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Issue: Vol. 5875 No. 2: 3 Sept. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-09-03
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5875.2.1
Page range: 101-143
Abstract views: 170
PDF downloaded: 12

Unveiling Neotropical Hadrotarsinae (Araneae: Theridiidae): new species and new records of Dipoena from South America

Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos; 6627; Belo Horizonte; Minas Gerais; Brasil; Pós-graduação em Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos; 6627; Belo Horizonte; Minas Gerais; Brasil
Departamento de Zoologia; Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Av. Antônio Carlos; 6627; Belo Horizonte; Minas Gerais; Brasil
Araneae Brazil Dipoenata Ecuador taxonomy

Abstract

Hadrotarsinae comprises a morphologically distinctive lineage of ant-eating comb-footed spiders whose diversity and generic limits remain poorly understood, particularly in the Neotropical region. Based on the examination of museum specimens using light and scanning electron microscopy, we describe four new species of Dipoena from Brazil: Dipoena vulsella sp. nov. from Bahia, Minas Gerais, and São Paulo; Dipoena albaspinosa sp. nov. from Espírito Santo; Dipoena farciminis sp. nov. from Bahia, Espírito Santo, and Minas Gerais; and Dipoena cicer sp. nov. from Bahia. We also describe one new species from Ecuador, Dipoena unobi sp. nov., from Napo Province. In addition, we provide new distribution records from Brazil and Ecuador for Dipoena atlantica Chickering, 1943, D. bryantae Chickering, 1943, D. cordiformis Keyserling, 1886, D. duodecimpunctata Chickering, 1943, D. ericae Rodrigues, 2013, D. granulata (Keyserling, 1886), D. hortoni Chickering, 1943, D. ira Levi, 1963, D. isthmia Chickering, 1943, D. kuyuwini Levi, 1963, D. plaumanni Levi, 1963, D. pumicata (Keyserling, 1886), D. santacatarinae Levi, 1963, D. santaritadopassaquatrensis Rodrigues, 2013, and Dipoenata balboae (Chickering, 1943). A comparative discussion of hadrotarsine morphology supports the conservative placement of all five new species in Dipoena and highlights the need for a comprehensive revision of generic limits within Hadrotarsinae.

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How to Cite

Cardinali, J.V., Faleiro, B.T. & Santos, A.J. (2026) Unveiling Neotropical Hadrotarsinae (Araneae: Theridiidae): new species and new records of Dipoena from South America. Zootaxa, 5875 (2), 101–143. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5875.2.1