A forgotten spider rediscovered after 48 Years: First record of Gnaphosa jodhpurensis in Iraq and the Middle East

Important scientific discoveries are still waiting — sometimes, right beneath our feet.

Close-up view of a spider with a brown head and legs, and a green body.
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Guest blog post by Dr. Azhar M. Al-Khazali (University of Sumer, Iraq) & Tuqa A. A. Al-Mshrfawy

For nearly half a century, the ground spider Gnaphosa jodhpurensis was known only from India and China, with a doubtful mention from Pakistan. Since its original description in 1977, no photographs, morphological illustrations, or detailed documentation of this elusive species had ever been published again — until now.

Photos of two spiders displayed side by side: A) dorsal view of a reddish-brown spider with a green abdomen; B) underside view showing similar coloration and structure.
Female Gnaphosa jodhpurensis. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view

During a biodiversity survey in southern Iraq, as part of the MSc research of my student Tuqa A. A. Al-Mshrfawy at the University of Sumer, we made an unexpected discovery. In the semi-desert landscapes of Dhi Qar Province, we collected several specimens of a ground spider that looked remarkably unfamiliar. Careful morphological examination and DNA barcoding confirmed what we could hardly believe: it was Gnaphosa jodhpurensis — a species never before recorded from Iraq, nor from any country in the entire Middle East region.

Map of Asia highlighting China, India, Pakistan, and Iraq, with geographical outlines and key locations marked.
Known distribution records of Gnaphosa jodhpurensis. Squares = previous records; circles = new records from Iraq.

Our study, now published in the journal Check List, officially reports the first record of G. jodhpurensis from Iraq and the Middle East, extending its known range by thousands of kilometers westward. The paper also provides the first-ever photographic documentation and detailed morphological description of this species since it was discovered 48 years ago.

Gnaphosa jodhpurensis, female. A. Prosoma, dorsal view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Chelicerae and mouth parts, ventral view. D. Ocular region, anterodorsal view.

This finding highlights not only the hidden biodiversity of Iraq, but also the potential for new discoveries even under modest research conditions. Despite the limited laboratory facilities and financial constraints, our determination to explore Iraq’s arachnid fauna has led to multiple scientific contributions and international publications over recent years.

We hope our work will inspire other researchers across the region to investigate the unique ecosystems of the Middle East and to recognize that important scientific discoveries are still waiting — sometimes, right beneath our feet.

Research article:

Al-Mshrfawy TAA, Al-Khazali AM (2025) First record of Gnaphosa jodhpurensis Tikader & Gajbe, 1977 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from Iraq and the Middle East. Check List 21(5): 902-908. https://doi.org/10.15560/21.5.902