Contribution to the knowledge of the spider fauna of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae) – Third note. On sixteen new species, and noteworthy records.
Abstract
We present the latest results of our studies on spiders in Morocco, based on material sampled between 2021 and 2025. A total of eight caves were surveyed in the Tazekka NP and the Beni Snassen massif. Several other habitats were also surveyed (e.g., coastal habitats, mixed forests, arid stony grasslands, shrubby slopes, lapiaz, etc.). In total, 40 species belonging to 10 families were recorded. Sixteen species are described as new to science: Agelescape atlas Lecigne sp. nov.; Berlandina campestris Lecigne & Moutaouakil sp. nov.; Dysdera asaahil Lecigne sp. nov.; D. sidimaafa Lecigne sp. nov.; Gorbiscape dayetchiker Lecigne sp. nov.; G. hichamelguerrouji Lecigne sp. nov.; G. littoralis Lecigne sp. nov.; Nomisia tazekka Lecigne sp. nov.; Oecobius diafa Lecigne & Lips sp. nov.; O. tiznit Lecigne sp. nov.; Scotophaeus amicitiae Lecigne, Moutaouakil & Lips sp. nov.; Zelotes pax Lecigne & Moutaouakil sp. nov.; Z. rex Lecigne sp. nov.; Z. subcallidus Lecigne sp. nov.; two of which may be considered troglophile, i.e., Lycosoides jlida Lecigne sp. nov. or troglobitic, i.e., Lepthyphantes s. lat. ntafaghi Lecigne sp. nov. The males of Diplocephalus bosmansi Lecigne, 2025 and Lepthyphantes noeli Barrientos & Brañas, 2024 are described for the first time. The findings of several other species are noteworthy (either endemic or recently described species, but also species with a poorly known taxonomy, ecology or distribution) and hence represent important records for specific knowledge, both at national and local scales, e.g., Gorbiscape amazighus, Zamani & Marusik 2025; Liocranum atlasicum Zamani & Marusik, 2025; Mogrus sahariensis Berland & Millot, 1941; Pecado impudicus (Denis, 1945) or Zodarion maghrebense Bosmans & Benhalima, 2020. It was found that Tetragnatha nitens (Audouin, 1826) (Lecigne et al. 2025: 146, fig. 90c–e) was misidentified and this record refers to Tetragnatha bogotensis Keyserling, 1865. The species is new to Morocco. Zodarion camillae Lecigne, 2025 was transferred to Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 and a new combination was established: A. camillae (Lecigne, 2025) comb. nov. Zelotes scrutatus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) syn. nov. is synonymised with Zelotes erythrocephalus (Lucas, 1846).
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BibTeX
@article{lecigne2026contribution,
title = {{Contribution to the knowledge of the spider fauna of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae) – Third note. On sixteen new species, and noteworthy records.}},
author = {Sylvain Lecigne and Soumia Moutaouakil and Josiane Lips and Nicolas Hénon},
journal = {European Journal of Taxonomy},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.5852/ejt.2026.1067.3292},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05838812v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Contribution to the knowledge of the spider fauna of Morocco (Arachnida: Araneae) – Third note. On sixteen new species, and noteworthy records.
AU - Sylvain Lecigne
AU - Soumia Moutaouakil
AU - Josiane Lips
AU - Nicolas Hénon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/11
JO - European Journal of Taxonomy
DO - 10.5852/ejt.2026.1067.3292
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05838812v1
AB - We present the latest results of our studies on spiders in Morocco, based on material sampled between 2021 and 2025. A total of eight caves were surveyed in the Tazekka NP and the Beni Snassen massif. Several other habitats were also surveyed (e.g., coastal habitats, mixed forests, arid stony grasslands, shrubby slopes, lapiaz, etc.). In total, 40 species belonging to 10 families were recorded. Sixteen species are described as new to science: Agelescape atlas Lecigne sp. nov.; Berlandina campestris Lecigne & Moutaouakil sp. nov.; Dysdera asaahil Lecigne sp. nov.; D. sidimaafa Lecigne sp. nov.; Gorbiscape dayetchiker Lecigne sp. nov.; G. hichamelguerrouji Lecigne sp. nov.; G. littoralis Lecigne sp. nov.; Nomisia tazekka Lecigne sp. nov.; Oecobius diafa Lecigne & Lips sp. nov.; O. tiznit Lecigne sp. nov.; Scotophaeus amicitiae Lecigne, Moutaouakil & Lips sp. nov.; Zelotes pax Lecigne & Moutaouakil sp. nov.; Z. rex Lecigne sp. nov.; Z. subcallidus Lecigne sp. nov.; two of which may be considered troglophile, i.e., Lycosoides jlida Lecigne sp. nov. or troglobitic, i.e., Lepthyphantes s. lat. ntafaghi Lecigne sp. nov. The males of Diplocephalus bosmansi Lecigne, 2025 and Lepthyphantes noeli Barrientos & Brañas, 2024 are described for the first time. The findings of several other species are noteworthy (either endemic or recently described species, but also species with a poorly known taxonomy, ecology or distribution) and hence represent important records for specific knowledge, both at national and local scales, e.g., Gorbiscape amazighus, Zamani & Marusik 2025; Liocranum atlasicum Zamani & Marusik, 2025; Mogrus sahariensis Berland & Millot, 1941; Pecado impudicus (Denis, 1945) or Zodarion maghrebense Bosmans & Benhalima, 2020. It was found that Tetragnatha nitens (Audouin, 1826) (Lecigne et al. 2025: 146, fig. 90c–e) was misidentified and this record refers to Tetragnatha bogotensis Keyserling, 1865. The species is new to Morocco. Zodarion camillae Lecigne, 2025 was transferred to Acanthinozodium Denis, 1966 and a new combination was established: A. camillae (Lecigne, 2025) comb. nov. Zelotes scrutatus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) syn. nov. is synonymised with Zelotes erythrocephalus (Lucas, 1846).
SN - 2118-9773
ER -