Denis Rafael Pedroso

Tmesiphantes hypogeus sp. nov. (Araneae, Theraphosidae), the first troglobitic tarantula from Brazil

A new species of Tmesiphantes Simon, 1892, is described from sandstone/quartizitic caves of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia State, Brazil. This is the fifth species of the genus and the first record of a troglobitic mygalomorph in Brazil. A key is presented for all Tmesiphantes species.

A new troglomorphic species of Harmonicon (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Dipluridae) from Para, Brazil, with notes on the genus.

Abstract A new species of Harmonicon F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 (Araneae, Dipluridae) is described, from a medium-sized lateritic cave in Parauapebas, Pará, Brazil. The male holotype and only specimen known of H. cerberus sp. n. was found near the entrance of Pequiá cave. This taxon is the fourth species described and the southernmost record for the genus. The new species displays some troglomorphic characteristics, such as reduction and merging of the posterior median and both pairs of lateral eyes and pale yellow to light brown coloration. Both characters are diagnostic when compared to the normal separated eyes and reddish to dark brown of other Harmonicon species. Other diagnostic characteristics are isolated, long, rigid setae distal to the lyra and the shape of the copulatory bulb. This is the second troglomorphic mygalomorph species from Brazil and the first from the Amazonian region.

An unusual new species of Trechona (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae), from quartzitic caves of the Diamantina Plateau, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with a key to the known species

ABSTRACT Trechona diamantina sp. nov. is described from quartzite caves in Diamantina, central Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This represents the largest cavernicolous mygalomorph population ever recorded. The new species is the first Trechona recorded from a xeric habitat, namely the Rocky Fields on the Diamantina Plateau. T. diamantina sp. nov. is closely related to T. uniformis, both species possessing elongated male and female copulatory organs and both constructing distinct funnel-webs and sheet-webs in quartzite formations. T. diamantina sp. nov. is distinct in possessing less elongated embolus and receptacula seminis. A key for all valid species of the genus is given. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EB9E66B3-4701-470C-A80D-873E25F52042

Trechona rufa (Araneae, Dipluridae): new status, redescription and neotype designation with notes on the genus

Abstract In this paper, Trechona venosa rufa Vellard 1924 is elevated to species rank, a neotype is designated, the male is described for the first time, and the female is redescribed. Trechona rufa seems to be restricted to the Atlantic Forest of São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil, covering an area along the coast and going up to the southern slope of the Mantiqueira mountain chain. The composition and distribution of the genus Trechona is changed. As a result, only three valid species remain in Trechona, all inhabiting the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The other species formerly included in Trechona are considered below: T. lycosiformis (C.L. Koch 1842)  =  Avicularia lycosiformis comb. nov., Theraphosidae incertae sedis; T. sericata (Karsch 1879)  =  Linothele sericata (Karsch 1879), Dipluridae incertae sedis; T. adspersa Bertkau 1880  =  Nemesiidae incertae sedis; T. rogenhoferi (Ausserer 1871)  =  nomen dubium.

A new species of Masteria (Araneae: Dipluridae: Masteriinae) from southeastern Brazil

A new species of Masteria L. Koch, 1873 from iron ore caves at Caete and Santa Barbara, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Masteria emboaba sp. nov., is described. It was collected inside caves and in the litter of nearby dry forests. It is the first masteriine species described from southeastern Brazil and the second masteriine species for the country. The new species is the only known Masteria with only two eyes. Additionally, the male of M. emboaba sp. nov. has only two regular, thin spines at the apex of tibia I, lacking the tibial apophysis found in most other Masteria species. The only other described Masteria species that has spines in the place of tibial apophysis is M. aimeae (Alayon, 1995) from Cuba; however, the last species has a longer and sinuous embolus, contrasting the embolus of M. emboaba sp. nov., which is much smaller, less sinuous and transversally placed. The only other described Brazilian species, M. manauara Bertani, Cruz & Oliveira, 2013, has a double tibial apophysis, with both ends tipped by a strong, short spine, and a very long embolus, parallel to the bulb.

Comments on the genus Diplura C. L. Koch, 1850, with description of two new species (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Dipluridae)

Abstract Two new species of Diplura C. L. Koch 1850 are described from Brazil: Diplura mapinguari sp. n., from the state of Rondônia in southeastern Amazonia, northern Brazil, and Diplura rodrigoi sp. n., known from southeastern and central west regions of Brazil. Diplura rodrigoi sp. n. is morphologically similar to D. lineata (Lucas, 1857), D. sanguinea (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896), and D. mapinguari sp. n. Comments on diagnostic characters of Diplura are included. The synonymy of D. maculata (Mello-Leitão, 1927) with D. catharinensis (Mello-Leitão, 1923) is corroborated. A classification of color pattern of the dorsum of the abdomen is given.