Four new troglophilic species of Loxosceles Heinecken & Lowe, 1832: contributions to the knowledge of recluse spiders from Brazilian caves (Araneae, Sicariidae)

Abstract

Four new species of recluse spiders from Brazilian caves are described with both males and females. <i>Loxoscelesericsoni</i> Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, <b>sp. n.</b> and <i>L.karstica</i> Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, <b>sp. n.</b> both occur in caves in the Peruaçu region, located in the northern area of the state of Minas Gerais; <i>L.karstica</i> <b>sp. n.</b> is additionally found in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, located in the southwestern region of the state of Bahia. These two species belong to the <i>gaucho</i> group. <i>Loxoscelescarinhanha</i> Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, <b>sp. n.</b> and <i>L.cardosoi</i> Bertani, von Schimonsky & Gallão, <b>sp. n.</b> occur exclusively in caves of the Serra do Ramalho karst area and belong to the <i>rufescens</i>/<i>amazonica</i> species group. The discovery of two additional and highly distinct species in the <i>rufescens</i>/<i>amazonica</i> group (<i>L.carinhanha</i> <b>sp. n.</b> and <i>L.cardosoi</i> <b>sp. n.</b>) increases the debate on the origin, evolution, and geographical distribution of this widely distributed group of recluse spiders in the New and Old World. The presence of three species (<i>L.ericsoni</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, <i>L.carinhanha</i> <b>sp. n.</b>, and <i>L.cardosoi</i> <b>sp. n.</b>) with marked differences in morphological characters in a relatively small area indicates that the region seems to be an important center for <i>Loxosceles</i> diversity, which remains poorly studied.