Gonzalo D. Rubio

Taxonomic revision of the American spider genus Arachosia (Araneae: Anyphaenidae)

We review the American spider genus Arachosia O.P.-Cambridge, and present a descriptive taxonomic study with a comparative dichotomous key including 21 species, of which seven are newly described (A. avalosi sp. nov., A. carancho sp. nov., A. kapiipeoi sp. nov., A. magna sp. nov., A. monserrate sp. nov., A. pinhalito sp. nov. and A. tungurahua sp. nov.). Four species names are considered nomina dubia: Oxysoma dubium Berland, Gayenna duplovittata Mello-Leitão, Oxysoma polytrichium Mello-Leitão, and Arachosia sulfurea Mello-Leitão. Arachosia bonneti (Mello-Leitão) is newly synonymized with A. albiventris Mello-Leitão, and A. mezenioides Mello-Leitão with A. freiburgensis Keyserling. Previous problems with the identification of species in a species complex including A. cubana (Banks) are resolved. A disjunct distributional pattern is reported for A. kapiipeoi sp. nov.; a preliminary phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial COI sequences shows that these may correspond with two cryptic species. In this contribution, grassland and forests are discussed as the two main habitats inhabited by species of Arachosia. Finally, we propose a hypothesis of matching sexes based on functionality of some genital structures, involving sclerites of the male copulatory organ with structures of the epigyne: the prolateral projection on the primary conductor of the male would have a direct interaction with the lateral projections of the anterior pouch on the median epigynal field of females.

Three new species and the first known males of the Andean spider genus Orinomana Strand (Araneae, Uloboridae)

Three new species of the uloborid genus Orinomana Strand, O. penelope n. sp. from Ecuador, O. viracocha n. sp. from Peru, and O. florezi n. sp. from Colombia, are described. Additionally, the male of O. ascha Grismado, from Northwestern Argentina, is described for the first time. This material includes the first males known of the genus, providing diagnostic characters for its recognition; the complex and massive embolus with several branches is proposed as a synapomorphy of the genus.

The Spider Genus Mazax (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) Newly Recorded from South America, with the Description of a New Species

Abstract The spider genus Mazax O. P.-Cambridge, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) is reported from South America for the first time. A new species, M. ramirezi sp. nov., is described and illustrated, and SEM images of the genus Mazax are presented here for the first time. The exclusive morphology of the secondary spermathecae (not oval and lung-shaped) indicates that the specimens described herein clearly belong to a new species of Mazax. An updated dichotomous key to the known species of the genus is provided.

A New Species of Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Turkey

ABSTRACT: A new species, Zodarion tireboluensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on material collected in the Giresun Province of Turkey. Differences between the new species and the closely related Zodarion aurorae Weiss, 1982 are discussed. An updated dichotomous key to the known species of the “germanicum” group is provided.

First description of the male of the spider Tibellus paraguensis Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Philodromidae), with new distribution records

The genus Tibellus Simon, 1875 currently includes 51 species (WSC 2016); it presents some taxonomic difficulties, due to morphological variability, and similarities among some congeners (Efimik 1999). Studies on the genus were undertaken by Gertsch (1933) and Schick (1965) from America, Tikader (1980) from India, Van den Berg & Dippenaar-Schoeman (1994) from the Afrotropical region, and Efimik (1999) from the East Palearctic region.

New species and the first known male of the jumping spider Ceriomura Simon (Araneae: Salticidae: Gophoini) with the faunistic revision of gophoines from Misiones, Argentina

AbstractA new species of the salticid genus Ceriomura Simon, 1901, C. damborskyae n. sp. from Northeastern Argentina, including the first known males of the genus, is described. Diagnostic characters for its recognition are provided. The embolus arising on the dorsal side of the bulb is proposed as a synapomorphy of the genus within the tribe Gophoini Simon. The faunistic revision of gophoine species from Misiones province (Argentina) is included with three new records (including genus Ceriomura) for the country. Diagnostic drawings and full color photographs for every recorded species are presented.

A new species of Castianeira Keyserling (Araneae, Corinnidae) from Buenos Aires, Argentina

A new species of the spider genus Castianeira (Araneae: Corinnidae) from Argentina, C. coquito, is described on the basis of male and female specimens collected in northeastern Buenos Aires Province and the Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. This new species is characterized by its diminutive size and by the very globose copulatory bulb with a thick neck. It is the sixth species of the genus reported for the country.

A revision of the Neotropical genus Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão (Araneae, Hahniidae)

The Neotropical genus Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão, 1942 is revised, comprising four species from Argentina. The genus is here transferred to the subfamily Hahniinae Bertkau, 1878 from Cybaeolinae Lehtinen, 1967. Austrohahnia is diagnosed by a single synapomorphy, short setae ventrally on the abdomen, in immature as well as adult stages. The type species A. praestans Mello-Leitão, 1942 is redescribed. Austrohahnia catleyi new species is described and illustrated based both sexes from the alder forests of northwestern Argentina. Austrohahnia melloleitaoi (Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1942) new combination was transferred from Hahnia C.L. Koch, 1841, the male is described and illustrated for the first time, and the female is redescribed. Austrohahnia isophthalma (Mello-Leitão, 1941) new combination is also transferred from Hahnia and considered a nomen dubium. New geographic records of studied species are provided.