Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution

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  Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution Abstract The Savignia genus group includes nine morphologically complex yet similar genera where species were assigned based mainly on the cephalic lobes. Among these genera, males of Diplocephalus Bertkau, 1883, Savignia Blackwall, 1833 and Araeoncus Simon, 1884 show some of the most extraordinary cephalic lobes among dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae, Erigoninae). In this study we undertake the first phylogenetic analysis of the Savignia genus group. We use 269 morphological characters (175 newly defined) and 70 taxa (59 ingroup taxa) to reconstruct the relationships and evolutionary trends of cephalic lobes in this lineage. Our findings show that cephalic lobes with varying shapes and sizes appear in several Savignia genus group lineages, highlighting that it is not a good diagnostic character. The high support in several clades allows the redefinition of t...

First catalog of spiders of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae): A critical review of all spider species cited from Morocco with their localities

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First catalog of spiders of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae): A critical review of all spider species cited from Morocco with their localities

Abstract

Following the recent publication of the first checklist of spiders in Morocco recorded between 1840 and 2024 (Benhalima & Bosmans 2024), the authors have cataloged all the species mentioned and supplemented this list with others published up to January 2026. The authors present the first catalog of spider species in Morocco, documenting 638 species belonging to 246 genera and 47 families including 180 endemics. According to the World Spider Catalog (2026) and the present work, 63 species are not included, 7 species of dubious origin are not omitted from the catalog. For each species, a detailed list of all localities cited in the literature is provided, along with full references. All data are examined and critically analyzed using the most recent available information.

Benhalima, S. & Bosmans, R. (2026) First catalog of spiders of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae): A critical review of all spider species cited from Morocco with their localities. Zootaxa , 5838 (1), 1–127. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5838.1.1