Living underground: first record of myrmecophily in a species of tarantula (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Catumiri Guadanucci, 2004)

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  Living underground: first record of myrmecophily in a species of tarantula (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae: Catumiri Guadanucci, 2004) Abstract Myrmecophily is widespread among arthropods but remains poorly documented in spiders, particularly in Mygalomorphae. Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) have not previously been shown to form true myrmecophilous associations, with existing records limited to anecdotal observations. Here, we provide the first robust evidence of myrmecophily in a tarantula, based on combined field and experimental data. Fieldwork in the Ñacuñán Biosphere Reserve (Monte Desert, Argentina) revealed that individuals of a species of Catumiri Guadanucci 2004 inhabit nests of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex lobicornis Emery 1887. Of 45 excavated nests, 16 (35.5%) contained spiders, with a total of 69 individuals recorded. The presence of multiple developmental stages, including early instars cohabiting with adult females, indicates that reproduction and early development ...

A new species of Oecobius and the first record of Uroctea thaleri from Saudi Arabia (Araneae: Oecobiidae)

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A new species of Oecobius and the first record of Uroctea thaleri from Saudi Arabia (Araneae: Oecobiidae)

Abstract

A spider survey in the understudied and endemic-rich Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia recorded two species of Oecobiidae. Oecobius asirensis sp. nov. is described from the mountainous highlands. The new species exhibits marked differences in the morphology of the copulatory organs compared to the generotype, suggesting it may represent a distinct genus. The copulatory organs of Oecobius marathatus are also illustrated, to which the new species is compared. Additionally, Uroctea thaleri Rheims, Santos & van Harten, 2007 is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia.

Vicente, R. (2026) A new species of Oecobius and the first record of Uroctea thaleri from Saudi Arabia (Araneae: Oecobiidae). Zootaxa, 5837 (3), 571–580. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5837.3.9