Spatial Scale Modulates the Effect of Habitat Amount on Diversity Patterns of Arachnid Assemblages Across Different Brazilian Ecosystems

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  Spatial Scale Modulates the Effect of Habitat Amount on Diversity Patterns of Arachnid Assemblages Across Different Brazilian Ecosystems ABSTRACT Aim We evaluated how native vegetation cover influences the diversity of arachnid assemblages across multiple spatial scales in major Brazilian ecosystems. Location Brazil (Amazon and Atlantic rainforests, Cerrado savanna and Caatinga dry forest). Taxon Arachnida (Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones and Scorpiones). Methods We sampled arachnids at 120 sites using active search and litter sifting. Native vegetation cover was quantified at three spatial scales (100, 200 and 300 m buffers) using GIS data. Assemblage structure was assessed using abundance, species richness, and Hill numbers ( q  = 0, 1 and 2). Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate responses across taxonomic groups and ecosystems. Results We recorded 3986 individuals from 179 species. Diversity responses to native vegetation cover were taxon-, ecosystem- and scale-de...

On a new genus of dwarf tarantulas (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) endemic from Peru: evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny, with description of three new species

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On a new genus of dwarf tarantulas (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) endemic from Peru: evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny, with description of three new species

Abstract

Recent field campaigns conducted in Peru along with the examination of museum specimens allowed us to identify small tarantulas that do not fit with any known Theraphosidae genera. Morphology and additional molecular evidence from the mitochondrial gene COI led us to propose Kiskalla gen. nov. from southern Peru, at Puno region. Three new species of Kiskalla gen. nov. (K. ignacioi sp. nov., K. yeisoni sp. nov. and K. zukuapasanka sp. nov.) are herein described, diagnosed and illustrated. Kiskalla gen. nov. differs from the known Theraphosinae genera in the presence of lateral stripes on the abdomen and a small dorsal arrowhead-shaped patch of type III urticating setae, presence of a large number of spines on all legs, short and stout setae on the dorsal metatarsi encircling the filiform trichobothria, an apical crown of long spines on the metatarsi of all legs in both sexes and scopula of tarsi IV slightly developed, restricted to the margins due to the presence of long ventral setae. Males and females show genitalic features that resemble those of Hapalotremus Simon, 1903, but differ by the development of copulatory bulb keels and the aspect of the spermathecae. We also present data on the natural history and distribution of the species.

Quispe-Colca OM, Ferretti NE, Chaparro JC, Ochoa JA, West RC (2026) On a new genus of dwarf tarantulas (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) endemic from Peru: evidence from morphology and molecular phylogeny, with description of three new species. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 84: 371-392. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.84.e181294