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

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  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...

A New Species of Scorpio from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)

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A New Species of Scorpio from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) 

Abstract

A new species of Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 is described from Al Ula Governorate, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia. Scorpio furvus sp. nov. is distinguished from closely related congeners, including S. fuscus, S. kruglovi, S. palmatus, S. jordanensis, and S. yemenensis, by a unique combination of morphological characters notably the granulation pattern of the pedipalp chela, metasomal proportions, pectinal structure and length, and overall dark coloration. Morphometric comparisons further support its distinct status. The discovery of this species highlights the underestimated diversity of the genus Scorpio in the Arabian Peninsula and reinforces the view that the Scorpio maurus complex comprises multiple geographically restricted taxa requiring continued integrative taxonomic investigation.

Aloufi, A., Afifeh, B. A., Al-Saraireh, M., & Amr, Z. S. (2026). A New Species of Scorpio from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Taxonomy, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/taxonomy6020026