Tegenaria gainesteros Aharon & Gavish-Regev, 2023
Tegenaria gainesteros is one of seven species of Troglobitic funnel spiders (Agelenidae) currently known from Israel. It is recorded from an ancient tunnel near Ein Sarig, in the judean mountains.
Tegenaria gainesteros exhibits troglomorphic traits: discoloration and reduced eyes. All eight eyes are present.
Hunting in this species is accomplished similarly to other agelenids: with a horizontal funnel web.
photo by: Shlomi Aharon
Adult female on web
Distribution map
This species is very similar to the other troglobitic Tegenaria species in Israel, and distinguished by using genital characters.
Taxonomic Classification
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Agelenidae
Genus: Tegenaria
Species: Tegenaria gainesteros
Authors: Aharon & Gavish- Regev, 2023
Ecological Classification
Category: Troglobite
Cave zone: Twilight, dark
Microhabitat: Near floor, near rocks
Articles about Tegenaria gainesteros:
Aharon, S., Ballesteros, J. A., Gainett, G., Hawlena, D., Sharma, P. P., & Gavish-Regev, E. (2023). In the land of the blind: exceptional subterranean speciation of cryptic troglobitic spiders of the genus Tegenaria (Araneae: Agelenidae) in Israel. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 107705.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107705