Tegenaria naasane Aharon & Gavish-Regev, 2023
Tegenaria naasane is one of seven species of Troglobitic funnel spiders (Agelenidae) currently known from Israel. It is recorded from A’rak Na’asane cave in the northern judean desert.
Tegenaria naasane exhibits troglomorphic traits: discoloration and a complete lack of eyes.
Hunting in this species is accomplished similarly to other agelenids: with a horizontal funnel web.
photo by: Shlomi Aharon
LIve specimen
This species is very similar to the other troglobitic Tegenaria species in Israel, and distinguished by using genital characters. It is the sister species of Tegenaria frumkini from the nearby Ofra karst basin.
Taxonomic Classification
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Agelenidae
Genus: Tegenaria
Species: Tegenaria naasane
Authors: Aharon & Gavish- Regev, 2023
Ecological Classification
Category: Troglobite
Cave zone: Dark
Microhabitat: Near floor, near rocks
Distribution map
Articles about Tegenaria naasane:
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