ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Zaitunia: A Genus of Crevice Weavers

Zaitunia is a genus of crevice weavers that was first described by Pekka T. Lehtinen in 1967. This genus comprises 28 species, with many found in Central Asia and the Middle East.

The distribution of Zaitunia spiders spans from Cyprus to eastern Kazakhstan, covering regions such as Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, Iran's provinces of Fars and Kerman, southeastern Afghanistan, and parts of Turkey. The genus is also known to inhabit Crete, Greece, with several species found in this region.

Zaitunia spiders are characterized by their small to medium body size, typically measuring between 2.5-8.0 mm in length. They possess a distinctive domed carapace without a chest fossa and a widely rounded subvertical casing, which distinguishes them from other genera of the Filistatidae family.

One notable feature of Zaitunia spiders is their slit-bristled calamistrum, as well as the short and wide tibia of the male palp. The carapace pattern varies in coloration, ranging from pale yellowish-white to dark brown, with or without a characteristic thick scallop consisting of reclined bristles.

The abdomen of Zaitunia spiders often features a longitudinal median dark band or transverse bands, although some species may have additional patterns on the ventral side. The legs are typically single-colored or feature dark wide rings, adding to their distinctive appearance.

Zaitunia is an important genus within the Filistatidae family, with many species still awaiting discovery and classification. Further research into this group of spiders will likely shed more light on their unique characteristics and distribution patterns in Central Asia and beyond.