How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae)

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  How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae) Abstract The taxonomic history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch 1871 is revised; it is a species long affected by misidentifications since 1871. New material from Monte Abantos, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid (Spain) is analyzed, providing the first descriptions of males, adult females, and burrow structure—particularly relevant given that the holotype seems to be an immature specimen. Morphology of copulatory organs and the distinctive burrow architecture allow clear differentiation from other morphologically related species. Finally, the historical chain of misidentifications is examined, along with its implications for Iberian nemesiid diversity and taxonomy. Pertegal, C., Narro, A. & Olivares, P. (2026) How to ensure a species remains in oblivion: the history of Nemesia hispanica L. Koch, 1871 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Nemesiidae). Zootaxa , 5869...

Thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale: novel insights and comparative analysis with a sympatric species

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Thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale: novel insights and comparative analysis with a sympatric species

Abstract

Understanding thermal responses in ectotherms is key to assessing vulnerability to climate change. Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) are informative models due to their sedentary lifestyle, long life cycles, and reliance on specific microhabitats. We present the first integrative assessment of the thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale, a widespread Argentine species, combining experimentally derived thermal limits and thermal preferences with species distribution models, and compare its thermal profile with the sympatric Grammostola vachoni to explore patterns of thermal niche differentiation. Plesiopelma longisternale showed a minimum thermal limit near 4 °C, a maximum near 44 °C, a thermal optimum of 29.5 °C, a narrow thermal performance breadth, and a preferred temperature of approximately 32 °C. Models integrating climatic and thermal parameters predicted strong reductions in climatically suitable habitat under future warming scenarios, exceeding 70% by 2060–2080 and 80% by 2081–2100, with increased habitat fragmentation. Comparisons with G. vachoni revealed partial divergence in thermal strategies, consistent with differences in reproductive phenology. Overall, P. longisternale may be particularly sensitive to warming due to its narrower thermal performance range and more limited upper thermal tolerance. Implication for insect conservation: Our results indicate that integrating thermal physiology into distribution models improves assessments of climatic vulnerability in sedentary arthropods and highlights mountain systems as potential climatic refugia under future warming.

Leonela, S., de Villalobos, A.E. & Nelson, F. Thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale: novel insights and comparative analysis with a sympatric species. J Insect Conserv 30, 67 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-026-00799-4