Description of three new species of Isoctenus Bertkau, 1880 and new records for I. areia Polotow & Brescovit (Araneae, Ctenidae) from northeastern Brazil.

Three new species of the genus Isoctenus Bertkau, 1880 are described from the state of Bahia, in the northeast of Brazil: Isoctenus jussara new species, Isoctenus cabula new species, and Isoctenus botocudos new species. In addition, new records of Isoctenus areia Polotow and Brescovit, 2009 are presented. Previously known only from the city of Areia, state of Paraíba, its distribution now expands to the cities of Mamanguape, state of Paraíba, and Igarassu, state of Pernambuco.

A new species of the spider genus Parabatinga Polotow and Brescovit, 2009 (Araneae: Ctenidae), from the Brazilian Amazonia

Parabatinga danielae sp. n. is described and illustrated based on material collected in caves of the Carajás region, state of Pará, Brazilian Amazonia. With the inclusion of the second species in the genus, we propose here a new diagnosis for Parabatinga and its type species, P. brevipes (Keyserling, 1891).

Ctenus igatu sp. nov. (Araneae: Ctenidae): a new subterranean spider from Brazil with an analysis of troglomorphic traits

In this work we describe Ctenus igatu sp. nov., the first ctenid spider from South America with conspicuous troglomorphic traits, including elongated appendages, reduction of eyes, and body depigmentation. The new species is only known to occur in a unique sandstone cave from the state of Bahia, north-eastern Brazil. The morphology of the genitalia suggests that Ctenus igatu sp. nov. is closely related to Ctenus fasciatus Mello-Leitão, 1943, a facultative subterranean species from caves in the state of São Paulo, south-eastern Brazil. In addition, we compared morphological traits possibly related to the isolation in subterranean habitats, such as ratios between carapace length vs. leg IV length and eye diameters vs. carapace length, of 19 species of Ctenus (17 epigean species, C. fasciatus and the new troglobitic species described herein). Our analysis showed that both C. fasciatus as C. igatu sp. nov. have morphological troglomorphisms, with C. igatu sp. nov. showing marked specializations to subterranean life.

Revision of the Neotropical spider genus Acanthoctenus (Araneae: Ctenidae: Acanthocteninae).

We revise the genus Acanthoctenus Keyserling, 1877 recognizing thirteen valid species, of which five are new species and two are re-validated. Further, we find one new synonymy and transfer one species. We describe Acanthoctenus alux sp. nov. from Guatemala, A. chickeringi sp. nov. and A. lamarrei sp. nov. from Panama, A. manauara sp. nov. from Brazil and A. torotoro sp. nov. from Bolivia. We revalidate Acanthoctenus dumicola Simon, 1906 stat. res. from Venezuela, and A. virginea (Kraus, 1955) stat. res., comb. nov. from El Salvador. We transfer Acanthoctenus mammifer to Viracucha mammifer (Mello-Leitão, 1939) comb. nov., from Brazil. Acanthoctenus maculatus Petrunkevitch, 1925 and Gephyroctenus kolosvaryi Caporiacco, 1947 are considered species inquirendae in Acanthocteninae and Ctenidae, respectively, and A. obauratus Simon, 1906 and A. rubrotaeniatus Mello-Leitão, 1947 are considered incertae sedis in Acanthocteninae and Acantheinae, respectively. We also describe for the first time the female of Acanthoctenus spiniger Keyserling, 1877, the type species of the genus. We provide illustrations of male and female diagnostic characters, genitalia, habitus, and measurements to support the genus re-description and further identification of its species. We yield a distributional map of the specimens recorded and the description of the natural history of Acanthoctenus manauara sp. nov.

Description of a new Neotropical spider genus in the family Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877 (Araneae: Lycosoidea) from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.

A new Neotropical genus of Ctenidae from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest is described based on male and female characters: Bulboctenus gen. nov. Three new species are described for the genus: Bulboctenus kayapo sp. nov., Bulboctenus itunaitata sp. nov. and Bulboctenus munduruku sp. nov. The genus can be distinguished from other Ctenidae by males with median apophysis oriented horizontally, perpendicular to the tegulum, RTA strongly excavated anteriorly, metatarsi III and IV with bulbous setae ventrally, sternum and coxae with thick setae; and females with median sector of the epigyne hexagonal with two posterior conical projections ventrally and elevated lateral margins. Discussion on the modification on the leg setae across the Neotropical Ctenids species are given.

Six new species of the spider genus Centroctenus Mello-Leitão from the Neotropical region (Ctenidae, Cteninae).

The species of the genus Centroctenus can be distinguished from other Ctenidae genera by the presence of a long tibiae and the absence of a retrolateral projection of the cymbium in the male palp, and by the presence of a rounded spermathecae in the female epigynum. The composition of this spider genus is herein expanded to eleven Neotropical species, with the description of six new species: Centroctenus dourados sp. n., C. claudia sp. n., C. chalkidisi sp. n., and C. varzea sp. n., from Brazil; and Centroctenus coloso sp. n. from Colombia and Centroctenus alinahui sp. n. from Ecuador. A map with the distribution of all known species in the genus is presented.

Six new species of the spider genus Centroctenus Mello-Leitão from the Neotropical region (Ctenidae, Cteninae)

The species of the genus Centroctenus can be distinguished from other Ctenidae genera by the presence of a long tibiae and the absence of a retrolateral projection of the cymbium in the male palp, and by the presence of a rounded spermathecae in the female epigynum. The composition of this spider genus is herein expanded to eleven Neotropical species, with the description of six new species: Centroctenus dourados sp. n., C. claudia sp. n., C. chalkidisi sp. n., and C. varzea sp. n., from Brazil; and Centroctenus coloso sp. n. from Colombia and Centroctenus alinahui sp. n. from Ecuador. A map with the distribution of all known species in the genus is presented.

Almost eight decades later: description of the male of Isoctenus guadalupei (Mello-Leitão, 1941) comb. nov. and redescription of the female.

Isoctenus Bertkau 1880 is a genus composed by medium to large sized (7 to 19 mm of total body length) Neotropical spiders (Polotow Brescovit 2009). They are nocturnal wandering hunters, which prey in the ground and above leaf litter, as the other tropical wolf spiders of Ctenidae (Griswold et al. 2005). The genus was revised by Polotow Brescovit (2009) and currently contains 15 species, distributed in the Parana (Atlantic, Parana, and Araucaria Forests provinces) and Chacoan (Cerrado and Pampean provinces) dominions (Morrone 2014). Polotow Brescovit (2009) also presented a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters, supporting the transference of four species from Ctenus Walckenaer, 1805 to Isoctenus. Later, the genus was included by Polotow Brescovit (2014) in a phylogenetic analysis of Cteninae, and it appears to be related to the Neotropical Parabatinga Polotow Brescovit, 2009 and the Afrotropical Petaloctenus Jocqué Steyn, 1997 and Africactenus Hyatt, 1954, in addition to a couple of misplaced Ctenus species.

Guasuctenus gen. nov., a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Araneae).

The new genus Guasuctenus gen. nov. is described based on the results of a recent phylogenetic analysis. This phylogeny, which included representatives of all Ctenidae subfamilies, showed that the genus Ctenus as currently defined, does not comprise a monophyletic group. The results indicated that several species are misplaced in Ctenus and should be transferred to new genera. Aiming to correct the placement of two species originally described in Ctenus, we propose the new genus Guasuctenus to accommodate those species and better represent their phylogenetic relationships. Guasuctenus is supported by the presence of a dorsal cymbial projection in the male palp. Previously regarded as a subspecies, Ctenus longipes vittatissimus Strand, 1916 is here ranked as species, and Guasuctenus longipes (Keyserling, 1891) new comb. and G. vittatissimus (Strand, 1916) new rank, new comb. are redescribed. Ctenus griseus Keyserling, 1891 is recognized as a junior synyonym of Ctenus longipes Keyserling, 1891. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Guasuctenus vittatissimus (Strand, 1016) are designated for stability. The species of the genus are distributed in southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Guasuctenus gen. nov., a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Araneae)

The new genus Guasuctenus gen. nov. is described based on the results of a recent phylogenetic analysis. This phylogeny, which included representatives of all Ctenidae subfamilies, showed that the genus Ctenus as currently defined, does not comprise a monophyletic group. The results indicated that several species are misplaced in Ctenus and should be transferred to new genera. Aiming to correct the placement of two species originally described in Ctenus, we propose the new genus Guasuctenus to accommodate those species and better represent their phylogenetic relationships. Guasuctenus is supported by the presence of a dorsal cymbial projection in the male palp. Previously regarded as a subspecies, Ctenus longipes vittatissimus Strand, 1916 is here ranked as species, and Guasuctenus longipes (Keyserling, 1891) new comb. and G. vittatissimus (Strand, 1916) new rank, new comb. are redescribed. Ctenus griseus Keyserling, 1891 is recognized as a junior synyonym of Ctenus longipes Keyserling, 1891. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Guasuctenus vittatissimus (Strand, 1016) are designated for stability. The species of the genus are distributed in southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Guasuctenus gen. nov., a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Araneae)

The new genus Guasuctenus gen. nov. is described based on the results of a recent phylogenetic analysis. This phylogeny, which included representatives of all Ctenidae subfamilies, showed that the genus Ctenus as currently defined, does not comprise a monophyletic group. The results indicated that several species are misplaced in Ctenus and should be transferred to new genera. Aiming to correct the placement of two species originally described in Ctenus, we propose the new genus Guasuctenus to accommodate those species and better represent their phylogenetic relationships. Guasuctenus is supported by the presence of a dorsal cymbial projection in the male palp. Previously regarded as a subspecies, Ctenus longipes vittatissimus Strand, 1916 is here ranked as species, and Guasuctenus longipes (Keyserling, 1891) new comb. and G. vittatissimus (Strand, 1916) new rank, new comb. are redescribed. Ctenus griseus Keyserling, 1891 is recognized as a junior synyonym of Ctenus longipes Keyserling, 1891. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Guasuctenus vittatissimus (Strand, 1016) are designated for stability. The species of the genus are distributed in southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Chinja, a new genus of spider from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania (Araneae, Zoropsidae).

The new zoropsid spider genus Chinja Polotow Griswold is diagnosed and described and the following two new species are described: C. chinja sp. nov. and C. scharffi sp. nov. The species were collected in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and appear to be endemic to this region. The genus belongs to the oval-calamistrum clade (OC Clade), which also includes Dionycha and Lycosoidea. Based on the synapomorphies and diagnostic characters of members of the OC Clade, Chinja is considered a member of Zoropsidae, although without a clear subfamily placement due to insufficient data. Males of Chinja can be distinguished from other Zoropsidae by a straight PER, by lacking a tibial crack, by having a male palpal cymbium with a retrobasal process and the male palpal tibia with an RTA and a retromedian cluster of stout setae. Females have a divided cribellum with cribellar spigots evenly arranged, and the epigynum with the median plate broad and laterally procurved into hooks, and the lateral lobes each with a wide tooth. The following set of characters can be also helpful to identify the genus: presence of a third tarsal claw, absence of claw tufts and presence of a cribellum and calamistrum.

Kiekie, a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Cteninae, Araneae).

Kiekie gen. nov. is newly proposed to accommodate 11 Neotropical Ctenidae species. With the exception of one species from Colombia, they are all distributed in Central America. Two species are transferred from Ctenus: Kiekie sinuatipes (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. from Costa Rica, and K. curvipes (Keyserling, 1881) comb. nov., with broader distribution from Mexico to Panama. Ctenus incolans (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900) is synonymized with Kiekie curvipes. Nine species are newly described. Kiekie garifuna sp. nov. was collected in Guatemala and Honduras. Four species were collected in Costa Rica: Kiekie sanjose sp. nov., K. verbena sp. nov., K. sarapiqui sp. nov., and K. griswoldi sp. nov.. Two species were collected in Panama: Kiekie barrocolorado sp. nov. and K. panamensis sp. nov.. Kiekie montanensis sp. nov. was collected in Costa Rica and Panama. Kiekie antioquia sp. nov., from Colombia, was the only species collected in South America. To support the description and further identification of the genus and its species, we provide illustrations of male and female genitalia, habitus and modified metatarsus of the male leg IV, measurements and diagnostic characters. We also provide a distributional map of the specimens herein recorded. Taxonomic changes are based in recent cladistics analysis, showing that at least two species belong to a well-supported clade, sister group of Africactenus Hyatt, 1954. We discuss the phylogenetic relationship of the group and the evolution of key morphological characters.

Kiekie, a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Cteninae, Araneae)

Kiekie gen. nov. is newly proposed to accommodate 11 Neotropical Ctenidae species. With the exception of one species from Colombia, they are all distributed in Central America. Two species are transferred from Ctenus: Kiekie sinuatipes (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. from Costa Rica, and K. curvipes (Keyserling, 1881) comb. nov., with broader distribution from Mexico to Panama. Ctenus incolans (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900) is synonymized with Kiekie curvipes. Nine species are newly described. Kiekie garifuna sp. nov. was collected in Guatemala and Honduras. Four species were collected in Costa Rica: Kiekie sanjose sp. nov., K. verbena sp. nov., K. sarapiqui sp. nov., and K. griswoldi sp. nov.. Two species were collected in Panama: Kiekie barrocolor ado sp. nov. and K. panamensis sp. nov.. Kiekie montanensis sp. nov. was collected in Costa Rica and Panama. Kiekie antioquia sp. nov., from Colombia, was the only species collected in South America. To support the description and further identification of the genus and its species, we provide illustrations of male and female genitalia, habitus and modified metatarsus of the male leg IV, measurements and diagnostic characters. We also provide a distributional map of the specimens herein recorded. Taxonomic changes are based in recent cladistics analysis, showing that at least two species belong to a well-supported Glade, sister group of Africactenus Hyatt, 1954. We discuss the phylogenetic relationship of the group and the evolution of key morphological characters.

Systematics and biogeography of Spinoctenus, a new genus of wandering spider from Colombia (Ctenidae)

Among ctenid spiders, ctenines comprise the most diverse subfamily. In this study, a new genus of Cteninae, Spinoctenus, is proposed to include the type species S. yotoco, sp. nov. Ten new species are also described: S. escalerete, S. pericos, S. eberhardi, S. spinosus, S. stephaniae, S. nambi, S. florezi, S. tequendama, S. chocoensis and S. flammigerus. Results of the parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses using morphological and behavioural characters indicate the monophyly of this genus, closely related to Phoneutria Perty, 1883 and Ctenus Walckenaer, 1805. This genus can be distinguished from the remaining Ctenidae by three unambiguous synapomorphies: embolus with folded process, tegulum with median process, and RTA curved internally close to the cymbium. A dispersal-vicariance biogeographical analysis of the genus in the Andean and Choco regions indicates the origin of Spinoctenus in the Western and Central Andean Cordilleras. From this region, three events of dispersal occurred to the other regions (one to the Choco and two to the Eastern Cordillera), which were subsequently followed by three events of vicariance, suggesting that dispersal and vicariance were equally important in shaping the current distribution patterns of Spinoctenus species. The discovery of this new genus containing a large number of new species in the Andean and Choco regions highlights the current poor knowledge of the Colombian biodiversity.

Kiekie, a new Neotropical spider genus of Ctenidae (Cteninae, Araneae)

Kiekie gen. nov. is newly proposed to accommodate 11 Neotropical Ctenidae species. With the exception of one species from Colombia, they are all distributed in Central America. Two species are transferred from Ctenus: Kiekie sinuatipes (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov. from Costa Rica, and K. curvipes (Keyserling, 1881) comb. nov., with broader distribution from Mexico to Panama. Ctenus incolans (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900) is synonymized with Kiekie curvipes. Nine species are newly described. Kiekie garifuna sp. nov. was collected in Guatemala and Honduras. Four species were collected in Costa Rica: Kiekie sanjose sp. nov., K. verbena sp. nov., K. sarapiqui sp. nov., and K. griswoldi sp. nov.. Two species were collected in Panama: Kiekie barrocolor ado sp. nov. and K. panamensis sp. nov.. Kiekie montanensis sp. nov. was collected in Costa Rica and Panama. Kiekie antioquia sp. nov., from Colombia, was the only species collected in South America. To support the description and further identification of the genus and its species, we provide illustrations of male and female genitalia, habitus and modified metatarsus of the male leg IV, measurements and diagnostic characters. We also provide a distributional map of the specimens herein recorded. Taxonomic changes are based in recent cladistics analysis, showing that at least two species belong to a well-supported Glade, sister group of Africactenus Hyatt, 1954. We discuss the phylogenetic relationship of the group and the evolution of key morphological characters.

Systematics and biogeography of Spinoctenus, a new genus of wandering spider from Colombia (Ctenidae)

Among ctenid spiders, ctenines comprise the most diverse subfamily. In this study, a new genus of Cteninae, Spinoctenus, is proposed to include the type species S. yotoco, sp. nov. Ten new species are also described: S. escalerete, S. pericos, S. eberhardi, S. spinosus, S. stephaniae, S. nambi, S. florezi, S. tequendama, S. chocoensis and S. flammigerus. Results of the parsimony and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses using morphological and behavioural characters indicate the monophyly of this genus, closely related to Phoneutria Perty, 1883 and Ctenus Walckenaer, 1805. This genus can be distinguished from the remaining Ctenidae by three unambiguous synapomorphies: embolus with folded process, tegulum with median process, and RTA curved internally close to the cymbium. A dispersal-vicariance biogeographical analysis of the genus in the Andean and Choco regions indicates the origin of Spinoctenus in the Western and Central Andean Cordilleras. From this region, three events of dispersal occurred to the other regions (one to the Choco and two to the Eastern Cordillera), which were subsequently followed by three events of vicariance, suggesting that dispersal and vicariance were equally important in shaping the current distribution patterns of Spinoctenus species. The discovery of this new genus containing a large number of new species in the Andean and Choco regions highlights the current poor knowledge of the Colombian biodiversity.

Cleaning old cabinets: revealing the taxonomy of Sri Lankan wolf spiders (Araneae, Udubidae and Zoropsidae).

The fauna of Udubidae and Zoropsidae of Sri Lanka is reviewed, the families are diagnosed and a distribution map is provided. The udubid genus Campostichomma Karsch, 1892 is diagnosed and redescribed, C. manicatum Karsch, 1892 is redescribed, and we propose three new species, based on females: C. harasbedda sp. nov., C. mudduk sp. nov. and C. alawala sp. nov. The zoropsid genus Devendra Lehtinen, 1967 is diagnosed and redescribed, D. seriatus (Simon, 1898), D. pumilus (Simon, 1898) and D. pardalis (Simon, 1898), are redescribed, and two new species are proposed: D. saama sp. nov. and D. amaiti sp. nov.

Description of Califorctenus (Cteninae, Ctenidae, Araneae), a new spider genus from Mexico.

Califorctenus gen. nov. (Araneae: Ctenidae) a new genus and a new species (Califorctenus cacachilensis sp. nov.) from the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico are described and illustrated. Califorctenus gen. nov. can be diagnosed by the morphology of the male palp, with embolus cylindrical and elongated, locking lobes of embolus positioned retrolaterally and the cup-shaped and elongated median apophysis.