Thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale: novel insights and comparative analysis with a sympatric species

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  Thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale: novel insights and comparative analysis with a sympatric species Abstract Understanding thermal responses in ectotherms is key to assessing vulnerability to climate change. Tarantulas (Theraphosidae) are informative models due to their sedentary lifestyle, long life cycles, and reliance on specific microhabitats. We present the first integrative assessment of the thermal ecology of Plesiopelma longisternale , a widespread Argentine species, combining experimentally derived thermal limits and thermal preferences with species distribution models, and compare its thermal profile with the sympatric Grammostola vachoni to explore patterns of thermal niche differentiation. Plesiopelma longisternale showed a minimum thermal limit near 4 °C, a maximum near 44 °C, a thermal optimum of 29.5 °C, a narrow thermal performance breadth, and a preferred temperature of approximately 32 °C. Models integrating climatic and thermal parameters predicted...

On Antillean ochyroceratines (Scytodoidea: Ochyroceratidae: Ochyroceratinae), with the description of three new species from Cuba

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On Antillean ochyroceratines (Scytodoidea: Ochyroceratidae: Ochyroceratinae), with the description of three new species from Cuba

Abstract

Ochyroceratinae is a diverse subfamily that has received fragmentary taxonomic attention. We here present a survey of Cuban species belonging to this group and examine the results in the light of recent phylogenies of the family. Three new species belonging to Ochyrocera Simon, 1892, are named: Ochyrocera luisarmasi sp. nov., O. maestra sp. nov. and O. mayabeque sp. nov. The new species are close relatives of the type species of Fageicera Dumitrescu & Georgescu, 1992, but some of them lack the diagnostic characters of the genus, blurring the limits between these genera. In addition, Fageicera nests phylogenetically within Ochyrocera. At the same time, we find no support to maintain the fossil genus †Arachnolithulus Wunderlich, 1988 (from Dominican amber) as a different taxon from extant Ochyrocera. Thus, we here propose Fageicera and †Arachnolithulus as syn. nov. of Ochyrocera, resulting in the following new combinations: †Ochyrocera longipes (Wunderlich) comb. nov., †O. pygmaeus (Wunderlich) comb. nov., O. cubana (Dumitrescu & Georgescu) comb. nov., O. loma (Dumitrescu & Georgescu) comb. nov., O. matarredondensis (Cuervo & Buitrago) comb. nov., and O. nasuta (Dumitrescu & Georgescu) comb. nov. Additionally, we argue that Ochyrocera Simon, 1892 nomen protectum, which is in prevailing usage, has an older synonym, Pandeus Keyserling, 1891 nomen oblitum, but Simon’s name qualifies for a reversal of precedence and should be retained as valid following Article 23.9 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Pérez González, Abel & Magalhaes, Ivan. (2025). On Antillean ochyroceratines (Scytodoidea: Ochyroceratidae: Ochyroceratinae), with the description of three new species from Cuba. 
Zootaxa. 5563. 264-289. 10.11646/zootaxa.5563.1.18.