Remarkable micro-endemism and high congeneric richness: eight new cave-restricted species of Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the Brazilian semi-arid

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  Remarkable micro-endemism and high congeneric richness: eight new cave-restricted species of Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the Brazilian semi-arid Abstract Eight new species of pseudoscorpions belonging to the genus Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 are described from the semi-arid region of Brazil. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, diagnostic characters, detailed illustrations, and ecological remarks of the habitats are provided for Pseudochthonius celestialis sp. nov., P. caritas sp. nov., P. patientia sp. nov., P. temperantia sp. nov., P. diligentia sp. nov., P. castitas sp. nov., P. humilitas sp. nov., and P. benignitas sp. nov. In addition, we present a brief discussion of the potential factors underlying the remarkable congeneric species richness observed in this geographically restricted region, as well as the principal threats faced by these species. These findings underscore the importance of conserving caves in order to pr...

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