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

RUBIO, G. D.; RAMIREZ, M. J.

ZOOTAXA

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2015

1175-5326

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, A. carancho, A. kapiipeoi, A. magna, A. monserrate, A. pinhalito and A. tungurahua). 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 is newly synonymized with A. alviventris, and A. mezenioides with A. freiburgensis. Previous problems with the identification of species in a species complex including A. cubana are resolved. A disjunct distributional pattern is reported for A. kapiipeoi; 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 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 epigyne: the prolateral projection on the primary conductor of male would have a direct interaction with the lateral projections of the anterior pouch on the median epigynal field of females.