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The Spider Genus Mazax (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) Newly Recorded from South America, with the Description of a New Species

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  • National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina

Abstract and Figures

The spider genus Mazax O. P.-Cambridge, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) is reported from South America for the first time. A new species, M. ramirezi sp. nov., is described and illustrated, and SEM images of the genus Mazax are presented here for the first time. The exclusive morphology of the secondary spermathecae (not oval and lung-shaped) indicates that the specimens described herein clearly belong to a new species of Mazax. An updated dichotomous key to the known species of the genus is provided.
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1182 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014
THE SPIDER GENUS MAZAX
(ARANEAE: CORINNIDAE: CASTIANEIRINAE) NEWLY RECORDED FROM
SOUTH AMERICA, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES
Gonzalo D. Rubio1,* anD TaRik Danişman2
1Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Universidad Nacional de Misiones (IBS-CONICET), Bertoni 85 (3370),
Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
2Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Kırıkkale, TR-71451 Kırıkkale, Turkey
*Corresponding author; E-mail: grubio@conicet.gov.ar
absTRacT
The spider genus Mazax O. P.-Cambridge, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) is
reported from South America for the first time. A new species, M. ramirezi sp. nov., is de-
scribed and illustrated, and SEM images of the genus Mazax are presented here for the first
time. The exclusive morphology of the secondary spermathecae (not oval and lung-shaped)
indicates that the specimens described herein clearly belong to a new species of Mazax. An
updated dichotomous key to the known species of the genus is provided.
Key Words: ant-mimicking, Argentina, Castianeirinae, spider taxonomy
Resumen
El género Mazax O. P.-Cambridge, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) es registrado
por primera vez para Sudamérica. Es descrita e ilustrada una nueva especie, M. ramirezi
sp. nov., aquí se presentan por primera vez imágenes MEB del género Mazax. De acuerdo
con la morfología única de las espermatecas secundarias (no ovaladas y en forma de pul-
món), los especímenes que aquí se describen pertenecen claramente a una nueva especie de
Mazax. Se provee una actualización de la clave dicotómica para las especies conocidas del
género.
Palabras Clave: mimetismo de hormigas, Argentina, Castianeirinae, taxonomía de ara-
ñas
The castianeirine genus Mazax (Araneae:
Corinnidae: Castianeirinae) was described by O.
Pickard-Cambridge (1898) and currently includes
6 species of ant-mimicking spiders, occurring
mainly in Central America. Only 2 species, M. pax
Reiskind and M. kaspari Cokendolpher, extend
the distribution of the genus to the southern USA,
i.e., in Texas. Until now, Panamá has been the
southernmost country in the distribution range of
the genus (Platnick 2014). Mazax ajax Reiskind,
M. chickeringi Reiskind, M. spinosa (Simon), and
M. xerxes Reiskind are the remaining valid spe-
cies of this genus.
Because of considerable somatic and genitalic
similarities, species that were earlier placed with-
in some other castianeirine genera, e.g., Apochi-
nomma Pavesi, Corinnomma Karsch, Mazax and
Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, have re-
cently been transferred to more appropriate taxa
(Reiskind 1969; Deeleman-Reinhold 2001; Had-
dad 2006, 2012b). Within the Castianeirinae, the
genera cannot be well defined on the basis of their
genitalia. Despite morphological convergences
inherent to mimicry, there are many characteris-
tics (not directly involved with mimicry) that are
useful for differentiating genera (Reiskind 1969)
including relative size of the eyes, arrangement
of the eye rows, elongation of the carapace and
abdomen, leg morphology, presence of diagnostic
spines or setae, integument textures, dorsal and
ventral abdominal sclerites, pigmentation, etc.
(Reiskind 1969, 1971; Deeleman-Reinhold 2001;
Haddad 2004, 2006, 2012a, b, 2013; Rubio et al.
2013). Such characteristics are important, even
preferable, if they are complementary to genitalic
structures, to separate the Castianeirinae genera.
On the other hand, Mazax can be easily dis-
tinguished from other American Castianeirinae
by their most important diagnostic characteris-
tic - the abdomen has a distinct, rugose, anterior
petiole (Fig. 1A-D). Other characteristics are the
recurved anterior eye row, nearly straight poste-
rior eye row, and eyes moderately large and ap-
proximately equal, with the anterior median eyes
Rubio & Danışman: The Spider Genus Mazax (Corinnidae) in South America 1183
slightly smaller than the anterior lateral eyes
(Reiskind 1969). Only spiders of the genus Ser-
endib Deeleman-Reinhold from Southeast Asia
have a rugose petiole, and are somewhat similar
to Mazax (see diagnosis below).
Reiskind (1969) carried out a revision of
the Castianeirinae from North and Central
America, concluding that much more extensive
collections will be needed to clarify the origin
and distribution of South American species of
this subfamily, a view supported by subsequent
authors (Cokendolpher 1978; Rubio & Arbino
2009). The present work extends the geograph-
ical distribution of Mazax, and describes one
Fig. 1. SEM micrographs of female of Mazax ramirezi sp. nov. (MACN-Ar 30734). A. Anterior half of abdomen
with dorsal scutum (DS) in dorsolateral view; B. Same in dorsal view; C. Rugose abdominal petiole (RAP) and
abdominal setae (AS) in dorsal view; D. Details of RAP in dorsolateral view; E. Base of an AS and feathery setae;
F. Close up view of a feathery seta. Scale bars: A-B (1 mm); C (0.5 mm); D-E (0.2 mm).
1184 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014
new species from Argentina that represents the
southernmost record of the genus so far, and the
first for South America. Additionally, an updat-
ed dichotomous key (Reiskind 1969) and a brief
table of characteristics (Table 1) of the species
of the genus are also given here for comparative
purposes.
maTeRials anD meThoDs
Morphological terms, abbreviations and the
format of the description are standard for arach-
nology, and generally follow Reiskind (1969) and
Haddad (2012a, b). Abbreviations used are as fol-
lows: AER—anterior eye row; AERW—anterior
eye row width; AL—abdomen length; ALE—an-
terior lateral eye; AME—anterior median eye;
AS—abdominal setae; AW—abdomen width;
CD—copulatory duct; CL—carapace length; CO—
copulatory opening; CW—carapace width; DS—
dorsal scutum; ES—epigastric sclerite; FL—fovea
length; IS—inframamillary sclerite; LL—lateral
loop; ML—medial loop; PER—posterior eye row;
PERW—posterior eye row width; PLE—posterior
lateral eye; PME—posterior median eye; RAP—
rugose abdominal petiole; SL—sternum length;
ST I—spermatheca I (posterior); ST II—sperma-
theca II (anterior); SW—sternum width; TL—to-
tal length; VE—ventral sclerite. Leg spination
includes the following abbreviations: do—dorsal;
pl—prolateral; plv—prolateral ventral; rl—ret-
rolateral; rlv—retrolateral ventral; vt—ventral
terminal.
Female genitalia were examined after diges-
tion in a hot 10-20% KOH solution. Temporary
preparations were analyzed by compound micro-
scope. Photographs of the preserved specimens
and sexual structures were taken by a Leica®
DFC295 digital camera attached to a Leica®
M205A stereomicroscope, and focal planes were
composed by LAS v.3.7 software of Leica®. For
scanning electron microscopy observations
(SEM), one female specimen was dissected and
dehydrated in a graded ethanol series (80-100
%), critical point dried, and Au-Pd coated. SEM
micrographs were taken under high vacuum
with a FEI XL30 TMP. All measurements are ex-
pressed in millimeters. Distances between eyes
are measured edge to edge. Specimens examined
were deposited in the arachnological collection
of Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Ber-
nardino Rivadavia” (MACN-Ar, C. Scioscia & M.
Ramírez).
Taxonomy
Corinnidae Karsch, 1880
Castianeirinae Reiskind, 1969
Mazax O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898
Table 1. compaRison of The moRpholoGical chaRacTeRisTics of The species of Mazax.
Species/
characteristics Carapace
Ventral spination
(Tibia I)
Palpal tibial apophysis
() Embolus ST II & neck
M. spinosa hairless 4–4 5–5, 6–6 small, pointed small, twisted globose; short, thick neck
M. xerxes hairless, bicolored 5–5 small, pointed small, twisted globose; short, thick neck
M. chickeringi hairless 4–4 absent small, twisted globose; short, thin neck
M. pax with white feathery hairs 3–3 small, pointed small, thin, twisted globose; short, thick neck
M. ajax hairless 2–1 small, blunt long, strong, straight globose; long, thin neck
M. kaspari hairless 3–2 3–3long, cusp-like long, strong, straight, twisted globose; short, thick neck
M. ramirezi with white feathery hairs 4–4 absent small, twisted lung-shaped; short, thick neck
Rubio & Danışman: The Spider Genus Mazax (Corinnidae) in South America 1185
Diagnosis of Genus
Mazax can be distinguished from other cas-
tianeirine genera by having a pronounced, wrin-
kled (“rugose”) and heavily sclerotized abdominal
petiole (Figs. 1A-D; 3A-B, E; 4A-B, C). At least
the Asian genus Serendib has a somewhat similar
petiole (Deeleman-Reinhold 2001), but Serendib
species have a strongly recurved posterior eye
row with widely separated eyes (slightly recurved
and closer together in Mazax) and a globular ab-
domen (elongate and constricted in Mazax).
Mazax raMirezi sp. nov.
(Figs. 1-5)
Type Material
HOLOTYPE 1 female (MACN-Ar 30732; tempo-
rary preparation GDR-0254) ARGENTINA: Bue-
nos Aires Province, Campana, Reserva Natural
Otamendi (S -34° 13.649' W -58°53.916'; 22 m asl.),
27-XII-1997, B. Fuentes & O. Di Iorio coll. PARA-
TYPES: 1 male (MACN-Ar 30733; temporary prep-
aration GDR-0259), same locality, 10-I-1998, same
collectors; 2 females (MACN-Ar 30734; temporary
preparation GDR-0255/0260 [SEM samples]), 9-I-
1998, B. Fuentes coll.; 1 female (MACN-Ar 30735;
temporary preparation GDR-0257), 30-XII-1997,
B. Fuentes & O. Di Iorio coll.; 1 female (MACN-Ar
16720; temporary preparation SAI-0027), 1997 (no
specific date), O. Di Iorio coll.; 1 female (MACN-Ar
30736; temporary preparation GDR-0258), 21-II-
1998, B. Fuentes coll.
Etymology
The specific name is a patronym in honor
of Martín J. Ramírez, arachnologist of Museo
Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino
Rivadavia”.
Diagnosis
Mazax ramirezi sp. nov. resembles M. pax by
having white feathery setae on the carapace (as in
Fig. 1E-F), and M. chickeringi in its tibia I ventral
spination 4-4 (plv 1-1-1-1, rlv 1-1-1-1), but can be
Fig. 2. SEM micrographs of female genitalia of Mazax ramirezi sp. nov. (MACN-Ar 30734). A. Epigyne ventral
view; B. Close up of a copulatory opening (CO); C. Vulva, dorsal view of anterior (ST II) and posterior (ST I) sper-
mathecae; D. Close up of a ST I and a copulatory duct (CD). Scale bars: A, C (0.2 mm); B, D (0.05 mm).
1186 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014
distinguished from these species and all other Maz-
ax in not having oval anterior spermatheca; rather,
the anterior spermatheca are lung-shaped and sub-
triangular (Figs. 2C, 5A-B) (Table 1).
Description
Female (holotype). Measurements: CL 3.08,
CW 1.68, AL 3.99, AW 2.17, TL 7.10, FL 0.24, SL
1.20, SW 0.78, AERW 0.48, PERW 0.66, AME–
PME 0.13, ALE–PLE 0.16. Length of leg seg-
ments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total):
I 1.68 + 0.56 + 1.47 + 1.19 + 0.91 = 5.81; II 1.54
+ 0.50 + 1.31 + 1.12 + 0.84 = 5.31; III 1.40 + 0.63
+ 1.26 + 1.19 + 0.73 = 5.21; IV 2.24 + 0.70 + 2.17
+ 2.10 + 1.05 = 8.26. Carapace dark orange-red
with black mottling, with granulose surface and
sparse white feathery setae (Fig. 3A, C); clypeus
Fig. 3. Female of Mazax ramirezi sp. nov. (Paratype MACN-Ar 30736). A-D. Habitus in A: dorsal, B: ventral,
C: lateral and D: frontal views; E. Rugose abdominal petiole (RAP) and abdominal setae (AS) in dorsal view; F.
Epigyne ventral view. (CO = copulatory opening; DS = dorsal scutum; ES = epigastric sclerite; IS = inframamillary
sclerite). Scale bars: A-C (2 mm); D (0.5 mm); E-F (0.2 mm).
Rubio & Danışman: The Spider Genus Mazax (Corinnidae) in South America 1187
Fig. 4. Male of Mazax ramirezi sp. nov. (Paratype MACN-Ar 30733). A-D. Habitus in A: dorsal, B: ventral, C:
lateral and D: frontal views; E-G. Right palp in E: prolateral, F: ventral and G: retrolateral views. (AS = abdominal
setae; DS = dorsal scutum; E = embolus; ES = epigastric sclerite; IS = inframamillary sclerite; LL = lateral loop;
ML = medial loop; RAP = Rugose abdominal petiole; SD = sperm ducts; VE = ventral sclerite). Scale bars: A-C (1
mm); D (0.5 mm); E-G (0.2 mm).
1188 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014
dark orange-red (Fig. 3D); eyes medium, approxi-
mately equal, except AME slightly smaller than
remainder, eyes with narrow dark rings; AER
nearly straight, PER slightly recurved; clypeus
height larger than AME diameter. Chelicerae or-
ange-brown with faint dark mottling on anterior
surface of paturon, with numerous white setae; 3
teeth on promargin, median tooth largest, proxi-
mal and distal teeth subequal, distal tooth situ-
ated closest to median tooth; 2 slightly separated
subequal teeth on retromargin, closer to fang
base than promarginal teeth; endites orange-red,
cream prolaterally; labium orange-red, cream dis-
tally; sternum granulated, red, with faint black
Fig. 5. Mazax ramirezi sp. nov., drawings of genitalia. A-C. Digested epigyne in A: ventral, B: dorsal (vulva),
and C: posterior views. D-F. Right palp in D: prolateral, E: ventral and F: retrolateral views. (CD = copulatory duct;
CO = copulatory opening; E = embolus; LL = lateral loop; ML = medial loop; SD = sperm ducts; ST I = posterior
spermathecae; ST II = anterior spermathecae). Scale bars: 0.2 mm.
Rubio & Danışman: The Spider Genus Mazax (Corinnidae) in South America 1189
mottling (Fig. 3B). Legs granulate, orange-red,
except femora I–II clear prolateral/ventrally (Fig.
3C-D); tarsi I–IV slightly lighter. Leg spination:
femora: I pl 0-0-1, do 1-0, vt with longitudinal row
of setae; II do 1-1, vt = I; III pl 1-1, do 1-1; IV
pl 0-0-1, do 1-1-1; patellae with do 1 distal and 1
proximal bristles; tibiae: I and II plv 1-1-1-1, rlv
1-1-1-1; III pl 1-1, plv 1-1, vt 1-1, rl 1-1; IV pl 1-1,
rl 1-1; vt 2-2-2; metatarsi: I plv 1-1, rlv 1-1; II = I,
III pl 1-1-1, rl 1-1-0, plv 1-1-0, rlv 1-1-0; IV pl 1-1-
1, rl 1-1-1, plv 1-1, rlv 1-1, vt with numerous setae
longitudinally. Palpal spination: femora do 0-1-1,
vt 1-1-1-1; patellae pl 1, do 1 (bristle); tibiae pl
1-1-0. Abdomen (Fig. 3A-C) dark lilac-grey, with
indistinct whitish chevrons, with white and dark
setae dorsally; DS dark red, quite convex, extend-
ing 1∕3 abdomen length (Figs. 1A-B; 3A, C). Two
spines on tubercles at anterior end of DS (homolo-
gous to second pair of abdominal setae) (Fig. 1A-
C). Anterior petiole conspicuous, wrinkled (Figs.
1C-D; 3E); venter/laterally pale lilac with large
cream mottled markings, ES (forming the petiole
anteriorly) and IS dark red; VS absent (Fig. 3B).
Epigyne with quite small, oval and posterolater-
ally placed CO (Fig. 2A-B); CD short, S-shaped
(Figs. 2C-D; 5A-C); ST II large, lung-shaped/
subtriangular, joined to very small posterior ST I
(Figs. 2C-D; 5A-C).
Male (paratype). Measurements: CL 2.80, CW
1.50, AL 3.30, AW 1.54, TL 6.20, AERW 0.52,
PERW 0.74. Length of leg segments: I 1.70 + 0.50
+ 1.66 + 1.58 + 1.04 = 6.48; II 1.42 + 0.48 + 1.32 +
1.22 + 0.86 = 5.30; III 1.38 + 0.56 + 1.16 + 1.20 +
0.76 = 5.06; IV 2.18 + 0.66 + 2.14 + 2.12 + 1.02 =
8.12. Coloration and textures as in female. Chelic-
eral teeth, palpal and leg spination as in female.
Abdomen completely covered by dark red, convex
DS (Fig. 4A, C). ES and IS as in female; full VS
present (Fig. 4B). Pedipalp without apophysis
(Fig. 4E-G). Tarsus with globose genital bulb with
short, twisted, sclerotized embolus; sperm ducts
with 2 loops, ML and other LL (Figs. 4F, 5D-F).
Variation. Female (n = 6) without significant
variation, some abdomens are larger than others.
Natural History. This species is an ant-mimick-
ing spider which inhabits shrubbery of Baccharis
salicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (“chilcal”) (Astera-
les: Asteraceae). Because of their great similarity
to ants, and because the spiders are found in leaf
litter of chilcal, they may be generalized mimics
of any myrmicine ant species. Ecological data
show that this species is in its immature stages
from Apr to Oct, sub-adult in Nov, and the adult
spiders occur from Dec to Feb. All specimens were
caught with pitfall traps.
Distribution
Presently known only from the type locality in
Otamendi, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.
key To male anD female species of Mazax (upDaTeD fRom ReiskinD 1969)
1. Tibia I ventral spination 2–1, 3–2 or 3–3 .............................................2
—. Tibia I ventral spination 4–4, 5–5 or 6–6 .............................................4
2. Tibia I ventral spination 2–1; embolus long and straight, neck of spermathecae very long (Reis-
kind 1969, Figs. 238-239) (southern Mexico) .....................................M. ajax
—. Tibia I ventral spination 3–2 or 3–3 .................................................3
3. Embolus short and twisted (Reiskind 1969, Fig. 236); tibia I ventral spination 3–3 (Mexico and
Central America) ........................................................... M. pax
—. Embolus long, straight, only twisted at the tip (Cokendolpher 1978, Fig. 4); tibia I ventral spina-
tion 3–2 in male and 3–3 in female (USA) ....................................M. kaspari
4. Carapace bicolored: cephalic region yellow-orange, posterior part of thoracic region red-brown
(Reiskind 1969, Fig. 280) (Costa Rica) ........................................ M. xerxes
—. Carapace not bicolored, uniform ....................................................5
5. Male with palpal tibial apophysis; tibia I ventral spination of female 5–5 or 6–6 (Central America,
Lesser Antilles) .........................................................M. spinosa
—. Palpal tibial apophysis absent; tibia I ventral spination 4–4 .............................6
6. Carapace hairless; ST II globose, ST I as thick as the neck (Reiskind 1969, Fig. 222) (Jamaica) .
....................................................................M. chickeringi
—. Carapace with white feathery setae (as in Figs. 1E-F; 3A-C); ST II lung-shaped, ST I thicker than
the neck (Figs. 2C-D; 5A-B) (Argentina) .............................M. ramirezi sp. nov.
1190 Florida Entomologist 97(3) September 2014
acknowleDGmenTs
We are very grateful to Charles R. Haddad (Uni-
versity of the Free State, South Africa), Jan Bosselaers
(Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium), Santiago
Aisen (Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Argentina)
and Waldemar Klassen (University of Florida, USA) for
their valuable contributions to the manuscript; to Os-
valdo Di Iorio (entomologist of MACN) for having col-
lected the specimens. Furthermore, we wish to thank
Fabián Tricárico (technical manager) and the MACN for
their assistance and use of the SEM. Finally, we want to
thank the reviewers for their comments.
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... Spiders with a very refined resemblance to ants are found especially in the Simonellini Peckham, Peckham & Wheeler, 1889, a tribe of Salticidae, and Castianeirinae Reiskind, 1969(Reiskind 1969, Oliveira 1988, McIver and Stonedahl 1993 Although the Central American fauna of Castianeirinae is relatively well studied (e.g., Reiskind 1969;Leister and Miller 2014a, b), the knowledge on South American Castianeirinae remains scarce (Reiskind 1969, Rubio andArbino 2009). Previous work on South American Castianeirinae has focused on Brazil (e.g., Mello-Leitão 1922, Oliveira 1988) and more recently Argentina Arbino 2009, Rubio andDanisman 2014). ...
... High species richness per area in the present study may be explained by overlapping distributional ranges of species from adjacent ecoregions, such as the Amazon rainforest in the north or Chaco dry forest in the south (Fig. 1C), in combination with high niche packing. For example, M. ramirezi is only reported from a subtropical area in Buenos Aires province, Argentina (Rubio and Danisman 2014), while S. niger appears to be predominately tropical in distribution. A similar increase in species richness based on a mixing of species from different ecoregions at the Bolivian orocline was also suggested for tiger beetles (Pearson and Carroll 2001) and long-horned beetles (Perger and Guerra 2013). ...
... Rubio and Arbino 2009; Leister and Miller 2014a, b;Rubio and Danisman 2014;Marusik et al. 2015). In addition, the taxonomists Gonzalo D. Rubio (Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Puerto Iguaz u, Argentina), Alexandre Bonaldo (Museu Paraense Em ılio Goeldi, Belém, Brazil), and Matthew Leister (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA) were consulted for the identification of several species. ...
Article
A species richness hotspot of ant-mimicking (or myrmecomorphic) spiders of the subfamily Castianeirinae Reiskind, 1969, is reported from the premontane Chiquitano forest at the Bolivian orocline. In a transect of 350 m in a forest fragment of ∼10 ha, 148 individuals of five genera and 10 species were collected, including the first country records for the genera Mazax O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898, Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894, and Sphecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895. The observations from this study represent an increase of the known fauna of Bolivian Castianeirinae from two to five genera and from three to at least 12 species. The generic and species richness is comparable with the fauna of mega-diverse moist forests in other Neotropical countries and may result from overlapping distributional ranges of faunal elements from several ecoregions. The discovery of this hotspot in an easily accessible and small area provides an excellent opportunity to gain further insight into the factors determining the evolutionary ecology and ant mimicry in Castianeirinae communities.
... Type material examined for comparison. Mazax ramireziRubio & Danişman, 2014: 1185 1A-F, 2A-D, 3A-F, 4A-G, 5A-F (Paratypes ♂ and ♀ from Argentina: Buenos Aires, Campana, January 1998, Fuentes & Di Iorio leg (MACN-Ar 30733/30734). Myrmecotypus haddadi Perger & Rubio, 2021. ...
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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.
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The South American species of the myrmecomorphic spider genus Mazax O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898 (Castianeirinae, Corinnidae) are revised for the first time, increasing the number of known species from South America from two to six and the number of species in the genus from seven to 11. Here, we reevaluate the identity of Apochinomma acanthaspis Simon, 1896, propose its transfer to Mazax, and consider M. akephaloi Perger & Pett, 2022 as a junior synonym of M. acanthaspis comb. nov. Additional documentation of M. ramirezi Rubio & Danişman, 2014 is provided. The species M. pax Reiskind, 1969 and M. spinosa (Simon, 1898) are recorded from South America for the first time. Three new species are proposed, all based on both sexes: Mazax mokana sp. nov. and M. leonidas sp. nov. from Colombia, and M. tembe sp. nov. from Brazil. Emended diagnoses of the genus and of all six known South American species, as well as a key to males and females for all 11 species in the genus, are provided.
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A new ant-like spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Mazax akephaloi sp. nov., representing the second species of Mazax recorded from South America, is described from the Bolivian orocline and the Paraguayan Chaco region. The new species superficially resembles Mazax ramirezi Rubio & Danişman, 2014, but can be distinguished from this species and all other congeners by a combination of the following characters: feathery setae on the carapace, a tibia I spine formula of 5-4 in males and 5-5 in females, the embolus sub-apical with a spatulate extension, the lung-shaped spermathecae II and slightly undulating copulatory ducts. Adults of M. akephaloi sp. nov. were observed foraging in association with workers of the ant Ectatomma permagnum Forel, 1908 on the ground or leaf litter along forest edges. Although the spiders were lacking a structure imitating the head of the ants, they shared several characters (dark brown integument with distinct, coarse wrinkles and shiny reflections, abdomen anteriorly with dorsally pointing process and distinct median constriction) that increased the species-specific similarity to their potential ant models.
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The castianeirine spider genus Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 is reported from Paraguay for the first time, with the description of a new species, Myrmecotypus mboitui sp. nov. (♂♀) from the Ñeembucú Wetlands Complex of southwestern Paraguay. The species belongs to a small group of Myrmecotypus with elongated and constricted abdomens. Illustrations of the diagnostic characters of the new species are provided. An updated key to the species of Myrmecotypus is presented.
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A new ant-resembling spider species of the subfamily Castianeirinae, Myrmecotypus mazaxoides sp. nov., from the Sub-Andean area of the Bolivian orocline is described. Adults of M. mazaxoides sp. nov. resemble the carpenter ant Camponotus cf. melanoticus Emery, 1894 and were observed on the ground of savanna-like habitats close to the entrances of formicaries of this ant. This study is the first to report a ground-dwelling species of Myrmecotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894; all the other species are arboreal.
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The Castianeirinae genus Myrmecotypus was described by O. Pickard-Cambridge (1894) and currently includes eight species. All of them, except the atypical M. lineatus (Emerton 1909) (only record from USA), occur in the Neotropical region (known from Mexico to Panamá), Panamá being the southern most representative distribution of genus. Reiskind (1969) carried out the revision of the subfamily Castianeirinae Reiskind 1969 from North and Central America, concluding that much more study of more extensive collections will be needed to clarify the origin and distribution of South American species of this subfamily. The influence of selection for ant-mimicry still poses many difficulties in the classification of the spider taxa involved (Reiskind 1966; 1977). Ant-mimicry implies an extreme specialization that leads in many cases to well defined, easily identifiable genera, e.g. Myrmecium Latreille 1824 and Sphecotypus O.P.-Cambridge 1895; in other cases, the selection for mimicry results in a morphological convergence that makes the separation difficult, either in genera Myrmecotypus and Apochinomma Pavesi 1881, both extremely similar but the latter of African origin, and it is not known with certainty if it really occurs in Neotropical areas (Candiani pers. comm.). Nevertheless, some characters exist that can be useful diagnoses. The genus Myrmecotypus has been retained on the ground that the posterior row of eyes is only slightly wider than the anterior and almost straight; the posterior median eyes are further from each other than from the lateral eyes, and the anterior medians are much larger than the anterior lateral; the thoracic groove is absent, with a slight depression instead; moreover, the abdomen of Myrmecotypus is only very slightly petiolated (Cambridge 1897–1905). The present work enhances the geographical distribution of Myrmecotypus, describing a new species from Argentina that represents the southernmost record of the genus so far. Materials and methods
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We describe the mimetic relationship between the ant-like spider Myrmecotypus iguazu Rubio & Arbino 2009 (Araneae: Corinnidae) and the carpenter ant Camponotus sericeiventris Guérin (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), studied in a subtropical rainforest in Iguazú National Park, Argentina. The morphological adaptations, aspects of coloration, and behavior responsible for the ant-like appearance in M. iguazu (the mimic) provide strong evidence that its model is C. sericeiventris. Both field observations and field and laboratory experiments suggest that this spider is a Batesian mimic.
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Afrotropical species of the ant-mimicking castianeirine genus Corinnomma Karsch (Araneae: Corinnidae) are studied. The female of Apochinomma semiglabrum Simon, 1896 is redescribed and the male is described for the first time, and based on these descriptions this species is transferred to Corinnomma. A new species, C. lawrencei sp. n., is described from Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. The taxonomic status of C. olivaceum Simon, 1896 is discussed, including the first illustrations of the female genitalic structures. An English translation of Simon's (1896) Latin description of C. olivaceum is provided. A key to the three known species of Corinnomma occurring in the region is given. The biology and ant mimicry of C. semiglabrum and C. lawrencei sp. n. are briefly discussed. Both species occur on the ground, leaf litter or low foliage, and have colouration and behavioural traits that make them particularly efficient mimics of Polyrachis gagates Smith, 1858 ants. Neither species appears to feed on their model.
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The non-mimetic Afrotropical spider genus Cambalida Simon, 1909, placed within a subfamily of predominantly ant-mimicking spiders (Araneae: Corinnidae: Castianeirinae), is revised. Three species are transferred from Castianeira Keyserling, 1879 to Cambalida: Cambalida deminuta (Simon, 1909), comb. n., Cambalida fulvipes (Simon, 1896), comb. n. and Cambalida loricifera (Simon, 1885), comb. n.. A fourth species, Cambalida fagei (Caporiacco, 1939), comb. n., is transferred from Brachyphaea Simon, 1895 to Cambalida. Two species, Castianeira depygata Strand, 1916, syn. n. and Cambalida mestrali Lessert, 1921, syn. n., are considered junior synonyms of Cambalida fulvipes. The males of Cambalida deminuta and Cambalida loricifera are redescribed and their unknown females are described for the first time. The female and male of Cambalida fulvipes and Cambalida coriacea Simon, 1909 are also redescribed. The type material of the type species of the genus, Cambalida insulana Simon, 1909 from Pagalu (Annobon) Island, is lost, and only immature specimens have been subsequently collected from a nearby island. The species is regarded as a nomen dubium until fresh adult material can be collected. A replacement name, Cambalida simoni nom. n. is proposed for Cambalida fulvipes Simon, 1909, the latter being a secondary junior homonym of Cambalida fulvipes (Simon, 1896). The type material of this species is also lost and it is too considered nomen dubium. The following new species are described: Cambalida compressa sp. n. from West Africa, Cambalida dippenaarae sp. n. from southern Africa, Cambalida griswoldi sp. n. and Cambalida lineata sp. n. from Madagascar, and Cambalida unica sp. n. from Cameroon. Notes are provided on the biology of each species and the distribution of the genus in the Afrotropical Region.
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The genus Graptartia, presently known only from Africa, is revised. The type species, G. granulosa Simon, 1896, is redescribed and the genitalia drawn. Two new species, G. mutillica and G. tropicalis, are described. Notes on the distribution and biology of the species are provided. All species are mimics of wingless female velvet ants (Mutillidae).
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The cryptic arboreal castianeirine genus Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 (Araneae: Corinnidae), previously known only from South-East Asia, is recorded from the Afrotropical Region for the first time. The female of Copa longespina Simon, 1909 is redescribed, the male is described for the first time, and the species is transferred to Echinax as E. longespina (Simon, 1909) comb. nov. It occurs widely throughout equatorial Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania in the east to Liberia in the west. Six new species are described from both sexes: E. clara sp. nov. from D.R. Congo and Ghana, E. hesperis sp. nov. from Ivory Coast, E. natalensis sp. nov. and E. similis sp. nov. from South Africa, E. scharffi sp. nov. from Tanzania, and E. spatulata sp. nov., widespread across tropical Africa. The available ecological data indicates that all seven species are mainly arboreal and represent a prominent component of corinnid assemblage collected by canopy fogging, especially in forests.
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The Afrotropical sac spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898, presently placed in the Castianeirinae, is reviewed. The type material of the type species, M. martini Simon, 1898, clearly represents two different species, a corinnine female (here designated the lectotype) and a castianeirine male (the paralectotype). The female is redescribed and its corresponding male is described for the first time. As a result, Messapus is transferred to the Corinninae. Corinna natalis Pocock, 1898 is transferred to Messapus, while Messapus secundus Strand, 1907 is transferred to Merenius Simon, 1909. The new genus Copuetta gen. nov., with the type species C. maputa sp. nov., is established to accommodate the misidentified castianeirine male paralectotype of M. martini, and its matching female is described for the first time. Castianeira kibonotensis Lessert, 1921 syn. nov. is considered a junior synonym of Copuetta lacustris (Strand, 1916) comb. nov., which is redescribed from both sexes and transferred from Copa Simon, 1885. A further eleven new species of Copuetta are described: C. comorica sp. nov., C. erecta sp. nov., C. kakamega sp. nov., C. kwamgumi sp. nov., C. lesnei sp. nov., C. litipo sp. nov., C. lotzi sp. nov., C. magna sp. nov., C. naja sp. nov., C. uzungwa sp. nov. and C. wagneri sp. nov. Of these species, only C. lacustris and C. magna sp. nov. have large distribution ranges. Seven of the species are only known from the type locality and the remaining four have distributions restricted to one or two countries. A second new genus, Wasaka gen. nov., is described for four new species with restricted distributions from East and Central Africa: W. imitatrix sp. nov., W. montana sp. nov., W. occulta sp. nov. (type species) and W. ventralis sp. nov. A first phylogenetic analysis focused on the Afrotropical Castianeirinae is presented. The results support the placement and transfer of Messapus (including M. natalis comb. nov.) and Medmassa Simon, 1887 in the Corinninae, and the monophyly of a clade including the four cryptic lycosiform castianeirine genera from the Afrotropical Region (Copa, Copuetta gen. nov., Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and Wasaka gen. nov.). The implications of the phylogenetic results are briefly discussed.