ABSTRACT
Australian funnel-web spiders are arguably the most venomous spiders in the world, with much research focusing on this aspect of their biology. However, other aspects related to their life history, ecology and behaviour have been overlooked. For the first time, we assessed repeatability, namely risk-taking behaviour, aggressiveness and activity in the contexts of predation, conspecific tolerance and exploration of a new territory in four species of Australian funnel-web spiders: two are closely related, Hadronyche valida and H. infensa, and two have overlapping distributions but occupy different habitats, H. cerberea and Atrax robustus. We also compared behaviors between species. At the species level, we found that H. valida showed consistency in risk-taking behavior when exposed to a predator stimulus, aggressiveness against conspecifics, and exploration of a new territory. In contrast, in the other species, only A. robustus showed repeatability in the context of exploration of a new territory. These results suggest that some behavioral traits are likely more flexible than others, and that the repeatability of behaviors may be species-specific in funnel-webs. When we compared species, we found differences in risk-taking behavior and defensiveness. This study provides novel insights to understanding variation in behavioral traits within and between species of funnel-web spiders, suggesting that some behavioral traits are likely context and/or species dependent, as a result of their evolutionary history. These findings provide key insights for understanding the ecological role of behavior and venom deployment in venomous animals, and a greater understanding of behavior in these medically significant and iconic spiders that are of conservation concern.
ABSTRACT
The monotypic Peruvian genus Anqasha with type species Anqasha picta (Pocock 1903) is revised. A female of A. picta from the type locality of Caraz is herein described for the first time. The recently described females of A. picta coming from Recuay are transferred to the new taxon, which is herein described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Males of A. minaperinensis sp. nov. differ from that of A. picta in the shape of retrolateral branch of subapical apophyses on male tibia I, which is apically flattened and having three short spines. Females of A. minaperinensis sp. nov. differ from A. picta in the shape of seminal receptacles.
Se revisa el género monotípico peruano Anqasha, con la espécie tipo Anqasha picta (Pocock 1903). Se describe por primera vez una hembra de A. picta de la localidad de tipo en Caraz. Las hembras recientemente descritas de A. picta procedentes de Recuay son transferidas al nuevo taxon, el cual se describe, diagnostica e illustra aquí. Los machos de A. minaperinensis sp. nov. se differencían de A. picta en la forma de la rama retrolateral de la apófísis subapical en la tibia I del macho, la cual está aplanada apicalmente y llevando tres espinas cortas. Las hembras de A. minaperinensis sp. nov. se differencían de A. picta en la forma de los receptaculos seminales.
ABSTRACT
New data on the tarantula genus Chaetopelma Ausserer, 1871 are provided. A new species, Ch.persianumsp. nov., is described based on a single female specimen collected in northwestern Iran, which represents the easternmost record of the genus within its entire known range. Additionally, the correct publication date of Ch.olivaceum C.L. Koch, 1842 is discussed, and the known distribution records of all Chaetopelma species are mapped.
ABSTRACT
The genera Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895, Tapinauchenius Ausserer, 1871 and Pseudoclamoris Hüsser, 2018 are revised and cladistics analyses carried out including most species of these genera. In order to test the monophyly of Aviculariinae and Psalmopoeinae, species of all genera in these two subfamilies were included, as well as of Harpactirinae, Selenocosmiinae, Theraphosinae, Stromatopelmatinae, Ischnocolinae, Schismatothelinae, Poecilotherinae, and a barychelid was used to root the cladogram. The matrix with 50 terminal taxa, 1 continuous and 85 discrete characters was analysed with TNT 1.5. The results show a monophyletic Psalmopoeinae as sister group of Aviculariinae. Psalmopoeus comprises 9 species: Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895 (type species), Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus Pocock, 1903, Psalmopoeus emeraldus Pocock, 1903, Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994, Psalmopoeus langenbucheri Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz, 2006, Psalmopoeus plantaris Pocock, 1903, Psalmopoeus pulcher Petrunkevitch, 1925, Psalmopoeus reduncus (Karsch, 1880), and Psalmopoeus victori Mendoza, 2014. Psalmopoeus intermedius Chamberlin, 1940 is considered a junior synonym of P. reduncus. Psalmopoeus copanensis Gabriel & Sherwood, 2020, P. sandersoni Gabriel & Sherwood, 2020 and P. petenensis Gabriel & Sherwood, 2020 are considered junior synonyms of P. victori. Psalmopoeus maya Witt, 1996 is considered nomen nudum. Tapinauchenius comprises 8 species: Tapinauchenius plumipes (C. L. Koch, 1842) (type species), Tapinauchenius sanctivincenti (Walckenaer, 1837), Tapinauchenius latipes L. Koch, 1875, Tapinauchenius brunneus Schmidt, 1995, Tapinauchenius cupreus Schmidt & Bauer, 1996, Tapinauchenius polybotes Hüsser, 2018, Tapinauchenius rasti Hüsser, 2018, and T. gretae n. sp. The female of T. brunneus is described for first time. Tapinauchenius violaceus (Mello-Leitão, 1930), T. purpureus Schmidt, 1995, T. concolor (Caporiaccco, 1947), and T. gigas Caporiacco, 1954 are considered junior synonyms of T. plumipes. With the synonymy of T. gigas (type species of Pseudoclamoris Hüsser, 2018), it was necessary to describe a new genus for the two species formerly included in it. Thus, the new genus Amazonius n. gen. is erected to include A. elenae (Schmidt, 1994) n. comb., A. burgessi (Hüsser, 2018) n. comb. as well as two new species A. giovaninii n. gen. n. sp. and A. germani n. gen. n. sp. A discussion on the relationship of Psalmopoeinae and Aviculariinae and maps with the distributions of all species are provided.
ABSTRACT
Five new species of the genus Macrothele Ausserer, 1871 are described from China: Macrothele emei Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ, Sichuan), M. hanfeii Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ, Hainan), M. hungae Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ, Taiwan), M. limenghuai Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ, Sichuan), and M. nanning Lin & Li, sp. nov. (ââ, Guangxi). Types of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China.
ABSTRACT
This study documents a comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the New World Ummidia species. At the onset of this work the genus comprised 27 species and one subspecies with a cosmopolitan distribution that includes North America, South America, Asia, northern Africa, and Europe; of these species the majority of the nominal diversity can be attributed to the New World where 20 species have been previously described. Ummidia oaxacana (Chamberlin, 1925) is considered a nomen dubium; U. tuobita (Chamberlin, 1917) and U. absoluta (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940) are both considered junior synonyms of U. audouini (Lucas, 1835); the subspecies U. carabivora emarginata (Atkinson, 1886) is considered a junior synonym of U. carabivora (Atkinson, 1886); U. pygmaea (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1945) is considered a junior synonym of U. beatula (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940); U. celsa (Gertsch and Mulaik, 1940) is considered a junior synonym of U. funerea (Gertsch, 1936); Hebestatis lanthanus (Valerio, 1987) is considered a junior synonym of U. rugosa (Karsch, 1880). Thirty-three new species are described: U. neilgaimani, U. gingoteague, U. rongodwini, U. okefenokee, U. richmond, U. macarthuri, U. colemanae, U. rosillos, U. mercedesburnsae, U. paulacushingae, U. waunekaae, U. gertschi, U. timcotai, U. gabrieli, U. pesiou, U. rodeo, U. huascazaloya, U. anaya, U. cuicatec, U. brandicarlileae, U. riverai, U. frankellerae, U. hondurena, U. yojoa, U. matagalpa, U. carlosviquezi, U. varablanca, U. quepoa, U. cerrohoya, U. quijichacaca, U. tibacuy, U. neblina, U. tunapuna.
ABSTRACT
The assembly of the Australian arid zone biota has long fascinated biogeographers. Covering over two-thirds of the continent, Australia's vast arid zone biome is home to a distinctive fauna and flora, including numerous lineages which have diversified since the Eocene. Tracing the origins and speciation history of these arid zone taxa has been an ongoing endeavour since the advent of molecular phylogenetics, and an increasing number of studies on invertebrate animals are beginning to complement a rich history of research on vertebrate and plant taxa. In this study, we apply continent-wide genetic sampling and one of the largest phylogenetic data matrices yet assembled for a genus of Australian spiders, to reconstruct the phylogeny and biogeographic history of the open-holed trapdoor spider genus Aname L. Koch, 1873. This highly diverse lineage of Australian mygalomorph spiders has a distribution covering the majority of Australia west of the Great Dividing Range, but apparently excluding the high rainfall zones of eastern Australia and Tasmania. Original and legacy sequences were obtained for three mtDNA and four nuDNA markers from 174 taxa in seven genera, including 150 Aname specimen terminals belonging to 102 species-level operational taxonomic units, sampled from 32 bioregions across Australia. Reconstruction of the phylogeny and biogeographic history of Aname revealed three radiations (Tropical, Temperate-Eastern and Continental), which could be further broken into eight major inclusive clades. Ancestral area reconstruction revealed the Pilbara, Monsoon Tropics and Mid-West to be important ancestral areas for the genus Aname and its closest relatives, with the origin of Aname itself inferred in the Pilbara bioregion. From these origins in the arid north-west of Australia, our study found evidence for a series of subsequent biome transitions in separate lineages, with at least eight tertiary incursions back into the arid zone from more mesic tropical, temperate or eastern biomes, and only two major clades which experienced widespread (primary) in situ diversification within the arid zone. Based on our phylogenetic results, and results from independent legacy divergence dating studies, we further reveal the importance of climate-driven biotic change in the Miocene and Pliocene in shaping the distribution and composition of the Australian arid zone biota, and the value of continent-wide studies in revealing potentially complex patterns of arid zone diversification in dispersal-limited invertebrate taxa.
Subject(s)
Desert Climate , Phylogeny , Phylogeography , Spiders/classification , Spiders/genetics , Animals , Australia , DNA, Mitochondrial/geneticsABSTRACT
The Mygalomorphae includes tarantulas, trapdoor, funnel-web, purse-web and sheet-web spiders, species known for poor dispersal abilities. Here, we attempted to compile all the information available on their long-distance dispersal mechanisms from observations that are often spread throughout the taxonomic literature. Mygalomorphs can disperse terrestrially, and in some tarantulas, for example, spiderlings walk together in single files away from their maternal burrow, a mechanism limited in distance covered. Conversely, at least eight species disperse aerially, via dropping on drag lines from elevated positions and being passively blown off ('suspended ballooning'). The first record of this behaviour is 135 years old, but we still know very little about it. Phylogeographic studies suggest several occurrences of transcontinental dispersal in the evolutionary history of mygalomorphs, but these might result from contingent rafting events, rather than regular dispersal mechanisms. We use occurrence data to show that suspended ballooning increases the species ranges in Australian mygalomorph families where this behaviour has been recorded. We also identified Anamidae, Idiopidae, and especially Atracidae, as families that might employ suspended ballooning or another efficient but undiscovered dispersal mechanism. Finally, we suggest that molecular studies with mitochondrial genes will help disentangle behavioural limitations of dispersal from ecological or physical ones.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Homing Behavior/physiology , Spiders/physiology , Animals , Phylogeny , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Enzymes adapted to cold temperatures are commonly characterized for having higher Michaelis-Menten constants (KM) values and lower optimum and denaturation temperature, when compared to other meso or thermophilic enzymes. Phenoloxidase (PO) enzymes are ubiquitous in nature, however, they have not been reported in spiders. It is the oxygen carrier protein hemocyanin (Hc), found at high concentrations in their hemolymph, which displays an inducible PO activity. Hence, we hypothesize that Hc-derived PO activity could show features of cold adaptation in alpine species. We analyzed the Hc from two species of Theraphosidae from different thermal environments: Euathlus condorito (2400 m a.s.l.) and Grammostola rosea (500 m a.s.l.). Hc was purified from the hemolymph of both spiders and was characterized by identifying subunit composition and measuring the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-induced PO activity. The high-altitude spider Hc showed higher PO activity under all conditions and higher apparent Michaelis-Menten constant. Moreover, the optimum temperature for PO activity was lower for E. condorito Hc. These findings suggest a potential adaptation at the level of Hc-derived PO activity in Euathlus condorito, giving insights on possible mechanisms used by this mygalomorph spider to occupy extremes and variable thermal environments.
Subject(s)
Ecosystem , Hemocyanins/metabolism , Monophenol Monooxygenase/metabolism , Spiders/enzymology , Temperature , Animals , Enzyme Activation , Spiders/physiologyABSTRACT
The ischnocoline genus CatumiriGuadanucci, 2004 comprises four species distributed in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. The type species Catumiri petropoliumGuadanucci, 2004 is known only from the male. We here provide a new diagnosis for Catumiri, describe the female of C. petropolium, and report new records of this species from Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, Reserva Biológica do Tinguá and Parque Nacional da Serra da Bocaina, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also expand the distribution of Catumiri parvum (Keyserling, 1878) to Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra, Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Alegrete, Rosário do Sul, Santana do Livramento, Pinheiro Machado, Bagé, and Jaguarão, all from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and Cerro de Los Cuervos, Lavalleja, Uruguay.
ABSTRACT
Neotropical species of the genus Idiops Perty, 1833 are reviewed, and four new species are described from Brazil: I. duocordibus Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. guri Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. mocambo Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. and I. sertania Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. The majority of species are redescribed based on the examination of the types and extensive material. Males of I. petiti (Guérin, 1838), I. rastratus (Pickard-Cambrige, 1889), I. rohdei Karsch, 1886 and I. nilopolensis Mello-Leitão, 1923, and females of I. fuscus Perty, 1833 and I. pirassununguensis Fukami & Lucas, 2005, hitherto unknown, are described for the first time. Idiops nilopolensis, considered a nomen dubium, is revalidated. Idiops fulvipes Simon, 1889 is synonymized with I. argus Simon, 1889, and I. santaremius (Pickard-Cambrige, 1896) is synonymized with I. petiti. Neotypes are designated for Idiops fuscus, I. nilopolensis and I. siolii (Bücherl, 1953). Idiops bonapartei Hasselt, 1888 is considered species inquirendae, since the type is an immature female. Finally, an updated distribution map of Neotropical species is included. The genus now has 24 species in the Neotropical region.
ABSTRACT
Four new species of the mygalomorph spider genus StenoterommataHolmberg, 1881 are described from Southeastern and Central Brazil. They are among the first described species that occur in the Brazilian Cerrado: S. neodiplornata Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. from São Paulo state, in areas of Atlantic Forest, of savanna and of seasonal forest (Cerradão); S. chavarii Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. from Botucatu, São Paulo state, in ecotonal areas of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, as well as open anthropized areas similar to savannas; S. bodoquena Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. from Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul state, in areas of Atlantic Forest with Cerrado influences and seasonal forest; S. egric Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. from Ibitipoca mountain range, Lima Duarte, Minas Gerais state, in Atlantic Forest and savanna areas. All new species are differentiated by the unique morphology of genitalia. Information on the natural history of S. neodiplornata Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp., S. bodoquena Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. and S. egric Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. is provided. Stenoterommata neodiplornata Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. is the third species of the genus that can inhabit trunks and upper branches of the highest part of the trees. In addition, it is presented the first record of the genus for the Central Brazil, S. bodoquena Ghirotto & Indicatti, n. sp. from Mato Grosso do Sul.
ABSTRACT
Two species of the genus Diplura C. L. Koch, 1850, described from the Brazilian Amazon region: Diplura nigra (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896) and Diplura sanguinea (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896), are redescribed based on the examination of types and abundant new Amazonian material. The males of D. nigra and D. sanguinea are described for the first time, ecological data is presented and, for the first time, the female spermathecae are illustrated. New distributional data for these species is presented from the Amazonian region. We also give a short summary of species placements within Diplura based on the dorsal colour of the opisthosoma.
ABSTRACT
The genera Psalistops Simon, 1889, Trichopelma, Simon, 1888 and Cyrtogrammomma Pocock, 1895 are revised and included in cladistics analyses including almost all species of these genera. In order to test previous morphological hypotheses on the relationships of Barychelidae, Paratropididae and Theraphosidae and because of the controversial taxonomic position of Psalistops and Trichopelma, a set of terminal taxa representing all subfamilies of Paratropididae (Paratropidinae, Glabropelmatinae), Barychelidae (Barychelinae, Sasoninae, Trichopelmatinae) and most theraphosid subfamilies were included, as well as a diplurid, a nemesiid, and a pycnothelid, the later used to root the cladogram. The matrix with 66 terminal taxa, 2 continuous and 93 discrete characters was analysed with TNT 1.5. We found that Trichopelmatinae is not a monophyletic group, and Psalistops is transferred to Theraphosidae, as well as the barychelid genus Cyrtogrammomma and the paratropidid genus Melloina Brignoli. Cyrtogrammomma was retrieved as the sister group of Trichopelma, and Melloina as the sister group of Holothele Karsch. Psalistops was retrieved as the sister group of Reichlingia Rudloff, and the clade with these two genera is the most basal in Theraphosidae. Barychelidae was found to be monophyletic and the sister group of Theraphosidae. Paratropididae was retrieved as the sister group of Barychelidae + Theraphosidae. The relationship and possible synapomorphies of the three families are herein discussed. This is the first time since Raven (1985) that representatives of all barychelid (Barychelinae, Sasoninae, Trichopelmatinae), paratropidid (Paratropidinae, Glabropelmatinae) and most theraphosid subfamilies have been included in a morphological cladistic analysis. Psalistops comprises two species, P. melanopygius Simon, 1889 (type species) and P. colombianus sp. nov. Psalistops montigena Simon, 1889, P. tigrinus Simon, 1889 and P. zonatus Simon, 1889 are synonymized with P. melanopygius Simon, 1889. Psalistops fulvus Bryant, 1948, P. hispaniolensis Wunderlich, 1988 (fossil), P. maculosus Bryant, 1948, P. venadensis Valerio, 1986 and P. steini (Simon, 1889) are transferred to Trichopelma. Psalistops gasci Maréchal, 1996 is transferred to Hapalopus Ausserer (Theraphosidae); P. opifex (Simon, 1889) and P. solitarius (Simon, 1889) are transferred to Schismatothele Karsch, 1879 (Theraphosidae). Schismatothele solitarius (Simon, 1889) n. comb. is synonymized with Schismatothele lineata Karsch, 1879, n. syn. Psalistops nigrifemuratus Mello-Leitão, 1939 is probably a nemesiid or pycnothelid, and herein considered as nomen dubium in Pycnothelidae. Trichopelma comprises 22 species: Trichopelma nitidum Simon, 1888 (type species), T. coenobita (Simon, 1889), T. steini (Simon, 1889), T. affine (Simon, 1892), T. cubanum (Simon, 1903), T. maculatum (Banks, 1906), T. zebra (Petrunkevitch, 1925), T. banksia Özdikmen Demir, 2012, T. insulanum (Petrunkevitch, 1926), T. fulvus (Bryant, 1948) n. comb., T. laselva Valerio, 1986, T. venadensis (Valerio, 1986) n. comb., T. huffi sp. nov., T. gabrieli sp. nov., T. tostoi sp. nov., T. goloboffi sp. nov., T. juventud sp. nov., T. laurae sp. nov., T.bimini sp. nov., T. loui sp. nov., T. platnicki sp. nov., and T. hispaniolensis Wunderlich, 1988 n. comb. (fossil). Trichopelma maculosus (Bryant, 1948) n. comb. is synonymized with P. fulvus Bryant, 1948; T. corozalis (Petrunkevitch, 1929) is synonymized with T. insulanum (Petrunkevitch, 1926). Trichopelma astutum Simon, 1889 is transferred to Euthycaelus Simon, 1889, and T. maddeni Esposito Agnarsson, 2014 to Holothele Karsch, 1879 (Theraphosidae). Trichopelma flavicomum Simon, 1891 is transferred to Neodiplothele (Barychelidae, Sasoninae). The species T. illetabile Simon, 1888, T. spinosum (Franganillo, 1926), T. scopulatum (Fischel, 1927) and T. eucubanum Özdikmen Demir, 2012 are considered as nomina dubia. Cyrtogrammomma comprises two species: C. monticola Pocock, 1895 (type species) and C. raveni sp. nov.
Subject(s)
Spiders , Animal Distribution , Animals , FossilsABSTRACT
The D'Aguilar Range of subtropical south-eastern Queensland (Australia), harbours an upland rainforest biota characterised by high levels of endemic diversity. Following recent phylogenetic and biogeographic research into the open-holed trapdoor spiders of the genus Namea Raven, 1984 (family Anamidae), remarkable levels of sympatry for a single genus of mygalomorph spiders were recorded from the D'Aguilar Range. It is now known that eight different species in the genus can be found in the D'Aguilar uplands, with five apparently endemic to rainforest habitats. In this paper we present a phylogenetic and taxonomic synopsis of the remarkable anamid fauna of the D'Aguilar Range: a key to the eight species is provided, and four new species of Namea are described (N. gloriosa sp. nov., N. gowardae sp. nov., N. nebo sp. nov. and N. nigritarsus sp. nov.). In shining a spotlight on the mygalomorph spiders of this region, we highlight the D'Aguilar Range as a hotspot of subtropical rainforest diversity, and an area of considerable conservation value.
Subject(s)
Rainforest , Spiders , Animals , Australia , PhylogenyABSTRACT
Resumen Se describe, diagnostica e ilustra Neischnocolus iquitos sp. nov. de la región de Loreto, Perú. Los machos de N. iquitos sp. nov. se diferencian del resto de sus congéneres conocidos a la fecha por tener dos apófisis retrolaterales en la tibia palpal, en combinación con la presencia de una quilla retrolateral en el émbolo, y la ausencia de granulación o micropicos en el émbolo o tegulum. Las hembras de N. iquitos sp. nov. se diferencian de las otras hembras de Neischnocolus en la morfología de la genitalia, consistiendo de una parte inferior esclerotizada con dos receptáculos seminales separados, y una parte superior transparente y con muescas.
Abstract Neischnocolus iquitos sp. nov. from Loreto region, Peru, is described, diagnosed and figured. Males of N. iquitos sp. nov. differ from all known congeners in the presence of two retrolateral processes on palpal tibia, in combination with the presence of a retrolateral keel on embolus and the absence of granulation or microspikes on embolus or tegulum. Females of N. iquitos sp. nov. differ from all known Neischnocolus females in the morphology of the genitalia consisting of a lower sclerotized part with two short, separate seminal receptacles, and an upper part, which is transparent and notched.
ABSTRACT
Montane species endemic to the "sky islands" of the North American southwest were significantly impacted by changing climates during the Pleistocene. We combined mitochondrial and genomic data with species distribution modelling to determine whether Aphonopelma marxi, a large tarantula from the nearby Colorado Plateau, was similarly impacted by glacial climates. Genetic analyses revealed that the species comprises three main clades that diverged in the Pleistocene. A clade distributed along the Mogollon Rim appears to have persisted in place during glacial conditions, whereas the other two clades probably colonized central and northeastern portions of the species' range from refugia in canyons. Climate models support this hypothesis for the Mogollon Rim, but late glacial climate data appear too coarse to detect suitable areas in canyons. Locations of canyon refugia could not be inferred from genomic analyses due to missing data, encouraging us to explore the effect of missing loci in phylogeographical inferences using RADseq. Results from analyses with varying amounts of missing data suggest that samples with large amounts of missing data can still improve inferences, and the specific loci that are missing matters more than the number of missing loci. This study highlights the profound impact of Pleistocene climates on tarantulas endemic to the Colorado Plateau, as well as the mixed nature of the region's fauna. Some animals recently colonized from nearby deserts as glacial climates receded, whereas others, like tarantulas, appear to have persisted on the Mogollon Rim and in refugia associated with the region's famous river-cut canyons.
Subject(s)
DNA, Mitochondrial , Genetic Variation , Animals , Colorado , DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics , Phylogeny , Phylogeography , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
Resumen Se describe, diagnostica e ilustra una nueva especie de Bistriopelma Kaderka 2015, Bistriopelma fabianae sp. nov., para la región de Arequipa en el sur de Perú. Los especímenes se encontraron en un bosque de Queñua (Polylepis rugulosa Bitter) ubicado en las faldas del volcán Pichu Pichu en la zona de amortiguamiento de la Reserva Nacional de Salinas y Aguada Blanca. Se presentan datos biológicos y ecológicos de B. fabianae sp. nov. y también notas adicionales sobre B. kiwicha y B. peyoi, dos nuevas especies recientemente descritas de las regiones de Apurímac y Cusco.
Abstract A new species of Bistriopelma Kaderka 2015, Bistriopelma fabianae sp. nov., from the Arequipa region in southern Peru is described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Specimens were found in a Queñua forest (Polylepis rugulosa Bitter) spread out on the slopes of Pichu Pichu volcano in the buffer zone of Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Biological and ecological data of B. fabianae sp. nov. are provided as well as notes on B. kiwicha and B. peyoi, two new species recently described from Apurimac and Cusco regions.
ABSTRACT
The genus Typhochlaena C.L. Koch, 1850 consists of five small size arboreal tarantula species with remarkable colored abdominal patterns and a very restricted geographic range in Brazil. Here, we describe the male of Typhochlaena curumim Bertani, 2012, which was collected in an area of Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The new record extends the northern limit of the geographic range for both the genus and species. As Typhochlaena spp. are now especially popular and requested in the pet market, and because T. curumim is classified as Critically Endangered, we discuss the impacts of the international trade and other challenges on conservation of the genus.