Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

New data on spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Armenia, including a unique case of palpal teratology

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Alireza Zamani 1
Armine Manvel Kosyan 2
Yuri Marusik 3, 4
1 Zoological Museum, Department of Biodiversity Sciences, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
2 Faculty of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
3 Institute for Biological Problems of the North, FEB RAS, Magadan, Russia
4 Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
10.48311/jibs.12.04.725
Abstract
New taxonomic and faunistic data on spiders (Araneae) of Armenia and the Caucasus are presented. One new species, Titanoeca urartica sp. nov. (♂; Titanoecidae), and the previously unknown female of Dipoenoides emiliae (Lecigne, 2023) (Theridiidae) are described, and 21 genera (Araneidae: Leviellus Dahl, 1901; Siwa Grasshoff, 1970; Gnaphosidae: Phaeocedus Simon, 1893; Sosticus Chamberlin, 1922; Linyphiidae: Asthenargus Simon & Fage, 1922; Dismodicus Simon, 1884; Gonatium Menge, 1868; Pocadicnemis Simon, 1884; Sauron Eskov, 1995; Savignia Blackwall, 1833; Stemonyphantes Menge, 1866; Trichoncus Simon, 1884; Lycosidae: Evippa Simon, 1882; Piratula Roewer, 1960; Salticidae: Leptorchestes Thorell, 1870; Sibianor Logunov, 2001; Tetragnathidae: Pachygnatha Sundevall, 1823; Theridiidae: Crustulina Menge, 1868; Dipoenoides Archer, 1941; Lasaeola Simon, 1881; Titanoecidae: Titanoeca Thorell, 1870) and 39 species are recorded from Armenia for the first time. Six species (D. emiliae; D. schwendingeri (Zamani & Marusik, 2021); Evarcha insularis (Metzner, 1999) [Salticidae]; Evippa luteipalpis Roewer, 1955; Spermophora senoculatoides Senglet, 2008 [Pholcidae]; and Steatoda trianguloides Levy, 1991 [Theridiidae]) are recorded from the Caucasus for the first time, with S. senoculatoides also newly recorded from Azerbaijan. Additionally, a unique case of male palpal teratology is reported and illustrated in an unidentified species of Pardosa C.L. Koch, 1847 (Lycosidae). Considering the results of the present study, the spider fauna of Armenia now comprises 366 species in 189 genera and 38 families.

Graphical Abstract

New data on spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Armenia, including a unique case of palpal teratology
Keywords
Azerbaijan
Caucasus
faunistics
new record
new species
Transcaucasia
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Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

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Available Online from 06 September 2026