ABSTRACT
In this work, the results of a survey for species of Fluda Peckham & Peckham, 1892 in primary forest in five Bolivian forest ecoregions are reported. Fluda dauca sp. nov. is described from Southwest Amazon forest and F. thuruampara sp. nov. from Bolivian Yungas forest. Fluda perdita (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) is reported from Bolivia for the first time. Both new species exhibited polymorphic mimicry; dark females of both species resembled the turtle ant Cephalotes pusillus (Klug, 1824) and dark males of F. thuruampara sp. nov. the carpenter ant Camponotus sanctaefidei Dalla Torre, 1892. Orange males and females of F. dauca sp. nov. are likely mimics of Camponotus latangulus Roger, 1863. Males of Fluda may compensate lower mimetic accuracy by the broadened femora I, resembling an ant head in lateral view and ant mandibles when moving the face towards a potential threat. As in other Simonellini, the turnover of Fluda species between the South American superregions suggests that significant shifts in seasonality and related conditions are major factors triggering speciation in the tribe Simonellini.
Subject(s)
Ants , Spiders , Female , Male , Animals , Bolivia , Forests , Animal DistributionABSTRACT
A new species of ant-resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Grismadox elsneri sp. nov., is described from the Sub-Andean area of the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from savanna grass along the edges of the Chiquitano forest and is a putative mimic of the carpenter ants Camponotus cf. crassus or C. cf. blandus.
Subject(s)
Ants , Spiders , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures , Animals , Body Size , Bolivia , Organ SizeABSTRACT
A new species of ant resembling sac spider of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus haddadi sp. nov. is described from the Sub-Andean area at the Bolivian orocline. The species was collected from low herbaceous vegetation along the edges of the Chiquitano and Cerradao forest.
Subject(s)
Ants/classification , Spiders , Animals , Bolivia , ForestsABSTRACT
Myrmecotypus tahyinandu sp. n. is described from the Bolivian Chiquitano forest, and M. niger Chickering, 1937 is recorded from Bolivia for the first time. The morphological differentiation among the closely related M. tahyinandu sp. n. and M. iguazu Rubio Arbino, 2009 is likely attributable to the selection for specific ant mimicry. Adults of M. tahyinandu sp. n. are accurate mimics of the ant Camponotus crassus Mayr, 1862, M. iguazu of C. sericeiventris (Guérin-Méneville, 1838), and M. niger of Dolichoderus bispinosus (Olivier, 1792). This study is the first to identify ant models for morphologically closely related Castianeirinae, providing a promising starting point for future research on ant mimicry.
Subject(s)
Ants , Spiders , Animals , NigerABSTRACT
Fly resemblance in arthropods is much less common than e.g., resemblance to ants or wasps, and has been mainly observed in beetles. Putative fly mimicry in arachnids has been reported only from the jumping spider genus Saitis. However, recent literature has attributed the fly-resembling characteristics in Saitis to sexual signalling during courtship. The lack of observation of fly mimicry in spiders is not surprising as flies belong to the most important prey item group of spiders. In this study, a new fly-resembling species of the jumping spider tribe Huriini, Scoturius dipterioides sp. nov., from the pre-Andean Chiquitano forest at the Bolivian orocline is described and illustrated. The new species was tentatively placed into Scoturius because the epigynum has a single large elliptical opening. Scoturius dipterioides sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species of this tribe by a combination of following characteristics: epigynum with a large anterior elliptical atrium and initial portion of the copulation ducts dilated as a chamber (shared with Urupuyu); relatively joined copulation openings and short copulation ducts; kidney-shaped spermathecae, advanced at the atrium level. Several somatic features, two of them found exclusively in S. dipterioides sp. nov., increase the resemblance to flies. The Huriini are currently the only spider tribe that is suggested to feature fly mimics.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animals , Bolivia , Female , Male , Sexual Behavior, Animal , Spiders/physiologyABSTRACT
The genus Tibellus Simon, 1875 currently includes 51 species (WSC 2016); it presents some taxonomic difficulties, due to morphological variability, and similarities among some congeners (Efimik 1999). Studies on the genus were undertaken by Gertsch (1933) and Schick (1965) from America, Tikader (1980) from India, Van den Berg & Dippenaar-Schoeman (1994) from the Afrotropical region, and Efimik (1999) from the East Palearctic region.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , India , Male , Organ Size , Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/growth & developmentABSTRACT
AbstractFaunistic studies, with a taxonomically complete inventory of species, provide an important source of quantitative compiled information for several and specific regions. This information can be used in diversity analysis and has great potential in setting conservation priorities. In this study, I used the relatively well known salticid spider fauna of Misiones to generate Clarke & Warwick taxonomic diversity indices. For this, information of three ecoregional salticid diversities was obtained and analyzed between Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (UPAF), Araucaria Moist Forest (AMF), and Southern Cone Mesopotamian Savanna (SCMS). Results showed differences between the three ecoregions of the province, mainly Southern savannas regarding the forests of Northern Misiones. Most species were registered in UPAF followed by AMF, however the α-taxonomic diversity of salticids was higher in SCMS than in UPAF and AMF. The β-taxonomic diversity showed that the proportions of shared species between SCMS and UPAF (or and AMF) were the lowest. The high taxonomic dissimilarity among ecoregions is an indication that the three assemblages are distant, showing a variation in their vegetation habitat and/or bioclimatic characteristics as a possible reason. The need to expand with new samples in subsampled or underexplored areas of Misiones remains essential, however this study contributes to information about biodiversity levels of salticid fauna in three ecoregions of Northeast Argentina, and will provide reference data for future studies for management plans. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (2): 875-883. Epub 2016 June 01.
ResumenLos estudios faunísticos, con un inventario de especies taxonómicamente completo, proveen una fuente importante de información compilada cuantitativa acerca de varias regiones. Esta información puede ser utilizada en análisis de diversidad y tiene gran potencial en el establecimiento de prioridades de conservación. En este estudio, yo utilicé la relativamente bien conocida fauna de arañas saltícidas de Misiones para generar índices de diversidad taxonómica de Clarke y Warwick. Para ello, la información de tres diversidades ecorregionales de saltícidos fue obtenida y analizada entre la Selva Atlántica del Alto Paraná (UPAF), el Bosque Húmedo de Araucaria (AMF), y la Sabana Mesopotámica del Cono Sur (SCMS). Fueron encontradas diferencias entre las tres ecorregiones de la provincia, principalmente en las sabanas del sur con respecto a las selvas del norte de Misiones. La mayoría de las especies fueron registradas en UPAF seguida por AMF, sin embargo la diversidad α-taxonómica de saltícidos fue mayor en SCMS que en UPAF y AMF. La diversidad β-taxonómica mostró que las proporciones de especies compartidas entre SCMS y UPAF (o AMF) fueron las más bajas. La alta disimilitud taxonómica entre ecorregiones es un indicador de que los tres ensamblajes son distantes, mostrando una variación en la vegetación de su hábitat y/o características bioclimáticas como una posible razón. Sigue siendo esencial la necesidad de ampliar con nuevas muestras en áreas no- o sub-muestreadas de Misiones, sin embargo este estudio contribuye a la información acerca de los niveles de biodiversidad de la fauna de saltícidos en tres ecorregiones del nordeste de Argentina, y proporcionará datos de referencia para futuros planes de gestión.
Subject(s)
Animals , Spiders/classification , Biodiversity , Argentina , ForestsABSTRACT
The female of Balmaceda nigrosecta Mello-Leitão, 1945 is described and illustrated for the first time. In addition, this paper further illustrates the male, and provides the first known observations on the natural history of this species, including habitat, cohabitation, and prey capturedata.
ABSTRACT
Faunistic studies, with a taxonomically complete inventory of species, provide an important source of quantitative compiled information for several and specific regions. This information can be used in diversity analysis and has great potential in setting conservation priorities. In this study, I used the relatively well known salticid spider fauna of Misiones to generate Clarke & Warwick taxonomic diversity indices. For this, information of three ecoregional salticid diversities was obtained and analyzed between Upper Parana Atlantic Forest (UPAF), Araucaria Moist Forest (AMF), and Southern Cone Mesopotamian Savanna (SCMS). Results showed differences between the three ecoregions of the province, mainly Southern savannas regarding the forests of Northern Misiones. Most species were registered in UPAF followed by AMF, however the α-taxonomic diversity of salticids was higher in SCMS than in UPAF and AMF. The ß-taxonomic diversity showed that the proportions of shared species between SCMS and UPAF (or and AMF) were the lowest. The high taxonomic dissimilarity among ecoregions is an indication that the three assemblages are distant, showing a variation in their vegetation habitat and/or bioclimatic characteristics as a possible reason. The need to expand with new samples in subsampled or underexplored areas of Misiones remains essential, however this study contributes to information about biodiversity levels of salticid fauna in three ecoregions of Northeast Argentina, and will provide reference data for future studies for management plans.
Subject(s)
Biodiversity , Spiders/classification , Animals , Argentina , ForestsABSTRACT
The American genus Neonella Gertsch, 1936 consists of very small jumping spiders whose biology is not well known. The genus currently includes eleven valid species, of which eight are known from both sexes and two are only known from one sex. This paper describes and illustrates a new species Neonella acostae sp. n., demonstrates male palpal variation in Neonella montana Galiano, 1988, and provides some information on the ecology of three sympatric species. New records of Neonella montana and Neonella minuta Galiano, 1965 are reported. Because the previously described species of Neonella were well illustrated and diagnosed, a dichotomous key to males is given along with genital illustrations of both sexes for all known species.
ABSTRACT
Three new species of the uloborid genus Orinomana Strand, O. penelope n. sp. from Ecuador, O. viracocha n. sp. from Peru, and O. florezi n. sp. from Colombia, are described. Additionally, the male of O. ascha Grismado, from Northwestern Argentina, is described for the first time. This material includes the first males known of the genus, providing diagnostic characters for its recognition; the complex and massive embolus with several branches is proposed as a synapomorphy of the genus.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Argentina , Body Size , Ecosystem , Ecuador , Female , Male , Organ Size , Peru , Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/growth & developmentABSTRACT
We review the American spider genus Arachosia O.P.-Cambridge, and present a descriptive taxonomic study with a comparative dichotomous key including 21 species, of which seven are newly described (A. avalosi sp. nov., A. carancho sp. nov., A. kapiipeoi sp. nov., A. magna sp. nov., A. monserrate sp. nov., A. pinhalito sp. nov. and A. tungurahua sp. nov.). Four species names are considered nomina dubia: Oxysoma dubium Berland, Gayenna duplovittata Mello-Leitão, Oxysoma polytrichium Mello-Leitão, and Arachosia sulfurea Mello-Leitão. Arachosia bonneti (Mello-Leitão) is newly synonymized with A. albiventris Mello-Leitão, and A. mezenioides Mello-Leitão with A. freiburgensis Keyserling. Previous problems with the identification of species in a species complex including A. cubana (Banks) are resolved. A disjunct distributional pattern is reported for A. kapiipeoi sp. nov.; a preliminary phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI sequences shows that these may correspond with two cryptic species. In this contribution, grassland and forests are discussed as the two main habitats inhabited by species of Arachosia. Finally, we propose a hypothesis of matching sexes based on functionality of some genital structures, involving sclerites of the male copulatory organ with structures of the epigyne: the prolateral projection on the primary conductor of the male would have a direct interaction with the lateral projections of the anterior pouch on the median epigynal field of females.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Ecosystem , Female , Male , Organ Size , Phylogeny , Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/genetics , Spiders/growth & development , United StatesABSTRACT
The Neotropical genus Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão, 1942 is revised, comprising four species from Argentina. The genus is here transferred to the subfamily Hahniinae Bertkau, 1878 from Cybaeolinae Lehtinen, 1967. Austrohahnia is diagnosed by a single synapomorphy, short setae ventrally on the abdomen, in immature as well as adult stages. The type species A. praestans Mello-Leitão, 1942 is redescribed. Austrohahnia catleyi new species is described and illustrated based both sexes from the alder forests of northwestern Argentina. Austrohahnia melloleitaoi (Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1942) new combination was transferred from Hahnia C.L. Koch, 1841, the male is described and illustrated for the first time, and the female is redescribed. Austrohahnia isophthalma (Mello-Leitão, 1941) new combination is also transferred from Hahnia and considered a nomen dubium. New geographic records of studied species are provided.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Argentina , Body Size , Ecosystem , Female , Forests , Male , Organ Size , Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The female of Aysha yacupoi Brescovit, 1992 is described and illustrated for the first time. Males and female specimens were observed together in the same plants. Some data on natural history are presented.
Subject(s)
Spiders/classification , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Female , Male , Organ Size , Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/growth & developmentABSTRACT
A new species of the orb-weaving spider genus Aculepeira Chamberling & Ivie 1942, A. morenoae new species, is described and illustrated based on male and female specimens from the Argentinean natural flooding pampas grasses.
Subject(s)
Spiders/anatomy & histology , Spiders/classification , Animals , Argentina , Female , MaleABSTRACT
New records of the spider Chibchea salta Huber 2000 (Araneae, Pholcidae) from northwestern Argentina are provided, and the potential range of this species is modeled. Two presence-only methods, Maxent and Bioclim, were run using 19 bioclimatic parameters at a resolution of 30 arc seconds. The climatic profile of C. salta is described, and the relative importance of the bioclimatic variables is explored. Temperature variables proved to be more decisive to the final range shape. The range predicted with Maxent is slightly larger than with Bioclim, but the latter appears to be more sensitive to the record set bias. Both methods performed well, resulting in predictive ranges consistent with the yungas ecoregion. These results provide an initial insight into the bioclimatic tolerance of C. salta, and by identifying potential areas with no records, such as the sierras on the Salta-Jujuy border, they also help in identifying sites for future sampling efforts.
Subject(s)
Climate , Geography , Models, Biological , Spiders , Animals , Argentina , EcosystemABSTRACT
Male genital mutilation is a common mechanism by which males reduce sperm competition by plugging female insemination ducts with different parts of its own genital system. This behavior is frequent in many spider families but is uncommon in Haplogynae. The reproductive biology of Dysderoidea is not well studied and the data is fragmentary; male genital mutilation has been reported only for one species of Oonopidae. This study provides evidence of male genital mutilation in Unicorn catleyi Platnick and Brescovit (Araneae: Oonopidae). Pieces of the embolus were found in the female posterior receptaculum. This behavior is a strategy used by the males in order to guarantee their paternity and not for escape from female attacks as has been reported for other species of Araneae, since cannibalism is unlikely in this species. The presence of embolus in the posterior receptaculum suggests this is the first place where sperm is received. The similarity of the female genitalia of U. catleyi to those of Orsolobidae, along with sclerotization of the seminal duct in the male copulatory bulb that is also present in Orchestina, Xiombarg, and Orsolobidae, provide strong evidence of the basal position of this genus in the family Oonopidae.
Subject(s)
Sexual Behavior, Animal , Spiders , Animals , Female , Genitalia, Female/ultrastructure , Genitalia, Male/ultrastructure , Male , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Spiders/ultrastructureABSTRACT
The Iberá Marshlands RAMSAR reserve, in the northeast of Argentina, is one of the largest and most important wetlands of America. In this study we assess orb-weaving spider (Araneae: Orbiculariae) diversity in this reserve, analyzing different facets of local diversity (species richness, diversity, evenness and taxonomic distinctness), and the contribution of species differentiation (beta diversity) among localities and habitat types to the composition of regional diversity. We found 1657 individuals of 59 orb-weaving spider species/morphospecies. Local diversity differs among the three sampled localities. At the habitat level, the different facets of biodiversity followed a clear pattern, where woodlands have higher species richness, diversity, evenness and taxonomic distinctness than savannas. Savanna sites shared a common spider species composition, while woodland communities have high values of complementarity. Thus, beta diversity has a very high contribution to the regional diversity of the orb-weaving spiders in the Iberá Marshlands. We suggest that conservation management in the reserve should be directed towards promoting natural spatial heterogeneity, giving special protection to habitat mosaics in different localities.
Subject(s)
Biodiversity , Spiders , Animals , Argentina , WetlandsABSTRACT
The Iberá Marshlands RAMSAR reserve, in the northeast of Argentina, is one of the largest and most important wetlands of America. In this study we assess orb-weaving spider (Araneae: Orbiculariae) diversity in this reserve, analyzing different facets of local diversity (species richness, diversity, evenness and taxonomic distinctness), and the contribution of species differentiation (beta diversity) among localities and habitat types to the composition of regional diversity. We found 1657 individuals of 59 orb-weaving spider species/morphospecies. Local diversity differs among the three sampled localities. At the habitat level, the different facets of biodiversity followed a clear pattern, where woodlands have higher species richness, diversity, evenness and taxonomic distinctness than savannas. Savanna sites shared a common spider species composition, while woodland communities have high values of complementarity. Thus, beta diversity has a very high contribution to the regional diversity of the orb-weaving spiders in the Iberá Marshlands. We suggest that conservation management in the reserve should be directed towards promoting natural spatial heterogeneity, giving special protection to habitat mosaics in different localities.
Subject(s)
Animals , Biodiversity , Spiders , Argentina , WetlandsABSTRACT
Spiders are a megadiverse group that can be useful indicators of the overall species richness and health of biotic communities. The spider diversity in subtropical forests of the Neotropical region are not yet well known, especially in Argentinean subtropical forests where systematic fieldwork has not been done until recently. The Great Chaco is very important as the unique dry subtropical forest of the earth, but it is suffering increasing degradation by the advance of agriculture. Spider communities have been shown to be more directly influenced by vegetation architecture than vegetation species composition. In this study, we aim to assess whether spider diversity and assemblages change in adjacent habitats with different types of vegetation. We compare the diversity and spider assemblages in two different contiguous protected habitats (hygrophilous woodland and savannah parkland) of the Mburucuyá National Park, (Humid Chaco ecoregion). Seasonal samples were obtained using three types of sampling methods: pitfall trapping, beating, and manual litter extraction. The spider assemblages were different in the studied areas, and the abundance, diversity, evenness, and species richness were higher in the hygrophilous woodland than the savannah parkland. These differences in spider diversity and assemblages indicate that both types of habitats are important if the biodiversity is to be conserved in the Chaco ecoregion, where different types of habitat are shown as a patchy distribution.
