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Eight new harpacteine species, Dasumia antalyaensis sp. nov. (), D. capacii sp. nov. (), D. yagmuri sp. nov. (), Harpactea bilecenoglui sp. nov. (), H. elvericii sp. nov. (), H. bilgenur sp. nov. (), H. kankilicorum sp. nov. () and H. yanardagi sp. nov. () are described from the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Among three new species of Dasumia, D. antalyaensis sp. nov. and D. capacii sp. nov. are related to other congeners known from Turkey, while D. yagmuri sp. nov. is quite different from other known Dasumia species. Among five new species of Harpactea, three species; H. bilecenoglui sp. nov., H. elvericii sp. nov. and H. yanardagi sp. nov., due to their spiniform emboli, are close to H. sanctaeinsulae and H. isaurica, previously described from Turkey. Two other new speciess, H. bilgenur sp. nov. and H. kankilicorum sp. nov., exhibit the characteristics of the rubicunda species group like almost all of the Turkish Harpactea. However, these two new species have a more complex palp structure.

Macroecologists seek to identify drivers of community turnover ( β -diversity) through broad spatial scales. However, the influence of local habitat features in driving broad-scale β -diversity patterns remains largely untested, owing to the objective challenges of associating local-scale variables to continental-framed datasets. We examined the relative contribution of local- versus broad-scale drivers of continental β -diversity patterns, using a uniquely suited dataset of cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe (35-70° latitude). Generalized dissimilarity modelling showed that geographical distance, mean annual temperature and size of the karst area in which caves occurred drove most of β -diversity, with differential contributions of each factor according to the level of subterranean specialization. Highly specialized communities were mostly influenced by geographical distance, while less specialized communities were mostly driven by mean annual temperature. Conversely, local-scale habitat features turned out to be meaningless predictors of community change, which emphasizes the idea of caves as the human accessible fraction of the extended network of fissures that more properly represents the elective habitat of the subterranean fauna. To the extent that the effect of local features turned to be inconspicuous, caves emerge as experimental model systems in which to study broad biological patterns without the confounding effect of local habitat features.

Background: Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) are widespread in subterranean ecosystems worldwide and represent an important component of subterranean trophic webs. Yet, global-scale diversity patterns of subterranean spiders are still mostly unknown. In the frame of the CAWEB project, a European joint network of cave arachnologists, we collected data on cave-dwelling spider communities across Europe in order to explore their continental diversity patterns. Two main datasets were compiled: one listing all subterranean spider species recorded in numerous subterranean localities across Europe and another with high resolution data about the subterranean habitat in which they were collected. From these two datasets, we further generated a third dataset with individual geo-referenced occurrence records for all these species., New Information: Data from 475 geo-referenced subterranean localities (caves, mines and other artificial subterranean sites, interstitial habitats) are herein made available. For each subterranean locality, information about the composition of the spider community is provided, along with local geomorphological and habitat features. Altogether, these communities account for > 300 unique taxonomic entities and 2,091 unique geo-referenced occurrence records, that are made available via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (Mammola and Cardoso 2019). This dataset is unique in that it covers both a large geographic extent (from 35° south to 67° north) and contains high-resolution local data on geomorphological and habitat features. Given that this kind of high-resolution data are rarely associated with broad-scale datasets used in macroecology, this dataset has high potential for helping researchers in tackling a range of biogeographical and macroecological questions, not necessarily uniquely related to arachnology or subterranean biology., (Stefano Mammola, Pedro Cardoso, Dorottya Angyal, Gergely Balázs, Theo Blick, Hervé Brustel, Julian Carter, Srećko Ćurčić, Samuel Danflous, László Dányi, Sylvain Déjean, Christo Deltshev, Mert Elverici, Jon Fernández, Fulvio Gasparo, Marjan Komnenov, Christian Komposch, L’ubomír Kováč, Kadir Boğaç Kunt, Andrej Mock, Oana Moldovan, Maria Naumova, Martina Pavlek, Carlos E. Prieto, Carles Ribera, Robert Rozwałka, Vlastimil Růžička, Robert S. Vargovitsh, Stefan Zaenker, Marco Isaia.)

Two sibling species, Metellina orientalis (Spassky, 1932) and M. kirgisica (Bakhvalov, 1974), occurring in the Middle East and Central Asia are redescribed and their distributions mapped. The previously unknown male of M. kirgisica is described for the first time. Stridulatory files on male chelicera of Metellina are also documented for the first time. The occurrence of M. kirgisica in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan and the presence of M. orientalis in Turkey are confirmed.

A new species, Lathys ankaraensis sp. n. , is described based on the material collected in the Central Anatolia. The new species belongs to the humilis -group. Habitus, as well as copulatory organs of both sexes, are described and illustrated by means of line drawings and digital and SEM photographs. A key for the four Lathys species known in Turkey is also provided.

A new species of Harpactea Bristowe, 1939, H. alanyana sp. n. is described from southern Turkey. The new species appears closely related to H. osellai Brignoli, 1978. Detailed description and illustrations of the new and related species are provided. The relationships of the two species are discussed.

Background: Scorpion venoms are rich bioactive peptide libraries that offer promising molecules that may lead to the discovery and development of new drugs. Leiurus abdullahbayrami produces one of the most potent venoms among Turkish scorpions that provokes severe symptoms in envenomated victims., Methods: In the present study, the peptide profile of the venom was investigated by electrophoretic methods, size-exclusion and reversed-phase chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects were evaluated on a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and various bacterial and fungal species., Results: Proteins make up approximately half of the dry weight of L. abdullahbayrami crude venom. Microfluidic capillary electrophoresis indicated the presence of 6 to 7 kDa peptides and proved to be a highly practical peptidomics tool with better resolution when compared to conventional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Mass spectroscopy analysis helped us to identify 45 unique peptide masses between 1 to 7 kDa with a bimodal mass distribution peaking between molecular weights of 1 to 2 kDa (29%) and 3 to 4 kDa (31%). L. abdullahbayrami crude venom had a proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells, which may be explained by the high concentration of polyamines as well as potassium and calcium ions in the arachnid venoms. Antimicrobial effect was stronger on gram-negative bacteria., Conclusions: This work represents the first peptidomic characterization of L. abdullahbayrami venom. Considering the molecular weight-function relationship of previously identified venom peptides, future bioactivity studies may lead to the discovery of novel potassium and chloride ion channel inhibitors as well as new antimicrobial peptides from L. abdullahbayrami venom.

A new species of the troglobitic spider genus Typhlonesticus is described from specimens found in Keloğlan Cave (Denizli Province, Dodurgalar Town), Turkey. Typhlonesticus gocmeni sp. n. is described on the basis of both sexes; and its phylogenetic relationships with closely related European genera and species are discussed based on morphological and molecular data (the cox1, rrnL and H3 genes). Three new combinations are proposed: Typhlonesticus idriacus (Roewer, 1931), comb. n., Typhlonesticus morisii (Brignoli, 1975) comb. n. and Typhlonesticus obcaecatus (Simon, 1907), comb. n. all ex Nesticus.

A new species, Hygrocrates deelemanus Kunt & Yağmur sp. n., is described on the basis of both sexes from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnosis and figures of the copulatory organs of both Turkish species are presented. An identification key is presented for all the currently known species of Hygrocrates.

Two new species, Harpactea arnedoisp. n. and Harpactea kenceisp. n., are described on the basis of both sexes from the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey. Harpactea kenceisp. n. can be easily distinguished from all other Turkish and European representatives of the genus by the structure of the flattened, massive embolus on the male copulatory organ. Although resembling Stalagtia in palpal morphology, we describe one of the new species as Harpactea arnedoisp. n. For both Turkish species, detailed morphological descriptions and diagnoses are presented together with figures of the copulatory organs.

Dasumia gasparoisp. n. isdescribed based on specimens of both sexes. The new species is compared with the similar Dasumia crassipalpis (Simon, 1882), described from Syria; and with Dasumia mariandyna Brignoli, 1979, the only previously known species of the genusrecordedfrom Turkey. Furthermore, we point out that, due to some contradictions to the original description of the genus, Dasumia mariandyna may necessarily belong to another genus. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnosis and figures of the copulatory organs of the new species are presented.

A new species of the spider genus Harpactea Bristowe, 1939 is described from the Aegean region of Turkey - Harpactea ersenisp. n. (males only). Detailed morphological description and illustrations of the new species are provided. The relationships of the new species are discussed.

A new species of the spider genus Tegenaria Latreille, 1804 is described, based on newly collected specimens from Turkey. Detailed morphological descriptions, diagnosis and figures of the copulatory organs of both sexes are presented. Finally, a checklist and distribution maps for Turkish Tegenaria species are provided.