Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil

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  Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil ABSTRACT Aim Beta diversity analyses clarify mechanisms structuring ecological communities, but their multidimensional facets remain poorly explored in arthropods. Here, we quantified taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity in scorpions, partitioned these facets into species replacement and richness differences, and evaluated the relative importance of spatial structure and environmental conditions in driving community assembly. Location Northeastern Brazil, South America. Taxon Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Methods Taxonomic beta diversity was estimated using species presence across 70 sites in northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic turnover was calculated from a multi-locus molecular tree, and functional beta diversity was derived from morphometric and ecological traits. All beta diversity facets were decomposed into replacement and richness-difference component...

Description of seven new species of Theraphosidae (Araneae, Theraphosinae; Ischnocolinae) from Ecuador, along with the identification of a new variation of type I urticating setae

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Description of seven new species of Theraphosidae (Araneae, Theraphosinae; Ischnocolinae) from Ecuador, along with the identification of a new variation of type I urticating setae

Abstract

Seven Theraphosidae species are newly described from Ecuador: from the genus Pamphobeteus Pocock, 1901: Pamphobeteus contramina sp. nov. (male, female) and Pamphobeteus guacamayos sp. nov. (female); from the genus Thrixopelma Schmidt, 1994, Thrixopelma supay sp. nov. (female) and Thrixopelma michaeli sp. nov. (male); from the genus Hapalopus Ausserer, 1875, Hapalopus planetearth sp. nov. (female); and from the genus Holothele Karsch, 1879, Holothele incurva sp. nov. (male) and, Holothele tsala sp. nov. (female). Images of a male syntype of Pamphobeteus augusti (Simon, 1889) are included, along with a distribution map of all Pamphobeteus species found in Ecuador. The presence and distribution of urticating abdominal setae type I, III and IV are discussed, and a new variation of type I urticating setae is described.

Dupérre, N. & Tapia, E. (2025) Description of seven new species of Theraphosidae (Araneae, Theraphosinae; Ischnocolinae) from Ecuador, along with the identification of a new variation of type I urticating setae. Zootaxa, 5722 (4), 451–484. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5722.4.1