First catalog of spiders of Libya (Araneae)

This catalog presents an updated overview of the spider fauna of Libya, documenting 353 species belonging to 165 genera and 39 families. For every species, published distributional records within the country are assembled together with their corresponding bibliographic sources. The available information has been thoroughly examined and revised according to the latest taxonomic and faunistic developments. Of the species included in the catalogue, 51 (14.44%) are presently known exclusively from Libya and may therefore be considered as endemic to the country. According to the World Spider Catalog (2026), seven species are considered nomina dubia, while 56 species lack reliable evidence of occurrence in Libya, which is incorrect. In addition, six species previously reported from the country are excluded from the present checklist and 8 are species inquirenda. Although a considerable number of species has been recorded, knowledge of Libya’s spider fauna remains far from complete. Owing to the country’s varied habitats and its strategic biogeographical location, future investigations will likely reveal additional taxa and contribute substantially to a more comprehensive understanding of Libyan spider diversity.