Distributional Notes on Three Wolf Spider Species (Araneae: Lycosidae) Recorded for the First Time in Diyala Province, Iraq

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  Distributional Notes on Three Wolf Spider Species (Araneae: Lycosidae) Recorded for the First Time in Diyala Province, Iraq Abstract This study presents new distributional data for three wolf spider species (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Diyala Province in eastern Iraq. Specimens were gathered from different districts and habitats between July 2025 and June 2026. The species Arctosa tbilisiensis Mcheidze, 1946, Lycosa piochardi Simon, 1876, and Wadicosa fidelis (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) are recorded for the first time in Diyala, extending their known ranges within Iraq. The paper describes key diagnostic morphological features and includes information about the examined specimens and their local distributions. These findings improve knowledge of the distribution of Iraqi Lycosidae and reveal that Diyala Province, despite its habitat variety, remains insufficiently studied. The records serve as a valuable baseline for future taxonomic, faunistic, and ecological research on spiders i...

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the jumping spider Spartaeus platnicki

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Chromosome-level genome assembly of the jumping spider Spartaeus platnicki


Abstract

Jumping spiders, a diverse and charismatic group of invertebrates, are renowned for their highly specialized visual systems, complex courtship behaviours, and broad ecological adaptability. However, the persistent lack of high-quality genomic resources has hindered investigations into the genetic basis and phenotypic evolution of these key traits. To address this gap, we performed a de novo assembly of a chromosome-level genome for Spartaeus platnicki, a species representing the basal lineages of jumping spiders. This assembly, achieved by integrating PacBio HiFi long reads, Illumina short reads, RNA-seq, and Hi-C data, comprises 15 pseudo-chromosomes including the X1 and X2 sex chromosomes, spanning a total length of 3.71 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 262 Mb and a BUSCO completeness of 98.60%. Repetitive elements account for approximately 65.57% of the genome. We annotated 15,660 protein-coding genes, achieving a BUSCO completeness of 97.60%. This high-quality genome establishes a foundational resource for investigating the genetic architecture underlying key traits and their phenotypic evolution in jumping spiders.

Yang, Z., Chen, A., Zhang, F., & Zhang, J. (2026). Chromosome-level genome assembly of the jumping spider Spartaeus platnicki. Scientific Data. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-07685-3