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.

Alpaida (Araneae: Araneidae) from the Amazon Basin and Ecuador: new species, new records and complementary descriptions

Two new species of Alpaida, A. levii and A. yanayacu, the male of A. iquitos Levi, 1988 and the female of A. gurupi Levi, 1988 are described and illustrated for the first time. Alpaida levii, described from the states of Pará and Amazonas, is closely related to A. delicata (Keyserling, 1892), but differs in that males have a curved and distally pointed terminal apophysis, and females have the epigynum longer than wide and a drop-shaped median lobe. Alpaida yanayacu is only known from Ecuador and is characterized by long and rounded lateral lobes in ventral view and median lobe wide at base. A brief discussion about the morphological similarity among A. levii, A. delicata and A. truncata (Keyserling, 1865) is presented. Based on the information provided, new diagnoses are proposed for A. delicata and A. truncata. New records of A. antonio Levi, 1988, A. bicornuta (Taczanowski, 1878), A. boa Levi, 1988, A. deborae Levi, 1988, A. delicata, A. erythrothorax (Taczanowski, 1873), A. guimaraes Levi, 1988, A. guto Abrahim & Bonaldo, 2008, A. gurupi, A. iquitos, A. leucogramma (White, 1841), A. murtinho Levi, 1988, A. negro Levi, 1988, A. rossi Levi, 1988, A. septemmammata (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889), A. simla Levi, 1988, A. tayos Levi, 1988, A. truncata, A. urucuca Levi, 1988, A. utiariti Levi, 1988 and A. veniliae Levi, 1988 are presented.

Alpaida (Araneae: Araneidae) from the Amazon Basin and Ecuador: new species, new records and complementary descriptions

Two new species of Alpaida, A. levii and A. yanayacu, the male of A. iquitos Levi, 1988 and the female of A. gurupi Levi, 1988 are described and illustrated for the first time. Alpaida levii, described from the states of Pará and Amazonas, is closely related to A. delicata (Keyserling, 1892), but differs in that males have a curved and distally pointed terminal apophysis, and females have the epigynum longer than wide and a drop-shaped median lobe. Alpaida yanayacu is only known from Ecuador and is characterized by long and rounded lateral lobes in ventral view and median lobe wide at base. A brief discussion about the morphological similarity among A. levii, A. delicata and A. truncata (Keyserling, 1865) is presented. Based on the information provided, new diagnoses are proposed for A. delicata and A. truncata. New records of A. antonio Levi, 1988, A. bicornuta (Taczanowski, 1878), A. boa Levi, 1988, A. deborae Levi, 1988, A. delicata, A. erythrothorax (Taczanowski, 1873), A. guimaraes Levi, 1988, A. guto Abrahim & Bonaldo, 2008, A. gurupi, A. iquitos, A. leucogramma (White, 1841), A. murtinho Levi, 1988, A. negro Levi, 1988, A. rossi Levi, 1988, A. septemmammata (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889), A. simla Levi, 1988, A. tayos Levi, 1988, A. truncata, A. urucuca Levi, 1988, A. utiariti Levi, 1988 and A. veniliae Levi, 1988 are presented.(AU)

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.