Crete 2015
 

Crete is fairly well studied as far as pholcid spiders are concerned, but in July 2015 I visited the island in order to get fresh material of some endemic species as well as some other Mediterranean species for molecular studies. Most forests have disappeared long ago, but the many canyons (like Sarika canyon below) carry water all year long, providing suitable habitat just like the many caves on the island. Ten species of pholcids are known from Crete, and some of them have not been found in any other place. I visited some of the type localities and was lucky enough to find eight of the ten species. Forested gorge between Exo Mouliana and Richtis Waterfall (above), the type locality of Hoplopholcus minous (below). Milatos Cave (above), type locality of Hoplopholcus minotaurinus (below). The endemic Cretan Pholcus creticus (above) and the more widespread Stygopholcus photophilus (below). Ruins of Voila (above). As almost everywhere on Crete, there is Spermophora senoculata on the walls (below). Goat enjoying the view down into the Lassithi high plateau.