Different, but still the same: integrative taxonomy confirms a new species of Eresus Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae, Eresidae) from the South Caucasus

By

Zamani, Alireza
Seropian, Armen
Zarikian, Noushig
Bulbulashvili, Natalia
Szuts, Tamas

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-8-12

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1249

Pages

1--13

Subjects

Biodiversity hotspot , integrative taxonomy , ladybird spiders , Transcaucasia

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1249.159081

 

Abstract

This study represents the first step toward a systematic revision of the velvet spider genus Eresus Walckenaer, 1805 in the Caucasus. Here, Eresus transcaucasicus sp. nov. is described using an integrative approach, based on male specimens collected from the South Caucasus. The species was previously reported as E. kollari Rossi, 1846 from Armenia and as Eresus sp. from Georgia. Intraspecific variations in both coloration patterns and conductor shape, which have been rarely documented in this genus, are illustrated. The validity of previous records of E. kollari in the region is discussed.