Tanasevitch A.V. 2013. The linyphiid spiders of the Altais, southern Siberia (Aranei: Linyphiidae) // Arthropoda Selecta. Vol.22. No.3: 267–306 [in English].
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky prospect, 33, Moscow 119071, Russia. E-mail: tanasevitch@gmail.com
KEY WORDS: Spiders, southern Siberia, Altai, taxonomy, faunistics, new species, distribution.
ABSTRACT. New data on linyphiid spiders from the Altais are presented: 52 species are recorded in the area for the first time, including four described as new: Halorates altaicus sp.n., Hilaira meridionalis sp.n., Incestophantes brevilamellus sp.n. and Mecynargus minutus sp.n. An unknown female of Anguliphantes sibiricus (Tanasevitch, 1996) and the males of Mughiphantes sobrioides Tanasevitch, 2000 and Walckenaeria katanda Marusik, Hippa et Koponen, 1996 are described for the first time. Based on the new data, the linyphiid fauna of the Altais currently contains 210 species, obviously being transitional in character between the European and South Siberian faunas. It is dominated by widespread species (58.1%), the proportion of Siberian elements being low (23.8%), while many typical “Siberians” and South Siberian species absent. A checklist of the Altai linyphiids and their vertical distribution are given. The widespread species dominate in all altitudinal belts, essentially prevailing (4 times) in the nival zone. Presumed endemics (3.8%) are obviously of Siberian origins and live (with one exception) in highlands. Arcto-alpine elements occur exclusively at high altitudes and all of them reach the maximum elevations explored (3100 m a.s.l.). Scotinotylus eutypus (Chamberlin, 1948) in the sense of Saito & Yasuda [1988], recorded from Japan, most likely belongs to the Alps-Altai S. antennatus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875).