First chance to see: New jumping-spider species from Batanta, Indonesia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini)

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  First chance to see: New jumping-spider species from Batanta, Indonesia (Araneae, Salticidae, Euophryini) Abstract The first spider records of Batanta, Birie, and Arefi islands, Raja Ampat, Indonesia are presented in this study. Three new species in the genus Canama Simon, 1903, Canama horobi sp. nov . (male), Canama limagigi sp. nov . (male) and Canama wanita sp. nov . (female) are described. Two Indonesian salticids, originally placed in Bathippus Thorell, 1892 and known from their original descriptions only, Bathippus dentiferellus Strand, 1911 and Bathippus seltuttensis Strand, 1911, are redescribed and illustrated. Due to their morphological similarity to the type species, three new combinations have been proposed: Canama dentiferellus (Strand, 1911), comb. nov ., Canama seltuttensis (Strand, 1911), comb. nov . and Canama dilanians (Thorell, 1881), comb. nov . To confirm the phylogenetic placement of the new species, we carried out a small phylogenetic anal...

First record of troglobitic Bothriuridae (Scorpiones) in Australia from the Pilbara

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First record of troglobitic Bothriuridae (Scorpiones) in Australia from the Pilbara

Abstract

We report the first troglobitic members of the scorpion family Bothriuridae from Australia, discovered in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and provide a brief review of Australian troglofaunal scorpions. Scorpions are rare in subterranean ecosystems, with only 28 species recorded globally. Two described and two undescribed subterranean scorpion species were previously known from Australia. The Pilbara specimen documented herein exhibit pronounced troglomorphic traits, including complete loss of ocelli and pigmentation and weakened/diminished appendages, consistent with obligate subterranean adaptation. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses place the specimen within Bothriuridae. Photographs, collection details, and molecular data are provided. Together with a previously collected undescribed bothriurid from the Pilbara, this discovery represents the first documented troglobitic Bothriuridae globally. Formal taxonomic treatment will follow in a subsequent dedicated study.

Curran M, Rodman S, Huey J, Floeckner S, Gunawardene N, Lythe M, Main D (2026) First record of troglobitic Bothriuridae (Scorpiones) in Australia from the Pilbara. Subterranean Biology 56: 85-101. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.56.190758