A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
A new species of ant-eating spider (Araneae: Zodariidae) from the Kyzylkum Desert of Uzbekistan, with colour variation possibly associated with substrate
Authors: Fomichev, Alexander A.; Zamani, Alireza
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Journal of Natural History
Volume: 60
Issue: 21-24
First page : 1181
Last page: 1191
ISSN: 0022-2933
eISSN: 1464-5262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2655399
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2655399
A new species of ant-eating spider, Zodariellum gromovi sp. n. (male, female; Zodariidae), is diagnosed, illustrated and described from the central part of the Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan. The new species, collected from three localities, exhibits considerable colour variation that appears to be correlated with the type of substrate it inhabits. The potential for these colour morphs to represent independent lineages is briefly discussed, and the distribution of Zodariellum species in Uzbekistan is mapped.
Funding information in the publication:
The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.
