Forty New Faunistic Records of Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae) for the Republic of Kosovo

This study presents new faunistic records of spiders (Araneae) from Kosovo. A total of 40 species are reported for the first time from the country, simultaneously being the first country records for 14 genera, two of which also being newly recorded families. All newly recorded taxa are documented with photographs of the genital organs to facilitate identification and verification. These findings significantly increase knowledge of the distribution and diversity of spiders in Kosovo, highlighting how unexplored the arachnofauna of Kosovo is in comparison to neighbouring countries in the Balkans. Our results emphasise the importance of continued faunistic surveys and taxonomic studies in the region in order to improve our understanding of species diversity and biogeographic patterns.