Spatial distribution of Madeira Island Laurisilva endemic spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)

A recent biodiversity survey on Madeira Island's native Laurisilva forest revealed a significant spider diversity, with approximately 33.3% of the recorded species being Madeiran endemics. This study identified two new spider species to science—Ceratinopsis n. sp. and Theridion n. sp.—and documented the first records for Poeciloneta variegata and Tetragnatha intermedia on the island, which had not been previously reported. The research utilized standardized samples from various Laurisilva patches across Madeira, providing insights into species richness and abundance patterns. Distribution maps for endemic species were also generated, contributing to a better understanding of spider diversity in this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Crespo, L., Boieiro, M., Cardoso, P., Aguiar, C., Amorim, I., Barrinha, C., Borges, P., Menezes, D., Pereira, F., Rego, C., Ribeiro, S., Silva, I., & Serrano, A. (2014). Spatial distribution of Madeira Island Laurisilva endemic spiders (Arachnida: Araneae). Biodiversity Data Journal, 2. https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.2.e1051