Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Speciation without changes in genital shape: a case study on Brazilian pholcid spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae)

Full text
Author(s):
Huber, Bernhard A. ; Rheims, Cristina A. ; Brescovit, Antonio D. [3]
Total Authors: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER; v. 243, n. 4, p. 273-279, June 2005.
Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology
Abstract

Speciation in arthropods is usually coupled with marked changes in genital morphology, which explains the usefulness of genitalia in distinguishing closely related species. The present paper describes specimens that are assigned to separate species based on extreme size differences and colour pattern differences, but the shape of the genitalia is essentially identical. We argue that such cryptic species may be more common than currently assumed, but if marked morphological (non-genital) differences are missing, traditional taxonomic methodology is biased against discovering them. The two new species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are tentatively assigned to the genus Psilochorus: Psilochorus itaguyrussu n. sp. and Psilochorus ybytyriguara n. sp. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 02/11277-9 - Cladistic analysis of the genuses of Sparassidae Bertkau (Arachnida, Araneae) with emphasis on neotropical genuses
Grantee:Cristina Anne Rheims
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
FAPESP's process: 99/05446-8 - Biodiversity of Arachnida and Myriapoda of the State of São Paulo
Grantee:Antonio Domingos Brescovit
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants