Notes on the Genus Scytodes (Araneae, Scytodidae) in Central and South America

Abstract

In this study we present a redescription of Scytodes championi, S. romitii and S, guttipes. Seven species are newly described: S. panamensis from Panama; S. vaurieorum and S, chiquimula from Guatemala; S. cogu and S. armata from Costa Rica; S. tegucigalpa and S. zamorano from Honduras. Four of these were described as variations of 5'. championi in a recent revision of the species of Central America. New records are presented for S. championi, S. romitii, S. guttipes, S. gertschi and S. cubensis.

Description of eleven new species in the Scytodoidea group (Araneae: Drymusidae and Scytodidae) from mainland Ecuador

“…22 F) from similar species S. championi by the palpal dorsal fin pronounced and the absence of a retrolateral pocket (Figs. 22F, G) while the latter presents a lower dorsal fin and a retrolateral pocket (Brescovit & Rheims 2001; fig 15).…”

“…Scytodes is found worldwide, with 36% of the diversity found in South America (Dupérré 2023a). Two species have been introduced to South America, S. thoracica (Latreille, 1802) and S. univittata Simon, 1882 (Belosludtsev & Gasilin 2018; Brescovit & Rheims 2000; Taucare-Rios & Bustamante 2015; Dupérré 2023a) while two species— S. fusca Walckenaer, 1837 and S. longipes Lucas, 1844—have been introduced from South America to other continents (Saaristo 1997; Brescovit & Rheims 2000; Paquin et al 2008; Dankittipakul & Singtripop 2010; Šestáková et al 2014; Dupérré 2023a).…”

“…Valerio (1981) presented a review of the Scytodidae from Central America while the South America fauna was mainly studied by Brescovit & Rheims (2000), Rheims & Brescovit (2000, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009) and Rheims et al (2008). Surprisingly, to this day no species have been recorded to occur in mainland Ecuador (WSC 2022) except for the widely distributed, and to some degree synanthropic species S. fusca and S. longipes.…”

Species conservation profiles of a random sample of world spiders IV: Scytodidae to Zoropsidae

“…Basis (narrative): Given the reasonable number of records (Brescovit and Rheims 2001, Valerio 1981), it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).…”

“…Range description: This species has been recorded from four localities in Costa Rica. In 2001, it was reported from San Jose (Brescovit and Rheims 2001) and in 1980s from La Gloria, Guanacaste Province and Tilaran (Valerio 1981). The species distribution model predicts this species could also be present in Panama.…”