Remarkable micro-endemism and high congeneric richness: eight new cave-restricted species of Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the Brazilian semi-arid

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  Remarkable micro-endemism and high congeneric richness: eight new cave-restricted species of Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the Brazilian semi-arid Abstract Eight new species of pseudoscorpions belonging to the genus Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 are described from the semi-arid region of Brazil. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, diagnostic characters, detailed illustrations, and ecological remarks of the habitats are provided for Pseudochthonius celestialis sp. nov., P. caritas sp. nov., P. patientia sp. nov., P. temperantia sp. nov., P. diligentia sp. nov., P. castitas sp. nov., P. humilitas sp. nov., and P. benignitas sp. nov. In addition, we present a brief discussion of the potential factors underlying the remarkable congeneric species richness observed in this geographically restricted region, as well as the principal threats faced by these species. These findings underscore the importance of conserving caves in order to pr...

Resurrection of the erigonine spider Ceratinopsis tybeensis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) with the first description of the male

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Resurrection of the erigonine spider Ceratinopsis tybeensis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) with the first description of the male

Abstract 

The erigonine linyphiid spider Ceratinopsis tybeensis Chamberlin & Ivie, 1944 was described from a single female collected in Savannah Beach, Georgia, USA. Subsequently, it was declared a junior synonym of Masonetta floridana (Ivie & Barrows, 1935) by Ivie (1967). However, recent multiple collections of females of M. floridana with specimens of an undescribed erigonine male has thrown this synonymy into question. Recent new research using morphological and molecular evidence supports our hypotheses that the synonymy proposed by Ivie is erroneous and the new male is the previously undescribed male of C. tybeensis. Herein, we resurrect C. tybeensis, provide the first description of the male, redescribe the female, and document increases to the known ranges of C. tybeensis and M. floridana. 

Milne, M. A. & Stahl, T. (2026). Resurrection of the erigonine spider Ceratinopsis tybeensis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) with the first description of the male. Arachnology 20(5): 744-748.