An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract The genus  Euscorpius  Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of  Euscorpius diagorasi   sp. n. , a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male and 7 in the females, Pv = 7–8, Pe-et = 5–6, and a distinct mitochondrial lineage. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI recovered the Rhodian specimens as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, sister to...

A place for everything, and everything in its place: A new genus for the spiny Australian crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae)

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A place for everything, and everything in its place: A new genus for the spiny Australian crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Abstract

Recent phylogenetic analyses have shown consistent evidences that the composition of some Stephanopinae genera, as well as their distribution, were wrongly assigned throughout the 20th century. Inaccurate descriptions and vague diagnoses resulted in groups that are actually formed by multiple genera, which were repeatedly recovered as polyphylies. The present work is part of a long-term morphological study that aims to better understand and delineate the taxonomic boundaries of the Australian stephanopines. Hereinafter, we present a new combination for a group of spiders hitherto considered as part of Sidymella Strand, 1942, officially elevating it to a generic rank and highlighting its diagnostic features. The genus Spinaarachne gen.nov. is proposed not only to comprise the new species S. aculeata sp. nov. and S. pilosa sp. nov. but also to accommodate the transference of S. hirsuta (L. Koch, 1874) comb. nov. Brief notes regarding the plausible reasons of why S. hirsuta comb. nov. was previously attributed to a Neotropical genus are presented, and new distribution records are also provided.

Machado, M. and R. A. Teixeira. 2025. A place for everything, and everything in its place: A new genus for the spiny Australian crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae). Records of the Australian Museum 77(5): 271-283. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.2201-4349.77.2025.1913