First catalog of spiders of Egypt (Araneae)

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  First catalog of spiders of Egypt (Araneae) Abstract This study provides a comprehensive catalog of the spider fauna of Egypt, comprising 389 species assigned to 197 genera and 40 families. For each species, all published locality records are compiled and accompanied by complete bibliographic references. The dataset has been carefully reviewed and critically evaluated in light of the most recent taxonomic and faunistic information. Among the recorded species, 55 (14.13%) are currently known only from Egypt and are thus considered endemic. Based on the World Spider Catalog (2026), 28 species are treated as nomina dubia, 23 species lack confirmed records from Egypt, which is not correct, 10 have to be omitted from the Egyptian list and 8 are species inquirenda. Despite the relatively high number of documented species, the Egyptian araneofauna remains insufficiently explored. Given the country’s ecological diversity and biogeographical position, further research is expected to signi...

The taxonomic status of two poorly described Chinese spiders: Cheiracanthium gobi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Cheiracanthidae) and Alopecosa hoevelsi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Lycosidae)

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The taxonomic status of two poorly described Chinese spiders: Cheiracanthium gobi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Cheiracanthidae) and Alopecosa hoevelsi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Abstract

Schmidt & Barensteiner (2000) described three spiders from the Gobi Desert in China: Cheiracanthium gobi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Cheiricanthiidae) based on a holotype male and one paratype male, Drassodes aenigmaticus Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Gnaphosidae) based on a holotype female, and Alopecosa hoevelsi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Lycosidae) based on a holotype female. As is common for works by Günter Schmidt, the figures are of poor quality, and female genitalia are haphazardly preserved on slides, often marring their quality. The descriptions of all species consist of a single genitalic figure for each species: a dorsal view of the vulva of A. hoevelsi from an unorthodox angle, and a schematic draw ing of the palp of C. gobi in ventral view. The description of D. aenigmaticus features a more orthodox (but not straight) view of the dorsal view of the vulva, and a dorsal habitus of the female in vivo. Song, Zhu & Zhang (2004) synonymized D. aenigmaticus with Drassodes auritus Schenkel, 1963, which has been recognised by subsequent workers (World Spider Catalog 2026). In this work, we digitized the holotypes of the two unresolved species described by Schmidt & Barensteiner (2002), deposited in the Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany (SMF), and reassessed their taxonomic status.

Acknowledgment: I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Danni Sherwood for providing the complete manuscript.

Sherwood, Danniella & Geci, Donard & Lin, Yejie. (2026). The taxonomic status of two poorly described Chinese spiders: Cheiracanthium gobi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Cheiracanthidae) and Alopecosa hoevelsi Schmidt & Barensteiner, 2000 (Araneae: Lycosidae). Arachnology. 20. 513-514.