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...

Death-feigning behavior following dragline escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae)

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Death-feigning behavior following dragline escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae)

Abstract 

Death-feigning behavior (thanatosis) was documented in the Pantropical Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae), observed within a human dwelling. Upon disturbance, the spider rapidly descended from a vertical surface using a silk dragline and subsequently assumed a motionless posture with legs partially flexed inward, closely resembling a dead individual. This immobile state persisted for approximately ten minutes despite mild tactile stimulation. Although huntsman spiders primarily relied on rapid escape responses, this observation indicated that thanatosis may have functioned as an additional anti-predator strategy. There are limited reports of this behavior in Sparassidae.

Sylvester, C. & Abhilash, H. R. 2026. Death-feigning behavior following dragline
escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae). Munis
Entomology & Zoology, 21 (2): 2095-2097 Munis Entomology & Zoology