis Yao & K. K. Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀; Fujian Province), P. songyuani Yao & K. K. Liu, sp. nov. (♂; Guangdong Province), and Leptonetela zhaoruii Yao & K. K. Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀; Fujian Province). Notably, the female of P. gaofani Lin & Li, 2022 is described for the first time, while the holotype of P. mingxuani Yao & Liu, 2024 is illustrated with detailed images of the male palpal characters. Additionally, Rhyssoleptoneta lishan Tong, 2024 is newly recorded in Jiangsu Province, expanding its known geographic range. Detailed distribution records are provided for all species, emphasizing southeastern China’s significance as a hotspot for leptonetid diversity and adaptive radiation. These findings refine taxonomic frameworks for karst-associated spiders and enhance understanding of their biogeographic patterns in East Asian karst systems.

Wang Z-J, Liu B-L, Yao Y-B, Shi Y-Y, Liu K-K (2025) Preliminary survey of midget cave spiders (Araneae, Leptonetidae) from forest ecosystems in southern China with the description of three new species. ZooKeys 1247: 187-205. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1247.154546