Renner Luiz Cerqueira Baptista

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.

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.

Spider diversity (Arachnida: Araneae) in Atlantic Forest areas at Pedra Branca State Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract Background There has never been any published work about the diversity of spiders in the city of Rio de Janeiro using analytical tools to measure diversity. The only available records for spider communities in nearby areas indicate 308 species in the National Park of Tijuca and 159 species in Marapendi Municipal Park. These numbers are based on a rapid survey and on an one-year survey respectively. New information This study provides a more thorough understanding of how the spider species are distributed at Pedra Branca State Park. We report a total of 14,626 spider specimens recorded from this park, representing 49 families and 373 species or morphospecies, including at least 73 undescribed species. Also, the distribution range of 45 species was expanded, and species accumulation curves estimate that there is a minimum of 388 (Bootstrap) and a maximum of 468 species (Jackknife2) for the sampled areas. These estimates indicates that the spider diversity may be higher than observed.

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.

Notes on the orb-weaving spider genus Alpaida (Araneae, Araneidae) with description of four new species from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Four new species of the orb-weaving spider genus Alpaida O. P.-Cambridge, 1889 from Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil are illustrated and described based on males and females from the following municipalities: Alpaida imperatrix new species (Macaé and Rio de Janeiro); Alpaida imperialis new species (Mendes and Rio de Janeiro); Alpaida marista new species (Mendes and Pinheiral); and Alpaida mendensis new species (Mendes). Furthermore, two new synonymies are herein proposed: Alpaida lanei Levi, 1988 = Alpaida atomaria (Simon, 1895) and Alpaida caxias Levi, 1988 = Alpaida tijuca Levi, 1988, alongside new records for both species and also Alpaida venger Castanheira Baptista, 2015.

Further advancements in the taxonomy of Trechona spiders (Araneae: Dipluridae): two new species, redescription of Trechona uniformis Mello-Leitão, 1935, additions to descriptions of Trechona rufa Vellard, 1924 and Trechona venosa (Latreille, 1832) and key: Taxonomy of Trechona spiders

The taxonomy of the Trechona C. L. Koch, 1850 species is revisited with the description of two new species from Southeastern Brazil: Trechona excursora sp. nov., from the state of Minas Gerais, and Trechona cotia sp. nov., from the state of São Paulo. Trechona uniformis Mello‐Leitão, 1935 is redescribed, its female newly described and new data are added to descriptions of Trechona rufa Vellard, 1924 and Trechona venosa (Latreille, 1832). A key is given to males and females of all known species of Trechona, and an updated distribution map is presented.

New species and records of Otiothopinae from the Southern Atlantic Rainforest, with notes on the claw tufts in Fernandezina Birabén (Araneae: Palpimanidae).

Two new species of Otiothops MacLeay, 1839 (O. atalaia sp. n. and O. goytacaz sp. n.), a new species of Fernandezina Birabén, 1951 (F. jurubatiba sp. n.) as well as the female of F. tijuca Ramírez & Grismado, 1996 are described from the Atlantic Rainforest of southeastern Brazil, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Scanning electron microscope images of the tarsi of F. jurubatiba sp. n. and F. dasilvai Platnick, Grismado & Ramírez, 1999 show that this genus has claw tufts on the posterior legs, composed of setae of variable structure.

A new species of Alpaida (Araneae, Araneidae) from Southeastern Brazil

Alpaida venger sp. nov. is described based on males and females from Pedra Branca State Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This species seems to be related to Alpaida scriba (Mello-Leitao, 1940) and Alpaida alticeps (Keyserling, 1879) due to similar body shape and color, but is easily distinguished by the very elongated median apophysis, the massive lobe of tegulum and the hooked paracymbium of male palp. Females have elongated epigyne as A. scriba, but can be distinguished by the wider lips and shorter scape.