As aranhas perna-longas do grupo togatus, gênero Mesabolivar (Araneae: Pholcidae), de ambientes cavernícolas e epígeos do Brasil

Abstract

The spiders of the genus Mesabolivar are among the most diverse and well-studied groups of spiders in the Neotropics. In Brazil, 84% of the total diversity of the genus is recorded, with the majority coming from the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. Among the genera, the togatus group stands out for presenting a high diversity, endemism and potential for a large number of new species in Brazil. Based on specimens available in the main biological collections in Brazil and on material collected during 5 field expeditions, in the Brazilian Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest, in the state of Minas Gerais, we describe and illustrate here 16 new species of Mesabolivar belonging to the group togatus. With this, the described species of the genus increased to 110 species, and to 32 species of the togatus group. Among the species of the togatus group, only 4 were found exclusively in subterranean environments, 12 in epigeal environments, and 16 were found in both ecosystems. In addition, a distribution map of the species of the group is available, according to the different biomes of Brazil, showing that the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has the greatest diversity of the group.