Molecular data reveal cryptic species within the most common tarantula spider from Argentina, Catumiri argentinense (ARANEAE: THERAPHOSIDAE)

Abstract

Ischnocolinae is one of 11 subfamilies of the family Theraphosidae and has an intricate taxonomy, much like most theraphosid taxa. The genus Catumiri Guadanucci, 2004 comprises small-sized theraphosids and presently includes four species: C. argentinense (Mello-Leitão, 1941), C. chicaoi Guadanucci, 2004, C. parvum (Keyserling, 1878), and C. petropolium Guadanucci, 2004 (type species of the genus). Catumiri argentinense is present in Argentina and Chile and perhaps is the most common and abundant theraphosid spider in the first country. Moreover, its distribution covers from the north of provinces of Jujuy and Salta, until southern La Pampa province. The holotype female is described from Catamarca province and the allotype male from Jujuy province, both about 500 km distant from each other. Although some species of Catumiri show a conservative morphology, e.g., females of C. argentinense cannot be distinguished from those of C. parvum by morphology, instead they are differenced by the geographical distribution, we have been observed many differences in somatic characters and even genitalic among some populations of C. argentinense. Rather than find support for one taxon as previously hypothesized, species delimitation from COI sequences using multiple approaches reveal C. argentinense as a complex of cryptic species comprising lineages from Tres Cerros (Corrientes), Tandilia (Buenos Aires), Pampean grasslands (Córdoba + Santiago del Estero), Ñacuñán (Mendoza) and Tucumán + Jujuy (identified as C. argentinense), most of them undistinguishable by morphological characters, other presenting new characters for the genus.