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

Posted by
  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...

A revalidation and redescription of the orb-web spider Araniella tbilisiensis (Mcheidze 1997) (Araneae: Araneidae)

Posted by

 


A revalidation and redescription of the orb-web spider Araniella tbilisiensis (Mcheidze 1997) (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abstract

Based on the female lectotype from the D.E. Kharitonov’s collection, we provide a re-evaluation and redescription of an orb-web spider Araniella tbilisiensis (Mcheidze, 1997). Following an examination of Araniella villanii Zamani et al., 2020 paratypes, we considered this a junior synonym of A. tbilisiensis. Additionally, the photographs of the epigyne of a female specimen from D.E. Kharitonov’s collection, originally assigned to A. tbilisiensis, are presented as an unknown Araniella sp.

Tiunov A, Ustinova AL (2025) A revalidation and redescription of the orb-web spider Araniella tbilisiensis (Mcheidze 1997) (Araneae: Araneidae). Caucasiana 4: 195-201. https://doi.org/10.3897/caucasiana.4.e173656