Cryptocellus

Abstract: Ricinulei are among the most obscure and cryptic arachnid orders, constituting a micro-diverse group with extreme endemism. The 76 extant species described to date are grouped in three genera: Ricinoides, from tropical Western and Central Africa, and the two Neotropical genera Cryptocellus and Pseudocellus. Until now, a single molecular phylogeny of Ricinulei has been published, recovering the African Ricinoides as the sister group of the American Pseudocellus and providing evidence for the diversification of the order pre-dating the fragmentation of Gondwana. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first phylogenomic study of this neglected arachnid order based on data from five transcriptomes obtained from the five major mitochondrial lineages of Ricinulei. Our results, based on up to more than 2000 genes, strongly support a clade containing Pseudocellus and Cryptocellus, constituting the American group of Ricinulei, with the African Ricinoides nesting outside. Our dating of the diversification of the African and American clades using a 76 gene data matrix with 90% gene occupancy indicates that this arachnid lineage was distributed in the South American, North American and African plates of Gondwana and that its diversification is concordant with a biogeographic scenario (both for pattern and tempo) of Gondwanan vicariance.

Abstract: Cryptocellus icamiabas sp. nov. is described from an adult male from Amazonas state, Brazil. The new species is a member of the Amazonian foedus group, and is closest to Cryptocellus abaporu Bonaldo & Pinto-da-Rocha, 2003, Cryptocellus becki Platnick, 1977, and Cryptocellus simonis Hansen & Sorensen, 1904. The distribution pattern and morphology of the foedus group are briefly discussed.

Abstract: Cryptocellus canga sp. nov. is described from specimens collected in several caves at Carajas National Forest, Para, Brazil. The new species differs from other species of the genus by the morphology of copulatory apparatus of the male leg III.

Abstract: A new species of Ricinulei of the genus Cryptocellus Westwood 1874 is described from the Madeira-Purus Interfluve, Amazonas, Brazil. It shares a set of apomorphies with Cryptocellus peckorum Platnick & Shadab 1977 and Cryptocellus tarsilae Pinto-da-Rocha & Bonaldo 2007, with which it forms an assemblage of related species herein named the peckorum group. A second group of species, the Cryptocellus adisi group, is formed by the following species: Cryptocellus adisi Platnick 1988, Cryptocellus florezi Platnick & Garcia 2008, and Cryptocellus lisbethae Gonzalez-Sponga 1998.