Insights on vulval morphology in Ochyroceratinae with a rediagnosis of the subfamily and description of the first Argentinean species (Araneae: Synspermiata: Ochyroceratidae)

PÉREZ GONZÁLEZ, A.; RUBIO, G. D.; RAMIREZ, M.J.

ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER

ELSEVIER GMBH

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2015 vol. 260 p. 33 - 44

0044-5231

One of the most remarkable circumtropical haplogyne spiders are those that belong to Ochyroceratidae. This family exhibits some of the most beautiful spiders that inhabit cryptic habitats of humid tropical forest, some of which exhibit astonishing purple, blue, and green coloration, with an iridescent shine. They are also frequently found in other humid and dark environments such as caves where a number of species are fully adapted (troglobites) and show various levels of troglomorphic modifications (e.g. Baptista, 2003; Ribera-Almerje, 1978). The majority of species are locally endemic (e.g. Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995) but some tiny parthenogenetic species are widespread (Edwards et al., 2003).