Osman Seyyar

Updated Checklist of Ground Spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) of Turkey, with Zoogeographical and Faunistic Remarks

Abstract This faunistic list of ground spider fauna from Turkey includes published records and original data. Eleven species are new to Turkish araneofauna. With this study, a total of 107 species belonging to 26 genera of Gnaphosidae have been recorded from Turkey until the present time. For each species zoogeographical distribution is given. A zoogeographical classification is constructed according to the current distribution of species. The largest groups are those of the widely distributed Palearctic and Europian-Asian.

A new spider of the genus Troglohyphantes (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from a Turkish cave

Abstract A new species of Troglohyphantes Joseph, 1881 is described from Turkey. Differences between the new species and related species are discussed. The morphological characters to distinguish this species from the closely related species are indicated and illustrated. Notes on the habitat and some SEM photographs of this species are also given.

SEVEN NEW RECORDS FOR THE TURKISH ARANEOFAUNA (ARACHNIDA: ARANEAE), WITH ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REMARKS

Arachnological studies of Turkey began towards the end of the 19th century. The spider fauna of Turkey needs further study. To date, 613 species of spiders have been recorded from Turkey (Topcu et al., 2005). In this paper, we add seven species to the spider fauna of Turkey. For each taxon, the paper includes zoogeographical remarks and chorotype information. The specimens were collected from different parts of Turkey using pitfall traps and manual collection. Examined specimens are deposited in the Arachnology Museum of Nigde University (NUAM). The specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. The identification was made with a ZX61 Olympus stereomicroscope. The keys of Heimer and Nentwig (1991) and Roberts (1995) were used to identify all specimens. General distribution of all species follows Platnick (2007). The Range section indicates the actual known distribution for each taxon. The species distribution within Turkey is summarized in Remarks. The Chorotype, or zoogeographical characterization for the species, is given following Taglianti et. al. (1999). One chorotype designation is identified for each taxon.

New records of ground spiders (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Anatolia

In this study, most of the specimens were obtained from pitfall traps and from under stones in Central Turkey. The specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. The specimens examined are deposited in the Arachnology Museum of Ni de University, Turkey (NUAM). The identification and drawings were made with a SZX9 Olympus stereomicroscope with camera lucida. For the identification of species, the papers by CHATZAKI et al. (2002–2003) and LEVY (1998, 1999) were consulted. All measurements are in millimetres.

A New Species of Palliduphantes from Turkish Caves (Araneae: Linyphiidae)

ABSTRACT A new species of Palliduphantes Saaristo and Tanasevitch in 2001 is described from Turkey. Differences between the new species and related species are discussed.

Mimetus laevigatus (Keyserling, 1863), a species new for the araneofauna of Turkey (Araneae, Mimetidae)

The Mimetidae is a worldwide family of araneophagic spiders. Some species also feed on insect prey captured by other spiders and, rarely, on non-snared insects. The family is characterised by a distinctive row of spines on the prolateral side of the metatarsus and tibia of the first two pairs of legs in all females and most males (CUTLER 1999). More than 150 species belonging to 12 genera of Mimetidae have been described (PLATNICK 2004). Only Ero aphana (Walckenaer, 1802) has previously been recorded from this family in Turkey (KAROL 1966, BAYRAM 2002). This brief paper reports Mimetus laevigatus (Keyserling, 1863) for the first time from Turkey. Specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. Drawings were made by means of a stereomicroscope SZX9 Olympus with camera lucida. All measurements are in millimetres. Identification was made according to SIMON (1932). All specimens are deposited in the Arachnology Museum of Ni de University (NUAM). Material: Ni de prov., Maden village (34°37’E, 37°26’N), 1 , June 2002, from shrubs. – Mersin prov., Gülek district (34°48’E, 37°11’N), 2 , July 2002, collected from annual plants. Description: Carapace yellowish-light brown, longer than wide, with median black stripe. Opisthosoma greyish, spherical, with yellow spots, transverse black lateral bands and long hairs. Chelicerae light brown, rather long, with some wide black spots. Legs yellowishbrown, with black spots. Tibiae and metatarsi of front legs with a series of long curved spines alternating with short ones. Colulus present. Anterior spinnerets longer than posterior spinnerets.

The Endemism Situation of Turkish Harvestmen (Opiliones) Fauna

In this study, the Turkish opilionid fauna is evaluated in terms of endemism and it is aimed that this group reveals the present situation and the importance in the biological richness of Turkey. For this purpose, studies on the harvestmen in our country were examined and 35 species and 2 subspecies belonging to 6 families were identified as endemic. Distribution of these species by families and genera is determined and shown graphically.

Türkiye Otbiçen (Opiliones) Faunasının Endemizm Durumu

Bu calismada, Turkiye opilionid faunasi endemizm acisindan degerlendirilmekte ve bu grubun Turkiye’nin biyolojik zenginligi icindeki mevcut durumu ve onemi ortaya konulmasi amaclanmistir. Bu amacla ulkemiz otbicenleri uzerine yapilmis olan calismalar incelenmis ve 6 familyaya ait 35 tur ve 2 alt turun endemik oldugu tespit edilmistir. Bu turlerin familya ve cinslere gore dagilimi belirlenmis ve grafiklerle gosterilmistir.Bu calismada, Turkiye opilionid faunasi endemizm acisindan degerlendirilmekte ve bu grubun Turkiye’nin biyolojik zenginligi icindeki mevcut durumu ve onemi ortaya konulmasi amaclanmistir. Bu amacla ulkemiz otbicenleri uzerine yapilmis olan calismalar incelenmis ve 6 familyaya ait 35 tur ve 2 alt turun endemik oldugu tespit edilmistir. Bu turlerin familya ve cinslere gore dagilimi belirlenmis ve grafiklerle gosterilmistir.

Peucetia Thorell, 1869 – a genus new for the Turkish spider fauna (Araneae: Oxyopidae)

Lynx spiders of the family Oxyopidae are long-legged, diurnal, hunting spiders, capable of running very rapidly on low vegetation and also jumping on their prey (ROBERTS 1995). The Oxyopidae is a small family, which contains 426 species in 9 genera worldwide (PLATNICK 2009). Six species have been recorded in Turkey: Oxyopes globifer Simon, 1876, O. heterophthalmus (Latreille, 1804), O. lineatus Latreille, 1806, O. nigripalpis Kulczy ski, 1891, O. pigmentatus Simon, 1890 and O. ramosus (Martini & Goeze, 1778) (TOPCU et al. 2005, 2006). Although the Turkish spider fauna is known to consist of 613 species belonging to 43 families (TOPCU et al. 2005), so far no member of the genus Peucetia Thorell, 1869 has been recorded. In this study, we are recording the first representative of this genus, P. virescens (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872), as new to the spider fauna of Turkey. Peucetia is closely related to Schaenicoscelis Simon, 1898, from which it differs by having the thoracic region of the carapace as high as the cephalic region, and by the presence of 5 spines at the apex of the metatarsi. Peucetia is more similar to Tapinillus, from which it can be differentiated by having the clypeal height larger than the ocular area length and by the procurved posterior eye row (straight in Tapinillus) (SANTOS & BRESCOVIT 2003).

Contribution to the jumping spider fauna of Turkey

This species is typical for the Western and Central Mediterranean Basin but was not previously recorded for the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (KRAPP et al. 2008). In the Western and Central Mediterranean Sea it was found off Spain (North of the Ebro river, Gerona, Medas Islands), France (Provence), Italy (Liguria, North Tyrrhenian Sea (Latium), Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Campania), South Tyrrhenian Sea (northern Sicily), Gulf of Naples) and northern Tunisia (Tabarca) (BOUVIER 1923, ARNAUD 1987, CHIMENZ & LATTANZI 2003). On Turkish coasts, 24 pycnogonid species have previously been reported (KRAPP et al. 2008). This new record also represents the first occurrence of the genus Ascorhynchus for the Eastern Mediterranean Basin.