Population dynamics of the bark-dwelling spider Eustala perfida Mello-Leitão, 1947 (Araneidae)

Population dynamics of spiders may vary according to biotic and abiotic factors. We studied the phenology of the bark-dwelling spider Eustala perfida over a two-year period and investigated how temperature, precipitation, and prey availability were associated with the population of this species. The population of E. perfida presented a well-defined fluctuation, with one reproductive cycle per year. The recruitment of spiders occurred in summer, followed by successive phenological peaks at all stages of development. The species is protogynic, and the population of adult males peaks in the cold/dry season, indicating a winter mature phenological pattern. The diet of E. perfida is composed mainly of medium-sized homopterans, complemented by small dipterans and hymenopterans. We found that the higher abundance of spiders occurred two months after the highest values of precipitation and temperature, and three months after the higher abundance of potential prey items. These results indicate that spiders require time to respond to changes in environmental conditions. The species’ natural history and the structure of the trunks in which it lives may also affect the number of individuals in a particular area and over time.     

Re‐description of the lycosiformis species group of Anyphops Benoit and description of two new species (Araneae,Selenopidae)

Anyphops Benoit is a heterogeneous genus with 62 known species restricted to the Afrotropical region. It is split into four species groups using the number of ventral spine pairs on tibiae I–II. The lycosiformis species group (?=?B‐B1 species group of Lawrence) is characterized by four ventral pairs of spines and includes Anyphops lycosiformis (Lawrence), A. natalensis (Lawrence) and A. parvulus (Pocock). In this paper, I revise this species group and include here A. mumai Corronca, A. lawrencei (Roewer) and two new species: Anyphops ngome n. sp. and A. lucia n. sp. from South Africa. Drawings of the female and male genitalia and some somatic characters are given, in some cases for the first time. A key for the lycosiformis species group and a map showing the distribution of each species are provided.     

Species of genus Schizotheca Hincks (Bryozoa,Cheilostomata) described in the Atlantic‐Mediterranean region,with notes on some species of Parasmittina Osburn

Material held in collections, originally ascribed to the genus Schizotheca and originating from the NE Atlantic and Mediterranean, is revised. Two new species are described: Schizotheca carmenae sp. nov. from Azores and Portugal, originally cited as Strophiella tubigera [sic], and Schizotheca buski sp. nov. from Cape Verde and Brazil, originally cited as Schizotheca fissa. Schizotheca talismani, also from Cape Verde, is redescribed from original material and transferred to the genus Parasmittina. The Atlantic species Schizotheca tuberigera is redescribed and a new synonymy is established. Schizotheca aviculifera, from Morocco, is also redescribed and a lectotype designated. A lectotype is also chosen for Schizotheca fissa, type species of the genus. Schizotheca lepida, from north France, is considered to be an unrecognizable species.     

A new wolf spider species in the Pardosa monticola‐group (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Xinjiang,China

The Plateremaeoidea demonstrate highly differentiated patterns of dorsal setae on the hysterosoma because these setae are lost in protonymph and adult. Setal loss in protonymph always starts with setae of d-series, and occurs in order, continuing to the l-series and h-series. For example, Aleurodamaeus setosus (Berlese, 1883 Berlese, A. 1883. Escursione in Sicilia. Acarofauna Sicula. Ia serie. Bull Soc Entomol Ital., 15: 212–220.  [Google Scholar]) and Al. africanus Pletzen, 1963 Pletzen, R Van. 1963. Studies on South African Oribatei, II. Plateremaeidae Trägardh 1931; Genus Pedrocortesella Hammer 1961. Acarologia, 5(3): 438–442.  [Google Scholar] lose setae of d-series in protonymph, and eight pairs in adult (c-series, l-series, h ₂, h ₃), so four pairs of setae remain (h ₁, p-series). Arthrodamaeus reticulatus (Berlese, 1910), Gymnodamaeus bicostatus (C. L. Koch, 1836) and Jacotella neonominata Subías, 2004 Subías LS. 2004. Listado sistemático, sinonímico y biogeográfico de los Ácaros Oribátidos (Acariformes, Oribatida) del mundo (1758–2002). Graellsia. 60:3–305. Online version accessed in February 2011, p. 1–558. Available from http://www.ucm.es/info/zoo/Artropodos/Catalogo.pdf (http://www.ucm.es/info/zoo/Artropodos/Catalogo.pdf)  [Google Scholar] lose also setae la and lm in protonymph, and four pairs (c-series, lp), five pairs (c-series, lp, h ₃) and six pairs (c-series, lp, h ₂, h ₃) in adults, respectively, so six pairs (h-, p-series), five pairs (h ₁, h ₂, p-series) and four pairs of setae (h ₁, p-series) remain, respectively. Licnodamaeus costula Grandjean, 1931 Grandjean, F. 1931. Le genre Licneremaeus Paoli (Acariens). Bull Soc Zool France., 56: 221–250.  [Google Scholar] loses additionally seta lp, and Licnobelba latiflabellata (Paoli, 1908 Paoli, G. 1908. Monografia del genere Dameosoma Berl. e generi affini. Redia., 5: 31–91.  [Google Scholar]) also lose seta h ₂ in protonymph, and setae of c-series in adults, so six pairs of setae (h-series, p-series) remain in the former species, and four pairs (h ₁, p-series) in the latter species. Morphological characters of juveniles and adults of eight species of Plateremaeoidea are compared.     

On the genus Penthesilenula Rossetti and Martens, 1998 (Crustacea,Ostracoda, Darwinulidae) from (semi-) terrestrial habitats in São Paulo State (Brazil), with the description of a new species

Three species of darwinulid ostracods, belonging to the genus Penthesilenula, are reported from terrestrial and semi-terrestrial habitats in São Paulo State (Brazil). Penthesilenula reidae n. sp. is here described as new to science. It belongs to the africana-group in the genus and was found exclusively in bromeliad pouches. Penthesilenula aotearoa (in the incae-group) was previously known from New Zealand only and is here reported for the first time from South America. The third species, Penthesilenula brasiliensis, is here described from leaf litter in forests, constituting the first darwinulid taxon to be found in fully terrestrial habitats. The morphological diversity within P. brasiliensis s. l. is discussed and various lineages on different continents are retained within this species. The evolutionary significance of the high incidence of teratologies in the Darwinulidae is discussed. A tentative homology for the apical chaetotaxy of A2 between Darwinulidae and Cyprididae is offered.     

Two new species of phytoseiid mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from the State of São Paulo,Brazil

Two new species of phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius ica and Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus, from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Amblyseius ica belongs to the americanus species group and dombeyus species subgroup, being the second species of that subgroup. Typhloseiopsis dorsoreticulatus is the first species of the genus Typhloseiopsis recorded outside Central America.     

Pattern of shell occupation by the hermit crab Pagurus exilis (Anomura,Paguridae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State,Brazil

The purpose of this study was to determine the shell occupation pattern of Pagurus exilis using the percentage of shell types that were occupied and the morphometric relationship between hermits and occupied shells. Specimens were collected monthly from July 2001 to June 2003. A total of 1737 individuals were collected, occupying 19 gastropod shell species. Buccinanops gradatum (82%) was the most occupied shell, followed by Natica isabelleana (6.4%), Stramonita haemastoma (3.2%), and Cymatium parthenopeum (2.2%). There was a differential shell utilization pattern between sexes; males occupied larger and heavier shells while the non‐ovigerous females occupied the lightest ones. Pagurus exilis occupied more bare shells instead of incrusted ones. Buccinanops gradatum was the most occupied shell species as a function of its availability in the survey, and this occupation is strongly associated with the higher internal volume presented by these shells.     

Abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp Rimapenaeus constrictus (Crustacea: Penaeidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State,Brazil

The abundance and ecologic distribution of the shrimp R. constrictus were compared among three different embayments within the northern coast of São Paulo State (23°S, 45°W); i.e. Mar Virado (MV), Ubatuba (UBA) and Ubatumirim (UBM). Key environmental factors were monitored for a better understanding of the distributional patterns of this species, namely temperature, salinity, depth, organic matter content and texture of sediments. In each bay, six transects were delimited, four parallel to the coastline and the other two in areas adjacent to rocky shores. Monthly samples were taken over a 2-year period (1998 and 1999), using a shrimp fishing boat equipped with double-rig nets. Abundance data were treated separately according to environmental characteristics. A total of 4978 specimens was obtained; 921 at MV, 1948 at UBA and 2109 at UBM. The spatial distribution of R. constrictus differed among bays. Higher abundance values were recorded at areas where silt and clay comprised less than 70% of the sediment. A more diversified sediment at UBM and UBA apparently favours the establishment of this species in the region. Its abundance also followed a seasonal trend, higher during spring and summer when intrusions of cold South Atlantic Coastal Waters (SACW) are frequent, promoting the migration of this shrimp to more sheltered areas. These results suggest that sediment type and temperature are the most important variables affecting the spatial and seasonal distribution of this species.     

Ecological distribution and reproductive period of the hermit crab Loxopagurus loxochelis (Anomura,Diogenidae) on the northern coast of São Paulo State,Brazil

The present study aimed to determine the ecological distribution of Loxopagurus loxochelis as a function of selected environmental factors, as well as its reproductive period based on the combined analysis of the presence of ovigerous females and the development of the gonad. The collections were carried out monthly from January to December 2000 in the region of Ubatuba (SP), using a fishing boat equipped with two double rig nets, in isobaths of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40?m, at which depths samples of sediment and water were collected. The cephalothoracic shield length and sex of the animals were determined; the abdomen was dissected to verify gonad development stages. A total of 334 individuals was obtained (196 males, 48 ovigerous females and 90 non-ovigerous females) with sizes varying from 3.0 to 8.6?mm (5.7±1.0?mm). A greater abundance of L. loxochelis (95.2%) was observed at depths of 20 and 25?m. These sites mainly revealed a substratum stable with a very fine sand fraction, which facilitates the habit of embedding shown by this hermit. With regard to gonadal analysis, it was possible to classify four gonad development stages for each sex: immature, rudimentary, developing and developed. It was observed that in the winter months about 71% of the females had gonads either developing or developed and 67% were ovigerous. Therefore, the winter period can be considered the peak of reproduction for this species, characterizing a typical seasonal-continuous reproduction.     

A new cave‐dwelling millipede of the genus Bollmania Silvestri, 1896 from Yunnan,China, with remarks on the reduction of the second female leg‐pair (Diplopoda: Callipodida: Caspiopetalidae)

Bollmania beroni sp. n., described from a cave in Jianshui County, Yunnan, China is the first true troglo‐ and hygrophilic species in the genus. The new locality extends the range of Bollmania ca 2500?km towards SE, ca 1700?km SW of the only other Chinese record. Notes are given on B. orientalis (Silvestri, ), B. nodifrons Lohmander, and B. oblonga Golovatch, , based on new material from Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, and on two unnamed, probably new species from Afghanistan. An updated key to the eight described species is presented. Original observations and illustrations of second female legs in various callipodid genera are presented, along with a literature review of this character, which has so far received little attention from taxonomists.     

A new genus and species of Heteromysini (Crustacea‐Mysidacea) from the backwater of Kochi (Kerala,India)

Kochimysis pillaii, a new genus and species of Heteromysini collected from the backwater of Kochi, is described. The new genus is closely related to the genus Deltamysis but is distinguishable from the latter by the following characters: antennules of male have a small setiferous lobe; antennal scale is without distal suture; second segment of mandibular palp broad; endopodite segments of maxilla subequal in length; in male carpus and propodus of second thoracic endopod with notches on outer margin; outer pair of apical spines on telson longer than the inner pair.     

Diversity and distribution of marine Gastrotricha along the northern beaches of the state of São Paulo (Brazil), with description of a new species of Macrodasys (Macrodasyida,Macrodasyidae)

Forty-three putative species were found in this first-ever survey of the marine gastrotrich fauna of Brazil. Samples from 23 locations and 37 sites along the northern coasts of the state of São Paulo yielded 21 species of Macrodasyida (12 genera and five families) and 22 species of Chaetonotida (seven genera and two families). Based on morphology, 26 species appear to be taxa not previously described and thus far endemic to Brazil, 13 are known species, while one in each of the genera Diplodasys, Paradasys and Tetranchyroderma remains undetermined. The overall high diversity contrasts with the generally low number of species from single locations, averaging 4.3 (SD 3.5) spp. per location; very few species were found in sites characterized by very fine sand sediment loaded with detritus and by high water turbidity (e.g. 1 sp. in praia da Fazenda), whereas a well-diversified gastrotrich community was found in localities characterized by medium or fine sand with little detritus and clear water (e.g. 14 spp. in praia de Castelhanos). The macrodasyidans, Paraturbanella sp. 1, Pseudostomella sp. 1 and Tetranchyroderma sp. 1, and the chaetonotidan Heteroxenotrichula sp. 1 were the most common species, often sympatric and particularly frequent and abundant along the continental shoreline (recorded in 50–65% of these localities); on the other hand, Macrodasys fornerise n. sp., Ptychostomella sp. 1, Tetranchyroderma sp. 3 and Thaumastoderma sp. 2, while occurring sometimes in very high numbers, exhibited a much narrower range, being encountered only once or twice during the survey. The main morphometric traits are described of the 13 species considered to be cosmopolitan or with at least an amphi-Atlantic distribution, including Chaetonotus apechochaetus and Halichaetonotus marivagus, reported here for the first time from the Americas; of the 26 species thus far endemic to Brazil, Macrodasys fornerise n. sp., which is characterized by a noticeable 145?µm-long frontal organ, is also described and figured.