Tegenaria frumkini Aharon & Gavish-Regev, 2023
Tegenaria frumkini is one of seven species of Troglobitic funnel spiders (Agelenidae) currently known from Israel. It is recorded from three neighboring caves (Neta, Capara, Nof-Amon) in the Ofra karstic basin, in Samaria.
Tegenaria frumkini exhibits troglomorphic traits: discoloration and reduced eyes. All eight eyes are present and encircled in dark pigment.
Hunting in this species is accomplished similarly to other
photo by: Shlomi Aharon
Adult female in Neta cave
Distribution map
agelenids: with a horizontal funnel web. This species is very similar to the other troglobitic Tegenaria species in Israel, and distinguished by using genital characters. The sister species to Tegenaria frumkini is Tegenaria naasane, from the nearby 'Arak Na'asane cave.
Taxonomic Classification
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Agelenidae
Genus: Tegenaria
Species: Tegenaria frumkini
Authors: Aharon & Gavish- Regev, 2023
Ecological Classification
Category: Troglobite
Cave zone: Dark
Microhabitat: Near floor, near rocks
Articles about Tegenaria frumkini:
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