An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae).

A taxonomic revision of exclusively African genera of Prodidominae (Gnaphosidae), with the exception of Theuma, is provided. Austrodomus Lawrence, 1947 is revised. The type species A. zuluensis Lawrence, 1947 is redescribed, the male of A. scaber (Purcell, 1904) is described for the first time, and one new species, A. gamsberg sp. nov. (♂), is described from Namibia. Katumbea Cooke, 1964 is considered a junior synonym of Austrodomus and A. oxoniensis (Cooke, 1964) comb. nov. from Tanzania is redescribed. Eleleis Simon, 1893 is revised. The type species, E. crinita Simon, 1893, is redescribed and eight new species are described: E. limpopo sp. nov. (♂♀) from South Africa and Zambia, E. okavango sp. nov. (♂♀) from Botswana and Namibia, E. etosha sp. nov. (♂♀), E. himba sp. nov. (♂) and E. luderitz sp. nov. (♀) from Namibia, E. leleupi sp. nov. (♂) and E. haddadi sp. nov. (♀) from South Africa, and E. solitaria sp. nov. (♀) from Cape Verde. Purcelliana Cooke, 1964 is revised. The type species, P. problematica Cooke, 1964, is redescribed and three new species are described: P. kamaseb sp. nov. (♂♀) and P. khabus sp. nov. (♂♀) from Namibia, and P. cederbergensis sp. nov. (♂) from South Africa. Plutonodomus Cooke, 1964 is redescribed based solely on the type species, P. kungwensis Cooke, 1964. In addition, three new genera are described: Kikongo gen. nov., to include K. ruwenzori sp. nov. (♂♀) and K. buta sp. nov. (♂♀) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R. Congo), and K. rutshuru sp. nov. (♂♀) from D.R. Congo and Kenya; Kituba gen. nov., to include K. mayombensis sp. nov. (♂♀) and K. langalanga sp. nov. (♀) from D.R. Congo; and Yoruba gen. nov., to include Y. ibadanus sp. nov. (♂♀) from Nigeria and Y. toubensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Ivory Coast. Distribution maps are provided for the species discussed in this study and an identification key is provided for all twelve genera of Prodidominae recorded in Africa.

A new genus of cave spider from Neotropical region (Gnaphosidae: Prodidominae).

A new monotypic genus of Prodidominae, Indiani gen. nov., is proposed to include one cave species collected in limestone caves from Minas Gerais, Brazil: Indiani gaspar sp. nov. (♂♀). Based on a recent phylogenetic analysis of Prodidominae, the new genus is closely to other Neotropical Prodidominae, such as Lygromma, Brasilomma and Moreno by sharing a classic claw tuft clasper. Indiani gen. nov. is characterized by a ventral parallel rows of strong spines on tibia and metatarsus I-II, male palp with sclerotized conductor and the robust median apophysis is curved retrolaterally; the female epigyne has an anterior atrium and a posterior extension of the epigynal plate. As other cave Prodidominae, Indiani gen. nov. has morphological characteristics, such as loss or reduction of eyes and weak pigmentation, that indicate an adaptation for living in subterranean environments.

Description of Paracymbiomma gen. nov., a new genus of prodidomid spiders from the Neotropical region (Araneae: Prodidomidae) including a new troglobite species.

Paracymbiomma gen. nov. is proposed to include six new species from Brazil: P. angelim sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from São Paulo, P. carajas sp. nov. (♂ ♀), P. bocaina sp. nov. (♂ ♀) and P. caecus sp. nov. (♂ ♀) from Pará, P. doisirmaos sp. nov. (♂) from Pernambuco and P. pauferrense sp. nov. (♂) from Paraíba. The genus is included in Theuminae by having the sternum with posterior region without rebordered margins, strongly protruding between coxae IV and with numerous long and erect setae, and by the vulva with highly convoluted ducts. It can be distinguished from the other members of the subfamily by the male palp with paracymbium, single RTA, bulb with sclerotized conductor and partly sclerotized median apophysis, and by the female epigyne with posteromedian atrium and sclerotized margin, and vulva with copulatory ducts long, strongly convoluted laterally with proximal part (closest to copulatory openings) translucent. Paracymbiomma carajas sp. nov., P. bocaina sp. nov. and P. caecus sp. nov. occur exclusively in ferruginous caves. We provide a discussion on specializations and adaptations of Paracymbiomma gen. nov. and other species of Prodidomidae to the subterranean environment.

Spider species richness and sampling effort at Cracraft´S Belém Area of Endemism

ABSTRACT A list of spider species is presented for the Belém Area of Endemism, the most threatened region in the Amazon Basin, comprising portions of eastern State of Pará and western State of Maranhão, Brazil. The data are based both on records from the taxonomic and biodiversity survey literature and on scientific collection databases. A total of 319 identified species were recorded, with 318 occurring in Pará and only 22 in Maranhão. About 80% of species are recorded at the vicinities of the city of Belém, indicating that sampling effort have been strongly biased. To identify potentially high-diversity areas, discounting the effect of variations in sampling effort, the residues of a linear regression between the number of records and number of species mapped in each 0.25°grid cells were analyzed. One grid, representing the Alto Turiaçu Indigenous land, had the highest deviation from the expected from the linear regression, indicating high expected species richness. Several other grid cells showed intermediate values of the regression residuals, indicating species richness moderately above to the expected from the model.

Spider species richness and sampling effort at Cracraft´S Belém Area of Endemism.

A list of spider species is presented for the Belém Area of Endemism, the most threatened region in the Amazon Basin, comprising portions of eastern State of Pará and western State of Maranhão, Brazil. The data are based both on records from the taxonomic and biodiversity survey literature and on scientific collection databases. A total of 319 identified species were recorded, with 318 occurring in Pará and only 22 in Maranhão. About 80% of species are recorded at the vicinities of the city of Belém, indicating that sampling effort have been strongly biased. To identify potentially high-diversity areas, discounting the effect of variations in sampling effort, the residues of a linear regression between the number of records and number of species mapped in each 0.25°grid cells were analyzed. One grid, representing the Alto Turiaçu Indigenous land, had the highest deviation from the expected from the linear regression, indicating high expected species richness. Several other grid cells showed intermediate values of the regression residuals, indicating species richness moderately above to the expected from the model.

Taxonomic revision of the species group rubripes of Corinna Koch, 1842 (Araneae; Corinnidae).

The species of the group rubripes, which harbors the type species of the genus Corinna C. L. Koch, 1842, are revised, including 20 Neotropical species. Three previously known species are re-diagnosed: Corinna rubripes C. L. Koch, 1842, Corinna nitens (Keyserling, 1891) and Corinna mourai Bonaldo, 2000. New records of Corinna nitens are provided, including the first ones from Peru and Bolivia. Seventeen new species, all from Brazil, were described: C. aechmea n. sp., C. balacobaco n. sp., C. caatinga n. sp., C. demersa n. sp., C. escalvada n. sp., C. hyalina n. sp., C. jecatatu n. sp., C. kuryi n. sp., C. loiolai n. sp., C. maracas n. sp., C. regii n. sp., C. telecoteco n. sp., C. tranquilla n. sp., C. vesperata n. sp., C. vilanovae n. sp., C. zecarioca n. sp. and C. ziriguidum n. sp. A key for all twenty species of the group is presented.