Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae)

Posted by
  Joining the dark side: waterfall spiders in subterranean habitats, with the description of a new genus and two new species from Brazil (Araneae: Trechaleidae) Abstract Trechaleidae is a family of spiders often recognized by its semiaquatic species, but its diversity extends beyond these well-known examples. In this study, we describe Troglotrechalea gen. nov. , a new genus with two novel species, T. faleroae spec. nov. and T. agorai spec. nov. , found exclusively in subterranean habitats within karst formations in central and southeastern Brazil. Both species exhibit pale coloration, but unmodified eyes and legs if compared to other species in the family. The slight degree of troglomorphism, along with their geographic and habitat records, suggests that these species are restricted to hypogean habitats, although they probably move through epigean habitats. Additionally, we report in detail the occurrence of the trechaleid genera Enna O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, Heidrunea Brescovi...

A new species and new records of the spider genus Dubiaranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from southern Brazil and Uruguay, with an analysis of the potential distribution of the species

Posted by

 


A new species and new records of the spider genus Dubiaranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from southern Brazil and Uruguay, with an analysis of the potential distribution of the species

Abstract

Dubiaranea magatama Cajade, Hagopián & Rodrigues n. sp. is described from Uruguay, and southern Brazil based on males and females from several types of native forests, and a potential distribution for this species is modeled. The predicted model for this species indicates a Pampean province and southern Atlantic Forest biome distribution. Three variables contributed significantly to the model with positive influence: the spatial component, the proximity to large rivers, and the tree cover. Also, we provide new records of Dubiaranea difficilis (Mello-Leitão 1944) for Uruguay and a model of its potential distribution was performed. It showed that tree cover, the proximity to large rivers, the spatial component and precipitation/evapotranspiration constraints were recovered for the model with positive influence, expanding the potential distribution area previously proposed.

Cajade, M., Hagopián, D., Rodrigues, E. N. L., Guerrero, J. C., Laborda, Á. & Simó, M. (2024). A new species and new records of the spider genus Dubiaranea (Araneae, Linyphiidae) from southern Brazil and Uruguay, with an analysis of the potential distribution of the species. Zootaxa 5437(2): 223-224. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5437.2.3