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Issue: Vol. 3104 No. 1: 21 Nov. 2011
Type: Articles
Published: 2011-11-21
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3104.1.4
Page range: 52–58
Abstract views: 45
PDF downloaded: 1

The spider Micrathena shealsi Chickering, 1960 (Araneae, Araneidae): description of the male, with new data on its geographic distribution

Cátedra de Diversidad Animal I. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X5000JJC Córdoba, Argentina
División Aracnología. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia” (MACN-Ar, CONICET). Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina
Araneae Argentina orb-weaver spider spider taxonomy Yungas ecoregion

Abstract

The male of Micrathena shealsi Chickering, 1960 is described and illustrated for the first time. New geographic records of this species are provided, revealing that M. shealsi inhabits the higher altitudinal belts (1000–3000 m) of the Yungas ecoregion (mountain forests and rainforests from Argentina). Male specimens were observed in the same web of females, in most cases on the upper periphery hanging by a silk line.

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