Filogenia y biogeografía del Clado Antillattus (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini)

The Euophryini tribe is currently one of the most diverse groups of salticidae. Within this group, the neotropic is represented by 11 clades, included the Antillattus clade (Antillattus 13 spp, Truncattus 5 spp, Petemathis 5 spp, possibly Allodecta 1 spp and Caribatus 1 spp). To clarify the phylogeny and biogeography of the Antillattus clade, we amplified and sequenced three genes (nuclear: 28S rDNA; mitochondrial: 16S, COI) corresponding to species belonging to the study group and outgroups (68 terminals). In addition, a total of 125 morphological characters were used, which in combination with the molecular evidence, helped to clarify the relationships between genera and species. Additionally, the GAARlandia hypothesis and the non-GAARlandia hypothesis are tested as possible routes of colonization and diversification of the Antillattus clade. The combined working hypothesis (DNA + morphology) supports the monophyly of the Antillattus clade. The results indicate that the genus Antillattus sensus Zhang and Maddison (2015), is not monophyletic, and it is divided into the genus Pensacolatus, Antillattus and Bryanattus gen. nov.. The results also supported the transferences of species to the genera Truncattus, Bryanattus gen. nov., Cobanus, Compsodecta, and the description of the genus Paracobanus gen. nov.. The detailed review provides new limits of genera and species, 19 comb. nov., 2 gen. nov., 11 sp. nov.. Finally, the results also suggest that the radiation of the group occurred in the last period of GAARlandia and that diversification within the Greate Antilles is the result of vicariance and founder-event. Additionally, evidence suggest that Hispaniola played a role as a point of dispersion to other Antillean islands.La tribu Euophryini resulta en la actualidad, una de las más diversas dentro de la familia salticidae. Dentro de este grupo, los representantes neotropicales conforman 11 clados, de los cuales, el clado Antillattus (Antillattus 13 spp, Truncattus 5 spp, Petemathis 5 spp, posiblemente Allodecta 1 spp, Caribatus 1 spp) resulta exclusivo del Caribe insular. Para aclarar la filogenia y biogeografía del clado Antillattus, amplificamos y secuenciamos tres genes (nuclear: 28S rDNA; mitocondrial: 16S, COI) correspondientes a especies pertenecientes al grupo de estudio y a grupos hermanos (68 terminales en total) dentro de gran parte del Caribe biogeográfico. Además, se utilizó un total de 125 caracteres morfológicos, que en combinación con la evidencia molecular, ayudó a aclarar las relaciones entre los géneros y especies. Se estudió en mayor detalle los caracteres morfológicos de los géneros y especies del clado Antillattus así como de sus grupos relacionados con el objetivo de profundizar en la comprensión de filogenética desde una panorámica morfológica. Adicionalmente, para comprender el origen y el momento de la colonización del grupo, se pone a prueba la hipótesis de GAARlandia y la hipotesis no-GAARlandia como posibles vías de colonización y diversificación del cladoAntillattus en las Antillas Mayores. La hipotesis combinada (ADN+morfología) de trabajo, apoya la monofilia del clado Antillattus. Los resultados indican que el género Antillattus sensus Zhang y Maddison (2015), no es monofilético, y para el presente estudio se divide en los géneros Pensacolatus, Antillattus y Bryanattus gen. nov.. La filogenia combinada de datos morfológicos y moleculares, también apoyó la transferencia de especies a los géneros Truncattus, Bryanattus, Cobanus, Compsodecta y la descripción del género Paracobanus gen. nov.. La revisión detallada proporciona nuevos limites de géneros y especies, 19 comb. nov., 2 gen. nov., 11 sp. nov.. Finalmente, los resultados también sugieren que la radiación del grupo tuvo lugar en el último periodo de GAARlandia y que la diversificación dentro del Caribe insular, es el resultado de vicarianza y eventos fundadores. Adicionalmente, se encontró evidencia que sugiere que La Española jugó un papel como punto de distribución hacia Cuba y Puerto Rico.Doctorad

Ecology of the Scorpion, Microtityus jaumei in Sierra de Canasta, Cuba

An assessment of the population dynamics of Microtityus jaumei Armas (Scorpiones: Buthidae) on the slopes south of Sierra de Canasta, Guantánamo Province, Cuba show an increase in activity over the year (≤ 0.05). The activity peak is related to the reproductive period from June to November. The abundance of scorpions was significantly related to density of the canopy and thickness of the substrate

Island–to–Island Vicariance, Founder–Events and within–Area Speciation: The Biogeographic History of the Antillattus Clade (Salticidae: Euophryini)

The Caribbean Archipelago is a biodiversity hotspot that plays a key role in developing our understanding of how dispersal ability affects species formation. In island systems, species with intermediate dispersal abilities tend to exhibit greater diversity, as may be the case for many of the salticid lineages of the insular Caribbean. Here, we use molecular phylogenetic analyses to infer patterns of relationships and biogeographic history of the Caribbean endemic Antillattus clade (Antillattus, Truncattus, and Petemethis). We test if the timing of origin of the Antillatus clade in the Greater Antilles is congruent with GAARlandia and infer patterns of diversification within the Antillattus clade among Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. Specifically, we evaluate the relative roles of dispersal over land connections, and overwater dispersal events in diversification within the Greater Antilles. Time tree analysis and model-based inference of ancestral ranges estimated the ancestor of the Antillattus clade to be c. 25 Mya, and the best model suggests dispersal via GAARlandia from northern South America to Hispaniola. Hispaniola seems to be the nucleus from which ancestral populations dispersed into Cuba and Puerto Rico via land connections prior to the opening of the Mona Passage and the Windward Passage. Divergences between taxa of the Antillattus clade from Cuban, Hispaniolan, and Puerto Rican populations appear to have originated by vicariance, founder-events and within-island speciation, while multiple dispersal events (founder-events) between Cuba and Hispaniola during the Middle Miocene and the Late Miocene best explain diversity patterns in the genera Antillattus and Truncattus

Primer registro de Synemosyna petrunkevitchi (Chapin, 1922) (Araneae: Salticidae) en Cuba

Se registra la presencia de la araña mimética Synemosyna petrunkevitchi para Cuba, comentándose además aspectos sobre su ecología

Escarabajos acuáticos (Coleoptera: Adephaga, Polyphaga) de la reserva florística manejada Monte Barranca, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Se realizó un estudio de la fauna de escarabajos acuáticos de la Reserva Florística Manejada Monte Barranca. Se reportaron un total de 264 ejemplares, distribuidos en 5 familias, 17 especies y una subespecie

A review of the genus Berosus Leach of Cuba (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae)

The Cuban fauna of the genus Berosus Leach, 1817 is reviewed based on newly collected material as well as historical and type specimens. Nine species are recognized, including three recorded from Cuba for the first time: B. infuscatus LeConte, 1855, B. interstitialis Knisch, 1924 (= B. stribalus Orchymont, 1946 syn.n.) and B. metalliceps Sharp, 1882. Only one of the nine Cuban species, B. chevrolati, remains endemic to Cuba, as two other species previously considered as endemic to Cuba are recorded from elsewhere: B. quadridens from Mexico and Central America and B. trilobus from the Dominican Republic. Notes on biology and Cuban distribution are provided for all nine species. Berosus quadridens Chevrolat, 1863, stat. restit. is removed from synonym with B. truncatipennis and considered a valid species

A review of the genus Oosternum Sharp of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae)

The representatives of the genus Oosternum Sharp, 1882 occurring in the West Indies are revised. Ten species are recorded, of which seven are here described as new: Oosternum andersoni sp. n. (Cuba), O. bacharenge sp. n. (Dominican Republic), O. cercyonoides sp. n. (Jamaica), O. insulare sp. n. (Jamaica), O. luciae sp. n. (Saint Lucia), O. megnai sp. n. (Cuba) and O. pecki sp. n. (Dominican Republic). Diagnoses and detailed distributional data are also provided for O. sharpi Hansen, 1999 (widespread throughout both Greater and Lesser Antilles), O. latum Fikáček, Hebauer & Hansen, 2009 (endemic to St. Vincent) and an undescribed species from the Bahamas. A key to the West Indian Oosternum is provided and important diagnostic characters are illustrated. The West Indian fauna of Oosternum contains representatives of five different species groups and likely originated by multiple independent colonizations from the American continent. Within the study region, the highest diversity is known from the Greater Antilles, where two endemic species each in Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. The populations of O. sharpi were found to consist exclusively of females on all islands with the exception Puerto Rico

A review of the genus Berosus Leach of Cuba (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae)

The Cuban fauna of the genus Berosus Leach, 1817 is reviewed based on newly collected material as well as historical and type specimens. Nine species are recognized, including three recorded from Cuba for the first time: B. infuscatus LeConte, 1855, B. interstitialis Knisch, 1924 (= B. stribalus Orchymont, 1946 syn.n.) and B. metalliceps Sharp, 1882. Only one of the nine Cuban species, B. chevrolati, remains endemic to Cuba, as two other species previously considered as endemic to Cuba are recorded from elsewhere: B. quadridens from Mexico and Central America and B. trilobus from the Dominican Republic. Notes on biology and Cuban distribution are provided for all nine species. Berosus quadridens Chevrolat, 1863, stat. restit. is removed from synonym with B. truncatipennis and considered a valid species

The genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe 1832 (Araneae: Sicariidae) in Colombia, with description of new cave-dwelling species

Cala-Riquelme, Franklyn, Gutiérrez-Estrada, Miguel A., Daza, Eduardo Flórez (2015): The genus Loxosceles Heineken & Lowe 1832 (Araneae: Sicariidae) in Colombia, with description of new cave-dwelling species. Zootaxa 4012 (2): 396-400, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4012.2.1