Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae)

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  Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae) Abstract Trechaleidae is a family of spiders often recognized by its semiaquatic species, but its diversity extends beyond these well-known examples. In this study, we describe Troglotrechalea gen. nov. , a new genus with two novel species, T. faleroae spec. nov. and T. agorai spec. nov. , found exclusively in subterranean habitats within karst formations in central and southeastern Brazil. Both species exhibit pale coloration, but unmodified eyes and legs if compared to other species in the family. The slight degree of troglomorphism, along with their geographic and habitat records, suggests that these species are restricted to hypogean habitats, although they probably move through epigean habitats. Additionally, we report in detail the occurrence of the trechaleid genera Enna O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, Heidrunea Brescovi...

On a new genus of the fossorial wolf spiders from Middle Asia (Araneae, Lycosidae)

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On a new genus of the fossorial wolf spiders from Middle Asia (Araneae, Lycosidae)

Abstract

A new genus, Desertosa gen. nov., is established to accommodate six Middle Asian species of burrowing wolf spiders, of which four are diagnosed and described as new: D. karamola sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan), D. kuramin sp. nov. (female, SE Uzbekistan), D. ozernoyi sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan), D. zyuzini sp. nov. (male, female, SE Kazakhstan). Two new combinations are proposed: Desertosa kuryk (Esyunin & Efimik, 2025), comb. nov. and D. uzbekistanica (Logunov, 2023), comb. nov.; both ex Lycosa Latreille, 1804. The localities of all Desertosa species are mapped, and an identification key is provided as well. A brief synopsis of the fauna and diversity of the fossorial Lycosidae of Middles Asia is given.

Logunov, D.V. & Nekhaeva, A.A. (2026) On a new genus of the fossorial wolf spiders from Middle Asia (Araneae, Lycosidae). Zootaxa, 5782 (2), 283–312. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5782.2.3