Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia

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  Examining ecological niche for six species of whip spider in Colombia  Abstract The conditioning variables for the establishment of Amblypygi populations and their ecological interactions are currently poorly studied. Delving deeper into this can help to conserve this group of short-range distribution species, which are useful as a model in biogeographic research. In this study, we evaluated the distribution and overlapping patterns of ecological niche in six species of amblypygids ( Phrynus araya , P. panche , P. pulchripes , Heterophrynus batesii , H. boterorum , H. cervinus ) in the Andean and Amazonian ecosystems of Colombia, revealing a clear biogeographic segregation driven by environmental gradients: Phrynus species were associated with inter-Andean valleys with high thermal and water seasonality.  While the Heterophrynus occupied more stable and humid conditions of foothills and middle elevations. Overlap analyses showed significant divergence (e.g., D=0.105 b...

Studies on spider nomenclature V: the taxonomic status of Drassus maillardii Vinson, 1863, with two new synonymies, a neotype, new combinations and a new genus (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

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Studies on spider nomenclature V: the taxonomic status of Drassus maillardii Vinson, 1863, with two new synonymies, a neotype, new combinations and a new genus (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)

Abstract
A new gnaphosid genus, Sorkinius gen. nov., is described to house divergent species from East Africa, Réunion and the Seychelles. A neotype is designated for the type species, Sorkinius maillardii comb. nov. et stat. rev., formerly described as Dras sus maillardii Vinson, 1863 and previously considered a nomen dubium since 1955. Xerophaeus espoir Platnick, 1981 syn. nov. and Xerophaeus oceanicus Schmidt & Jocqué, 1983 syn. nov. are both proposed as junior synonyms of S. maillardii comb. nov. Sorkinius kibonotensis Tullgren, 1910 comb. nov. et stat. rev. is transferred to the new genus and elevated to species level from its previous parent species Xerophaeus coruscus L. Koch, 1875, with notes on its history. Sorkinius coruscus comb. nov. is itself treated as a valid and distinct species.

Sherwood, Danniella & Jocqué, Rudy & Cazanove, Grégory & Derepas, Brice. (2025). Studies on spider nomenclature V: the taxonomic status of Drassus maillardii Vinson, 1863, with two new synonymies, a neotype, new combinations and a new genus (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 47. 9-18.