Weaving together the past, present and future of Greek arachnofauna: Biodiversity, knowledge gaps and conservation

Abstract Spiders are among the most species‐rich groups of arthropods. As top predators of other arthropods, their ecological role is significant, yet they are often overlooked in conservation efforts. Greece is home to a rich spider fauna, including many newly discovered and endemic taxa. In this paper, we present an updated, comprehensive dataset of the spiders of Greece, compiled using open standards aligned with the FAIR principles of data management. This update is based on the critical curation of 187 papers covering all available records of spider species occurring in Greece. The curated data contain geographic location (including coordinates and their accuracy) and taxonomic validity of all species. In total, 1310 species are recorded across more than 18,000 unique occurrences, excluding nomina dubia , subspecies and incomplete or erroneous taxonomic identifications. Of these, 226 species are endemic to Greece. Furthermore, an analysis is performed to present the distribution of the spider families/species richness in the complex landscape of Greece, in mainland and 96 islands, and the identified geographical/taxonomic gaps in our knowledge. The conservation status of 202 IUCN‐assessed species is also presented, alongside a critical analysis of their documented threats and possible ways to promote their conservation.