We provide an outline of the current knowledge on the Italian spider fauna, based on the compilation of a new updated national checklist. The checklist, that will be soon available online, provides information about the general distribution and the presence of each taxa in continental Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. Data were gathered from more than 900 papers. The number of specific or subspecific taxa currently reported for Italy is 1609, grouped in 420 genera and 53 families (nomenclature updated). More than one hundred species were excluded from the list being specie inquirendae or based on uncertain bibliographical sources. When analyzing the species distribution, a remarkable amount of endemic species (318, 19.7%) stands out, most of them (206) being recorded exclusively within the national borders. The major districts of endemism are represented by the Alpine and the Apenninic chain, the Adriatic and the Thyrrenian coast (including Corsica, Sardinia and the Western coast of the peninsula) and Sicily. Nearly half of the Italian endemic species (99) are solely cited in the original description, 125 are known for two or three localities and 67 are recorded in the type locality only. In 54 cases only one sex is described. Most of the recent arachnological researches in Italy (1995‐2013) focused on the northern part of the peninsula, for which a satisfactory understanding has been achieved. On the other hand, Central and southern Italy (including the main islands) exhibit a remarkable lack of knowledge. In this respect, researches in the Mediterranean area are particularly needed. Despite the unbalance between north and south, Italy stands out for being one of the richest countries in terms of araneological diversity in Europe.
An overview on the Italian spider fauna based on the new national checklist
ISAIA, MARCO
2014-01-01
Abstract
We provide an outline of the current knowledge on the Italian spider fauna, based on the compilation of a new updated national checklist. The checklist, that will be soon available online, provides information about the general distribution and the presence of each taxa in continental Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. Data were gathered from more than 900 papers. The number of specific or subspecific taxa currently reported for Italy is 1609, grouped in 420 genera and 53 families (nomenclature updated). More than one hundred species were excluded from the list being specie inquirendae or based on uncertain bibliographical sources. When analyzing the species distribution, a remarkable amount of endemic species (318, 19.7%) stands out, most of them (206) being recorded exclusively within the national borders. The major districts of endemism are represented by the Alpine and the Apenninic chain, the Adriatic and the Thyrrenian coast (including Corsica, Sardinia and the Western coast of the peninsula) and Sicily. Nearly half of the Italian endemic species (99) are solely cited in the original description, 125 are known for two or three localities and 67 are recorded in the type locality only. In 54 cases only one sex is described. Most of the recent arachnological researches in Italy (1995‐2013) focused on the northern part of the peninsula, for which a satisfactory understanding has been achieved. On the other hand, Central and southern Italy (including the main islands) exhibit a remarkable lack of knowledge. In this respect, researches in the Mediterranean area are particularly needed. Despite the unbalance between north and south, Italy stands out for being one of the richest countries in terms of araneological diversity in Europe.
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