On the taxonomy of Acanthoscurria Ausserer from southeastern Brazil with data on the natural history of A. gomesiana Mello-Leitão (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae)

Abstract

The study of type material and specimens of A. gomesiana of several Brazilian spider collections offered us the possibility to redescribe this species and consider synonyms of the first one of the following: A. violacea, A. pugnax, and A. aurita. Acanthoscurria cunhae and A. melanotheria are considered Species inquirendae, the types were not located, and the descriptions are not enough for identification of similar ones. We considered as valid only two species from the southeast of Brazil: A. paulensis and A. gomesiana. The distribution range of A. gomesiana is enhanced in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Some data on natural history and phenology are presented. © 2012 Hector M. O. Gonzalez-Filho et al.