Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain

  Hidden diversity in plain sight: four new species of Nemesia (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) from the Córdoba Province of Spain Abstract A taxonomic revision of the species of Nemesia Audouin, 1826, distributed in the vicinity of Córdoba City, southern Spain, is presented. Four new species are described: Nemesia morana sp. nov. (female), N. kodama sp. nov. (male and female), N. rosae sp. nov. (male and female), and N. tamajoni sp. nov. (male and female). These species are distinguished by distinct morphological characters, including the shape of the spermathecae, palpal bulbs, and spinnerets, as well as by burrow architecture. Fieldwork was conducted across two of the three major habitat types in the region—the humid, forested mountains of Sierra Morena and the croplands and riparian forests of the Guadalquivir Valley—while the third, the “campiña”, which is mainly composed of agricultural landscapes, remains poorly explored. Sampling methods included pitfall trapping and the direct e...

Spiders of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park and Foresto Ravine Natural Reserve (NW Italy): a faunistic synthesis with data from the “Biodiversity Monitoring Project”

 


Spiders of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park and Foresto Ravine Natural Reserve (NW Italy): a faunistic synthesis with data from the “Biodiversity Monitoring Project”

We present an inventory of the spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) inhabiting the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park and the Foresto Ravine Nature Reserve (NW Italy). This work combines data from bibliographic sources, unpublished material, and new sampling carried out between 2018 and 2019 as part of the “Biodiversity Monitoring Project,” supplemented by verified iNaturalist observations. In total, we report 212 species belonging to 128 genera and 32 families, including 12 new records for Piedmont. The Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859 and the Gnaphosidae Banks, 1892 are the most represented families, as in other Alpine parks. Most species exhibit Palearctic or European distributions, with a small proportion being endemic, including rare species such as Rhode testudinea Pesarini, 1984, for which new morphological illustrations are provided. The new data presented here allowed us to investigate species richness and abundance along altitudinal gradients, revealing different patterns between transects. In addition, we conducted an indicator species analysis to identify key species within the altitudinal zonation. Beyond the faunal contribution, we emphasize the importance of faunal inventories as a baseline for future studies on the conservation ecology of spiders, particularly within protected areas.

TOLVE M., Rizzioli B., PANE A. & ISAIA M. 2026. — Spiders of the Orsiera Rocciavrè Natural Park and Foresto Ravine Natural Reserve (NW Italy): a faunistic synthesis with data from the “Biodiversity Monitoring Project”. Zoosystema  48 (6): 139-195. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2026v48a6 . http://zoosystema.com/48/6