Abundance and use of microhabitats by the sicario spider Sicarius thomisoides Walckenaer, 1847 (Araneae: Sicariidae) in various environments of Mejillones, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Abstract
For the spider Sicarius thomisoides Walckenaer, 1847, this study provides data on the
frequency and abundance of the species in various vegetation-free environments (ADV), both natural
and human-altered, with a predominance of three microhabitats (rocks, trash, and caves), in the area
near Mejillones, Antofagasta Region, Chile. The frequency of spider records was very high and similar
across the three habitats (between 92% and 100), but the abundance varied significantly depending
on the environment, with much significantly higher abundance in the Rock habitat compared to the
other two habitats. Regarding microhabitat use, 77.3% of the spiders were found in caves, 41.1% in
trash, and 34.7% on rocks. A detailed description of the caves is provided, including the length and
height of the entrances, as well as the length and depth of these. The use and quantification of the
frequency of trash and caves provide new insights into microhabitat use by this species, as previous
studies indicated only the use of rocks.
Mella Ávila, J. E. ., & Allendes, J. L. . (2026). Abundancia y uso de microhábitats de la araña sicario <em>Sicarius thomisoides</em> Walckenaer, 1847 (Araneae: Sicariidae) en distintos ambientes de Mejillones, Región de Antofagasta, Chile. Revista Chilena De Entomología, 52(3). Retrieved from https://www.biotaxa.org/rce/article/view/88911
