New spider species discovered in Morocco

Researchers have announced the discovery in Morocco of a new, previously unknown spider species of the genus Eresus, nicknamed the ladybug spider, in the Sidi Allal El Bahraoui region (near Rabat).

Named Eresus rubrocephalus, the new spider species discovered in Morocco is distinguished by its almost entirely bright red coloration, a unique characteristic among its relatives.

It was found in a cork oak forest near Sidi Allal El Bahraoui by an international team of scientists, according to the results of their work published in the scientific journal Animals (MDPI).

The spider has a uniform red hue extending from its cephalothorax to its abdomen, giving it a striking appearance. Traditionally, male ladybug spiders have a red abdomen dotted with black spots.

In Eresus rubrocephalus, researchers observed a remarkable peculiarity: the cephalothorax, chelicerae, and part of the legs are also covered in carmine-red hairs.

This chromatic uniformity clearly distinguishes it from species found in Europe, North Africa, and Asia, according to the scientists.

This distinctive feature inspired the species’ scientific name.

The name rubrocephalus is derived from the Latin ruber (red) and the Greek kephalè (head), referring to the intense coloration of the arachnid’s head, the same sources explain.

The team used conventional optical microscopes and a scanning electron microscope to examine the spider’s fine structures. The images obtained revealed a deep U-shaped groove and a curved terminal tooth on the palp.

This discovery is part of a series of recent identifications of Eresus species in Morocco, including Eresus almaghrib, Eresus gharbi, and Eresus elhennawyi. For scientists, this concentration of new species confirms the role of Morocco, and more broadly North Africa, as a true evolutionary center for these spiders.

AK/Sf/fss/as/APA