Two new species of spider discovered in south of Kazakhstan

Scientists discovered two new species of spider in the Kyzylkum desert in the south of Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency reports.

New spider species
Photo credit: Zoology Institute

The discoveries add new data concerning spiders living in the desert, the Kazakh Zoology Institute said in a statement.

New spider species
Photo credit: Zoology Institute

The scientists found 54 spider species of which 27 (more than 50% of those collected) were discovered in the desert for the first time, while 10 species (19%) were never seen in the territory of Kazakhstan at all. The average home range of spiders includes Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Iran.

Two species previously unknown to science were described as Anagraphis karamola and Drassodes babenkoi both belonging to ground spiders (family Gnaphosidae). Spiders rest during the day, and live under rocks, and in holes in the ground.

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