A comprehensive overview of plant, fungus and animal species of Austria revealed a total of 748 endemic
and subendemic species, including, 11 harvestman and 46 spider species. Altogether two endemic harvestmen
(Nemastoma bidentatum relictum, Nemastoma schuelleri) and 8 endemic spiders (Abacoproeces molestus, Collinsia (caliginosa) nemenziana,
Mughiphantes severus, Mughiphantes styriacus, Pelecopsis alpica, Scotophaeus nanus, Troglohyphantes novicordis, Troglohyphantes
tauriscus), beside 9 subendemic harvestman and 38 subendemic spider species have been recorded from Austria.
Hot-spots of endemism in the Eastern Alps are the north-eastern (Ennstaler Alps) and southern Calcareous Alps
(Karawanken, Karnische Alps) and the Central Alps (Hohe Tauern, Gurktaler Alps, Ötztaler and Stubaier Alps). Most
of the endemic arachnid species occur from the nival down to the montane zone. Important habitats are rocky
areas, caves and woodlands. High absolute numbers and percentages of endemics can be found within the harvestman
families Cladonychiidae, Ischyropsalididae and Nemastomatidae and in the spider genera Lepthyphantes
s. l. and Troglohyphantes. The conservation status of these highly endangered taxa – 85 % of the spider species and
100 % of the harvestman taxa are endangered in Austria – is poor.