Updates on Berlandiella (Araneae: Philodromidae): a new species, description of the male of B. querencia and new diagnosis for the genus

Abstract

Berlandiella Mello-Leitão, 1929 is currently composed of six Neotropical species, of which Berlandiella querencia Lise & Silva, 2011 is known only from female specimens; the other species of the genus were described based on both males and females. In this paper, we describe and illustrate Berlandiella zabelesp. nov., based on a few individuals collected in Sete Cidades National Park, Piracuruca and Brasileira, state of Piauí, Brazil. We illustrate and describe the previously unknown male of B. querencia, based on a specimen collected from Reserva Mocambo, Belém, state of Pará, Brazil. The taxa described herein have scopula in the tarsi and metatarsi, and the males have a cymbial process, characters recorded for the first time for the genus. Additionally, we present an updated diagnosis for Berlandiella.

Solving a running crab spider puzzle: delimiting Cleocnemis Simon, 1886 with implications on the phylogeny and terminology of genital structures of Philodromidae

“…An anterior atrium and posterior depressions associated with posterior GP are found in species with LP touching in the middle area ( C. querencia, C. robertae ) ([ 9 ], figs. 56, 106), a small anterior atrium in species with LP almost fused to each other ( C. insignis ); or just a posterior shallow depression when copulatory guides (CG) are fused anteriorly ( C. zabele ) ([ 11 ], figs. 4, 6).…”

“…Copulatory openings (CO) usually at sides of central or anterior depression and followed by CG directed posteriorly ( C. heteropoda ) (Fig. 3 d, e, g) or anteriorly ( C. zabele ) ([ 11 ], figs. 4, 6).…”

“…Males may be easily recognized from C. querencia and C. zabele by the absence of a cymbial process (CP) (Fig. 2 d,e) ([ 11 ], figs. 8–10, 31–33) and from C. magna and C. robertae by a much simpler RTA, with a small slanted point (Fig.…”

“…Among the remaining Neotropical genera, Cleocnemis Simon, 1886 has probably the most troublesome taxonomic situation. Without a modern taxonomic revision, our knowledge about the genus relies on old descriptions with few, if any, illustrations, which hampers its recognition and comparison to other genera of Philodromidae, as already marked by Pantoja et al [ 11 ] and Dupérré [ 12 ].…”

“…Historically, Cleocnemis have been associated with members of Thanatini sensu Schick [ 6 ]. In its original description, Simon [ 13 ] stated that the genus is similar to Thanatus (“ Thanato affinis”) and throughout the last years, members of Cleocnemis have been mentioned as similar to Berlandiella [ 9 , 11 ] and to Tibellus [ 22 ]. However, some characters used to differentiate Cleocnemis from other genera, such as, the presence or absence of scopulae, are often contradictory among different papers (e.g.…”