Illustrated Taxonomic Key of Terrestrial Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) Inhabiting Assiut Governorate, Upper Egypt

Gehad Aboulnasr,Naser El-Shimy,Ahmad Obuid-Allah,Elamier Hussien

doi:10.21608/eajbsz.2019.61219

Abstract

Spiders have strong effect on the density of insect populations and have been shown to limit insect pests in the agricultural environment. On reviewing literature that focused on the Egyptian spider’s fauna, it could be concluded that the correct identification of many spider species is considered problematic due to complex variations in morphology and lack of systematic studies. Thus, the present study was aimed to design a key to facilitate identification of true spiders using their morphological characteristics and make a catalogue for different families and species inhabiting Assiut governorate; the central part of Upper Egypt (27o14' N and 31o11' E) and lies within the arid belt of North Africa. Samples of spiders were collected monthly during a period of one year (from December 2015 till November 2016) from six different sites covering Assiut governorate using hand picking method. Survey results revealed the occurrence of 3457 specimens belonging to 22 families that included 42 genera and 47 species. Out of these species, 40 species are considered as new locality records at Assiut Governorate.

Highlights

IntroductionSpiders (order: Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom
The evolution of spiders has been going on for at least 380 million years since the first true spiders evolved from crab-like chelicerate ancestors (Garrison et al, 2016).Taxonomists recognized more than 48,300 spider species embracing 119 families described so far and many thousands of species still awaiting discovery and description (World Spider Catalog, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Spiders (order: Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. Spiders can be found in most habitats and lifestyles; they can be found thriving in parks, blanketing bushes along city streets, in arid regions and wetlands, in lowlands and mountains, in cold tundra, in hot equatorial regions and everywhere. They are mostly terrestrial but include one aquatic species and a few inhabitants of tidal zones, in addition to

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