Abel Pérez González

A multilocus approach to harvestman (Arachnida: Opiliones) phylogeny with emphasis on biogeography and the systematics of Laniatores

The internal phylogeny of the arachnid order Opiliones is investigated by including molecular data from five molecular markers for ca. 140 species totalling 43 families of Opiliones. The phylogenetic analyses consisted of a direct optimization (DO) approach using POY v. 4 and sophisticated tree search algorithms as well as a static alignment analysed under maximum likelihood. The four Opiliones suborders were well‐supported clades, but subordinal relationships did not receive support in the DO analysis, with the exception of the monophyly of Palpatores (=Eupnoi + Dyspnoi). Maximum‐likelihood analysis strongly supported the traditional relationship of Phalangida and Palpatores: (Cyphophthalmi ((Eupnoi + Dyspnoi) Laniatores)). Relationships within each suborder are well resolved and largely congruent between direct optimization and maximum‐likelihood approaches. Age estimates for the main Opiliones lineages suggest a Carboniferous diversification of Cyphophthalmi, while its sister group, Phalangida, diversified in the Early Devonian. Diversification of all suborders predates the Triassic, and most major lineages predate the Cretaceous. The following taxonomic changes are proposed. Dyspnoi: Hesperonemastoma is transferred to Sabaconidae. Insidiatores: Sclerobunidae stat. nov. is erected as a family for Zuma acuta.

Female genital dimorphism in a spider (Araneae: Pholcidae)

Discontinuous individual variation among members of the same sex, in the same life stage, within a population, is an important phenomenon for our understanding of more fundamental issues in evolutionary biology. One set of morphological characters is conspicuously rare in the literature on intrasexual polymorphisms: genitalia. In this paper we report the first case of a female genital polymorphism, the first not only for spiders but apparently for animals in general. We argue that the overwhelming use of genitalia in species identification practiced by many invertebrate taxonomists presents a strong bias against discovering polymorphisms in genitalia. Further methodological and practical aspects of invertebrate taxonomy are discussed that taken together make the discovery of genital polymorphisms very unlikely, no matter whether or not the phenomenon is rare.

A New Genus of Pholcid Spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae) Endemic to Western Cuba, with a Case of Female Genitalic Dimorphism

Abstract Four species of Ciboneya Pérez, n. gen. are described from western Cuba: C. nuriae, n. sp. from La Habana and Pinar del Rio Provinces, C. odilere, n. sp., C. parva, n. sp., and C. antraia, n. sp. from Pinar del Rio Province. The species share apophyses on the male cheliceral fangs, corresponding pockets or modified areas on the female epigynum, and several details of the male pedipalps. Vertical hairs on the tibiae and metatarsi of the male legs and a retrolateral coxa apophysis on the male palp place the genus close to other Central and South American genera of the New World clade of pholcids, but the exact sister group is obscure. The spiders live in the leaf litter and under rocks in humid forests, or near the floor in caves. The females of C. antraia show a remarkable dimorphism in their genitalia, with rare intermediate forms. The possibly more frequent occurrence of such a dimorphism and the probable bias toward reporting it as two different species are discussed.

Amblypygi, Opiliones, Schizomida, Scorpiones and Chilopoda, Tocantins, Brazil

The Tocantins 2007 Expedition of the Project “Aracnideos e Miriapodes da Mata Atlântica” (AMMA) produced many new records of arachnids and centipedes, with 61 morphotypes identified. Among the results are: OPILIONES: 30 morphotypes with six new records of families and one of subfamily from Tocantins state; discovery of two undescribed species of Roquettea Mello-Leitao, 1931; Saramacia alvarengai Kury, 1997 is newly considered a junior subjective synonym of Saramacia annulata (Mello-Leitao, 1931); Brotasus Roewer, 1928 is transferred to Escadabiidae; the gonyleptid genera Parapachyloides Roewer, 1913 and Schubartesia B. Soares, 1944 are transferred to Gonyleptinae; SCHIZOMIDA: one species, new record of the order from Tocantins and from the Cerrado biome; SCORPIONES: seven species, one of them new record from Tocantins and two morphotypes; Chilopoda: 19 morphotypes, SCUTIGEROMORPHA: a widespread species Sphendononema guildingii (Newport, 1845) and another morphotype; GEOPHILOMORPHA: one morphotype; SCOLOPENDROMORPHA: 16 morphotypes, seven of them new records.

Ochyrocera ibitipoca (Araneae: Ochyroceratidae), a new spider species from Brazilian caves

A new spider species, Ochyrocera ibitipoca sp. n., is described from caves in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A close relationship to Ochyrocera viridissima Brignoli, 1974 is indicated by male genital characteristics. A discussion on the delimitation and composition of Ochyrocera Simon, 1891 is included, with hints on the heterogeneous nature of the genus.

PSEUDALBIORIX, A NEW GENUS OF IDEORONCIDAE (PSEUDOSCORPIONES, NEOBISIOIDEA) FROM CENTRAL AMERICA

Abstract A new genus of Ideoroncidae, Pseudalbiorix, is described from Central America, and is found to consist of four species: the type species P. reddelli (Muchmore 1982), new combination from southern Mexico, P. veracruzensis (Hoff 1945), new combination from Belize, Guatemala and southern Mexico, and P. muchmorei Barba & Pérez, new species and P. armasi Barba & Pérez, new species from western Cuba. Pseudalbiorix reddelli and P. veracruzensis are transferred from the genus Albiorix. Members of this genus differ from all other ideoroncids principally in the morphology of the chelal externo-distal condyle. All post-embryonic stages of P. reddelli are described.

A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS KIMULA (OPILIONES, MINUIDAE) FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Abstract Kimula cokendolpheri new species is described from the Central Range of the Dominican Republic, West Indies. It is the first non-fossil species of this genus recorded from Hispaniola.