Filistata betarif Magalhaes, Aharon, Ganem & Gavish-Regev, 2022
photo by: Shlomi Aharon
Filistata betarif is a large and conspicuous species of crevice-weaver spider, known only from in and around two caves in the Samarian foothills. It makes small silken retreats in holes in the rock, and under stones.
Filistata betarif was found to be closely related to the common species Filistata insidiatrix (Forskål, 1775), which it closely resembles. The two species differ genomically, and the males of the species differ by
photo by: Ivan Magalhaes
Male
Distribution map
Silken retreats in a rock
details of their genitalia, but the females cannot be separated based on morphology.
Accession in the World Spider Catalog:
Taxonomic Classification
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Filistatidae
Genus: Filistata
Species: Filistata betarif
Authors: Magalhaes, Aharon, Ganem & Gavish- Regev, 2022
Articles about Filistata betarif:
Magalhaes, I. L., Aharon, S., Ganem, Z., & Gavish-Regev, E. (2022). A new semi-cryptic Filistata from caves in the Levant with comments on the limits of Filistata insidiatrix (Forsskål, 1775)(Arachnida: Araneae: Filistatidae). European Journal of Taxonomy, 831(149), 149-174.
Ecological Classification
Category: Troglophile
Cave zone: Entrance, outside
Microhabitat: In walls, under stones