Diversificação das aranhas Sicarius (Araneae: Sicariidae) na América do Sul e sua relação com a história biogeográfica das florestas secas neotropicais

Abstract

In this chapter I revise the taxonomy of Neotropical species of Sicarius (Araneae: Sicariidae) with emphasis on species from the Brazilian Caatinga, the largest tropical dry forest nucleus in the world. I redescribe, designate a neotype and provide new records for Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão, 1936), the only species previously known from the region, and describe three species: S. cariri, S. diadorim and S. ornatus. I include an identification key for Brazilian Caatinga species of Sicarius and report high intraspecific variation in the genitalic morphology of these species, especially in females. I also provide anecdotal observations on natural history and behavior of these species, including diet, mating behavior and clutch size. Finally, I also provide diagnoses, genitalia images and distribution maps for sixteen morphotypes of Neotropical Sicarius that occur outside the Brazilian Caatinga, linking those to described species when possible.