Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov., a new scorpion species from Denizli Province, Turkey (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov., a new scorpion species from Denizli Province, Turkey (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract A new scorpion species, Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov., is described from Denizli Province, in the Aegean Region of western Turkey, based on morphological characters. The species is assigned to the genus Alpiscorpius , based on the presence of three trichobothria in the em series on the external surface of the pedipalp patella. Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from all congeners by its orange-yellow males and brownish-orange females, the presence of distinct ventrolateral carinae on metasomal segment V, six trichobothria in the Pv series, and five trichobothria in the et series. The new species is compared with Alpiscorpius akkayai , A. hakani , and A. honazicus , all of which occur in Denizli Province, as well as with A. huyukensis from Konya Province, its most similar congener. With the description of this new species, the number...

Natural diet, trophic niche and prey selectivity of a euryphagous bark predator, Neotama mexicana (Araneae: Hersiliidae), in a semi-urban forest of Caldas, Colombia

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Natural diet, trophic niche and prey selectivity of a euryphagous bark predator, Neotama mexicana (Araneae: Hersiliidae), in a semi-urban forest of Caldas, Colombia

Abstract

Sit-and-wait predators often exploit resources efficiently by consuming a wide range of prey. This study provides the first assessment of the natural diet and prey selectivity of the spider Neotama mexicana (Hersiliidae) in a tropical humid forest in Manizales, Colombia. Both diurnal and nocturnal surveys were conducted to document actual and potential prey. A total of 102 prey items were recorded. Although no statistically significant positive selectivity was detected at the order level, N. mexicana showed a marked tendency to consume spiders (particularly Clubiona and Anyphaenidae) and a lower tendency to feed on dipterans, hemipterans, hymenopterans, and psocopterans. These findings indicate that N. mexicana is a euryphagous predator, primarily consuming cursorial arthropods. Future studies should determine whether this feeding pattern is common among hersiliids, whether this species possesses morphological or behavioral adaptations for araneophagy, and how prey nutritional quality influences its diet.
Galvis-Cano, Y. A., Gómez, J. Á., Castro, G. R., Aceves-Aparicio, A., Robledo-Ospina, L. E., & García, L. F. (2026). Natural diet, trophic niche and prey selectivity of a euryphagous bark predator, Neotama mexicana (Araneae: Hersiliidae), in a semi-urban forest of Caldas, Colombia. Food Webs, e00438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2026.e00438