Grismadox gen. nov., a new Neotropical genus of ant-resembling spiders (Araneae, Corinnidae, Castianeirinae), including the description of two new species from Bolivia and Paraguay

A new genus and two new species of ant-resembling castianeirine spiders are described from the Neotropics. Grismadox gen. nov. comprises four species: Grismadox baueri sp. nov., and Grismadox mazaxoides (Perger & Duperré, 2021) comb. nov. from Bolivia, and Grismadox karugua sp. nov. (type species) and Grismadox mboitui (Pett, 2021) comb. nov. from Paraguay. All species are diagnosed and the new species are described and illustrated. Available ecological data suggests that all four species are primarily epigeal and inhabit Grassland and savannah type habitats.Fil: Pett, Brogan L.. University of Exeter; Reino Unido. Colección Cientifíca Para La Tierra; Paraguay. Biodiversity Inventory For Conservation; BélgicaFil: Rubio, Gonzalo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Misiones. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; ArgentinaFil: Perger, Robert. Colección Boliviana de Fauna; Bolivi

Records of morphological abnormalities of anuran limbs from Paraguay

Morphological abnormalities in anurans are known to be globally widespread. Here, we report on six individual anuran morphological abnormalities from four Paraguayan departments. We briefly discuss potential causal agents and highlight the need for further research into this topic in Paraguay.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Records of morphological abnormalities of anuran limbs from Paraguay

Morphological abnormalities in anurans are known to be globally widespread. Here, we report on six individual anuran morphological abnormalities from four Paraguayan departments. We briefly discuss potential causal agents and highlight the need for further research into this topic in Paraguay.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Conversion of rainforest to both traditional and industrial oil palm systems changes the biodiversity, web-building, and prey capture of understory spiders (Liberia, West Africa)

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a tropical crop that produces palm oil: the most traded vegetable oil worldwide. It is principally grown in Southeast Asia, but West Africa – oil palm’s native range – is rapidly becoming a hotspot of cultivation. Oil palm in West Africa is cultivated using both traditional (i.e., by local people) and industrial (i.e., by corporations) approaches. Little is known about the relative ecological impacts of these different oil palm cultivation styles on native rainforest ecosystems. Working in Liberia within the framework of the Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project, we investigated the impacts of traditional and industrial approaches to oil palm cultivation on spiders—important meso-predators that provide pest control services—inhabiting understory vegetation. We sampled spiders in three systems: (1) rainforest, (2) fallowed farmland with wild-growing oil palms, which local people manage and harvest (‘country palm’), and (3) industrial oil palm farms. We assessed differences in the abundance of all spiders, adults only, and juveniles only; spider species richness, and spider species-level community composition. Through focussed samples of orb web-building spiders, we also assessed differences in spider web-building (the average web area, total web area, standard deviation of web area) and prey capture (the average captured prey, total captured prey, standard deviation of captured prey) across systems. We found that rainforest had more species in total and on average than country palm and industrial oil palm, and that country palm had fewer spider individuals than rainforest and industrial oil palm. All systems supported distinct spider communities. Our focussed studies on orb web-building spiders indicated that the average web area, total web area, and standard deviation of web area were all higher in industrial oil palm than forest and country palm, which led to higher average and total prey capture. Our findings indicate that conversion of rainforest to country palm and industrial oil palm in Liberia has negative effects on spider biodiversity, with clear “winning” and “losing” species, and levels of spider-associated ecosystem functioning. Our findings also show that industrial oil palm farms can support relatively abundant and speciose spider communities, which may provide important pest control services that could boost oil palm productivity. Future work is needed to identify effective management strategies to conserve spiders and associated pest control services in West African country palm and industrial oil palm systems

Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge 1894

Genus Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 Type species. Myrmecotypus fuliginosus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 (by original designation). Diagnosis. Cephalic region wide (cephalic index range 64–89), carapace narrowed (carapace index ˂ 60), without thoracic groove but with slight depression instead; PER wider than AER and almost straight to moderately recurved (PLE situated close to lateral margin of cephalic area), AME larger than ALE, PME–PME greater than PME–PLE; abdomen only very slightly petiolated; tibia I ventral spines paired in 2–2, 3–2, 3–3 or 4–4 arrangement; trochanter IV notch usually absent, with only a tiny one, if present (reproduced from Perger & Rubio 2020 a).Published as part of Pett, Brogan L., 2021, Description of a new species of Myrmecotypus (Araneae: Corinnidae Castianeirinae), the first of its genus known from Paraguay, with an updated key to species, pp. 77-86 in Zootaxa 4999 (1) on page 79, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4999.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/508936

Description of a new species of Myrmecotypus (Araneae: Corinnidae Castianeirinae), the first of its genus known from Paraguay, with an updated key to species

Pett, Brogan L. (2021): Description of a new species of Myrmecotypus (Araneae: Corinnidae Castianeirinae), the first of its genus known from Paraguay, with an updated key to species. Zootaxa 4999 (1): 77-86, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4999.1.

First confirmed locality record of Gypogyna forceps Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae: Scopocirini) from Paraguay

Pett, Brogan L. (2019): First confirmed locality record of Gypogyna forceps Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae: Scopocirini) from Paraguay. Peckhamia 193 (1): 1-3, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.509341

Mazax akephaloi sp. nov.-a new Neotropical spider species resembling 'headless' Ectatomma ants (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae)

Perger, Robert, Pett, Brogan L. (2022): Mazax akephaloi sp. nov.-a new Neotropical spider species resembling 'headless' Ectatomma ants (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae). Zootaxa 5150 (4): 579-590, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5150.4.

Castianeira Keyserling 1879

Genus Castianeira Keyserling, 1879 Type species: Castianeira rubicunda Keyserling, 1879 (by original designation). Diagnosis (modified after Reiskind 1969). PER only slightly wider than AER, AER moderately recurved, PER moderately to slightly procurved; eyes approximately equal but often with AME larger than ALE; thoracic groove usually present, often strong; carapace index of 54–76; cephalic region moderately narrow (cephalic index 47–73); abdomen with negligible petiole; trochanter IV notch often present and deep (Rubio et al. 2015). Remarks. We do not include characters in our diagnosis that are provided for African (Haddad 2012) or Asian species (Deeleman-Reinhold 2001) of Castianeira that have not been tested on large series of Neotropical specimens. These include the shape of the labium, dorsal sclerite and male palpal cymbium, or the number of femoral spines, as these need to be confirmed for Neotropical species.Published as part of Pett, Brogan L. & Perger, Robert, 2021, Contributions to the knowledge of Neotropical Castianeirinae (Araneae: Corinnidae): redescription of Castianeira spinipalpis Mello-Leitão, 1945, with first description of the male, and description of a new Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 from the Bolivian Moxos plains, pp. 145-158 in Zootaxa 5082 (2) on page 147, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5082.2.4, http://zenodo.org/record/578537

Xevioso megcummingae Pett & Jocqué 2020, sp. nov.

<i>Xevioso megcummingae</i> sp. nov. <p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DD398E33-4DA0-45C2-9079-B009CD955541</p> <p>Figs 4C, 6–8</p> Diagnosis <p> Males of <i>X. cummingae</i> sp. nov. can be distinguished from others in the genus by the following character combination: (1) Mt I modified, with strong and broad d process ¾ towards apex, about double the height of Mt apex; (2) palpal T with dorsal hyaline process thin, slightly curved, appearing nail-like in rl view; (3) palpal DP broad and sub-triangular; (4) TA3 tegular processes short and blunt; TA1 absent. Females are recognized by the CO far apart and the longitudinal axis of the spermathecae diverging anteriad.</p> Etymology <p>The species name is a matronym in honour of Zimbabwean naturalist, Meg Cumming, collector of the type material.</p> Material examined <p> <b>Holotype</b></p> <p>ZIMBABWE • ♂; Harare, Walmer Drive; 17°48.4802 S, 31°05.8202 E; 1535 m a.s.l.; 19 Oct. 2002; M. Cumming leg.; garden; RMCA_ARA_236654.</p> <p> <b>Paratype</b></p> <p>ZIMBABWE • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 19 Apr. 2005; RMCA_ARA_236655.</p> <p> <b>Other material</b></p> <p>MALAWI • 1 ♂; Viphya Plateau, Chikangawa; 11°522 S, 33°482 E; 1817 m a.s.l.; Oct. 1977 – Feb. 1978; R. Jocqué leg.; young pine plantation; pitfall: RMCA_ARA_153025.</p> Description <p> <b>Male holotype</b></p> <p>TOTAL LENGTH. 6.85. Carapace length 2.92. Carapace width 2.44. Carapace height 1.36.</p> <p>COLOUR (Fig. 6A). Carapace light yellowish-orange, darkened anteriorly at pars cephalica, chelicerae deep reddish-brown, darkest part of the body; black pigment around eyes, PME without black pigment, AME’s joined by dark pigment. Sternum light yellow, margins darkened to deep reddish-brown. Co and Tr I brownish-orange, darker than others, cream yellow. F I orange, to brownish-orange up to Mt; other legs light brownish-yellow to orange at Mt. Abdomen and venter cream to white entirely.</p> <p>CARAPACE. Margin weakly sinuate. Short black setae dispersed in irregular and sparse patches. Fovea deeply concave, carapace flat throughout, clypeus height 1.1 × height of carapace at fovea.</p> <p>EYES. ALE 0.10; AME 0.10; PLE 0.10; PME 0.08; AME-AME 0.04; PME-PME 0.17.</p> <p>ABDOMEN. Black setae regularly spaced throughout (both dorsally and ventrally), setae longer posteriorly, reaching 0.4.</p> <p>LEGS (Fig. 6 B–C). Formula 1423, with leg III distinctly shortened. Leg I modified at metatarsus, with strong kink extending dorsally, creating metatarsal process at least twice as high as apical end of metatarsus.</p> <p>LEG MEASUREMENTS.</p> <p> <b>F P T Mt T Total</b></p> <p> <b>I</b> 3.68 1.21 3.72 3.16 1.31 13.08</p> <p> <b>II</b> 2.85 1.08 2.52 2.60 1.30 10.35</p> <p> <b>III</b> 2.68 0.91 2.18 2.28 0.93 8.98</p> <p> <b>IV</b> 3.20 1.20 3.44 3.20 1.13 12.17</p> <p>SPINATION. Leg I: F = pl1, T = pl2 rl1 v1, Mt = pl2 v2; Leg II: F = pl1, T = pl2 r2 v5, Mt = pl1 d1 rl4 v2; Leg III: F = pl1 d3 rl1, T = d2 rl2 v2, Mt = 3disp 6dw; Leg IV: F = pl1, T = pl2 r2 v3, Mt = 2d, 5dw.</p> <p>STERNUM. Roughly oval and distinctly jagged at coxae. 1.61 long and 1.32 wide. Black setae interspersed laterally, with very few medially.</p> <p>PALP (Figs 4C, 6 D–E, 7A–C). F with dorsal hyaline asetose process slender, curved at extremity, with broad DP delimiting widely open, shallow concavity (Figs 4C, 6E). Embolus turning three times, tapering to acutely pointed corkscrew apex; thickest just before first turn. Tegulum simple, without basal or retrobasal lobes. TA3 with two short, blunt projections; EBS poorly sclerotized, tripartite, EBA1 narrower at apex, almost touching embolus, EBA2 rounded.</p> <p> <b>Female paratype</b></p> <p>TOTAL LENGTH. 5.18. Carapace length 2.19. Carapace width 1.51. Carapace height 1.30.</p> <p>COLOUR. Carapace creamy yellow throughout, darkening to light-orange at clypeus dorsally. Chelicerae boss orange to brown, darkest part of body. Femora lightest, darkening to a deep orange-brown at metatarsi. Abdomen uniform light grey to cream.</p> <p>CARAPACE. Weakly sinuate with short black setae posterior of the fovea. Fovea moderately depressed.</p> <p>EYES. ALE 0.07; AME 0.05; PLE 0.04; PME 0.07; ALE-AME 0.08; AME-AME 0.04; PME-PME 0.12</p> <p>CHELICERAE. Strong, 1.30 long, seven teeth present on both promargin and retromargin, promargin with two larger proximal teeth, retromargin all teeth small. Endites with translucent subdecumbent setae.</p> <p>ABDOMEN. Dorsum with very few setae anteriorly, denser on posterior part. Venter with minimal short fine setae.</p> <p>LEGS. Formula 123? (legs IV are missing), without pl concavity on metatarsi I as in male.</p> <p>LEG MEASUREMENTS.</p> <p> <b>F P T Mt T Total</b></p> <p> <b>I</b> 2.13 0.81 1.91 1.62 0.82 7.29</p> <p> <b>II</b> 1.81 0.66 1.37 1.20 0.71 5.75</p> <p> <b>III</b> 1.30 0.45 1.05 1.22 0.74 4.76</p> <p> <b>IV</b> – – – – – –</p> <p>SPINATION. Leg I: F = pl1, T = pl2 v3, Mt = pl2 rl1 v5; Leg II: F = pl1 d1, T = pl2 v1, Mt = pl2 rl1 v3; Leg III: F = pl1 rl1, T = pl3 d1 rl1 v2, Mt = disp3 dw4.</p> <p>STERNUM. 1.21 long, 0.91 wide. Shield-shaped; with some short black setae.</p> <p>PALP. With dense procurved setae and toothless claw.</p> <p>EPIGYNE (Figs 6 F–G, 7D). PML of epigyne wider than long. Copulatory openings far apart, situated on lateral side of epigyne; spermathecae diverging anteriad; fertilization duct leading medially and posteriad from spermathecae.</p> Variation <p>The male specimen from Malawi (RMCA_ARA_ 153025) is smaller and paler than the holotype. Total length 3.12 (the abdomen has shrunk); carapace length 1.99, width 1.35, height 0.92.</p>Published as part of <i>Pett, Brogan L. & Jocqué, Rudy, 2020, Description of two new species of Xevioso (Araneae: Phyxelididae) from Southern Africa, with the northernmost localities for the genus, pp. 1-18 in European Journal of Taxonomy 636</i> on pages 9-13, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.636, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3775907">http://zenodo.org/record/3775907</a&gt