Eldar galadrielae

Eldar galadrielae is a species of spider in the family Anyphaenidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Eldar. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Distribution

Eldar galadrielae is found in the Brazilian states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.

Description

Males have a total length of 3.7–4.7 mm and females 3.5–5.3 mm. The carapace is brown with darker V-shaped markings in males, while females are pale white. Males have chelicerae approximately half the length of the carapace.

Taxonomy

Eldar was established in 2025 with E. galadrielae as the type species. Males of Eldar resemble those of Aljassa, Hibana, Hatitia, Pippuhana, and Tafana.
Females resemble those of Aljassa, Hatitia, Ilocomba, Macrophyes, Tafana, and Wulfilopsis.

Etymology

The genus name Eldar honors J. R. R. Tolkien, who created the fictional Eldar in his writings. The name "Eldar" is a term from the Elven language given to all Elves. The specific epithet galadrielae pays tribute to Galadriel, one of Tolkien's elven characters known as the Keeper of Nenya, the Water Ring.