Aim

Biodiversity shortfalls related to limited knowledge about geographic distribution (Wallacean) and species traits (Raunkiæran) are extremely common in many animal groups, and perhaps more evident in invertebrate groups such as spiders. This lack of knowledge could present challenges for researchers investigating the response and effects of spiders along large spatial scales, particularly in the Global South. The aim of the SpiderATLAS is to facilitate research that links macroecology, biogeography, trait-based ecology, and global change biology.

Location

Brazilian Atlantic Forest, spanning virtually the entire eastern coastline of Brazil, encompassing 1,62 million km², 30 degrees of latitude (3° 42’ 36” S to 33° 31’ 12” S), and 22 degrees of longitude (34° 50’ 24” W to 56° 45’ 0” W).

Taxon

Spiders (Class Araneae), including 1,648 species from 63 families.

Methods

We compiled the spatial distribution (i.e., occurrence data) and data on morphological characteristics and derived traits for spider species from species descriptions, taxonomic revisions, and personal collection. Species occurrences were extracted from several data sources spanning from the 1880s to 2023. Data on the morphological traits of species were compiled from taxonomic and diversity inventory papers published between 1833 and 2024.

Results

We provide 9,369 georeferenced point locations and six morphological characteristics (body length, prosoma length, prosoma width, prosoma height, femur I length, and patella I length) and three derived traits (body size, body volume, and leg length) for 1,648 spider species. Most data are available for females and males. The dataset and code are available to download from Dryad, World Spider Trait database, and the ZooTraits app.

Main Conclusions

The SpiderATLAS can be useful to access information on distribution and traits of spiders, contributing to development of macroecological, biogeographical, and trait-based ecology. This dataset can also facilitate the biodiversity conservation of one of the most abundant and important arthropod predators on the planet, in a biodiversity hotspot.