Curves, maps and hotspots: The diversity and distribution of araneomorph spiders in the neotropics

Abstract

The infraorder Araneomorphae comprises more than nine-tenths of spider diversity, including most of the better known web-weaving spiders. As observed for other taxa, the group is particularly diverse in the Neotropics, where it can be find in any terrestrial ecosystem. In this chapter we synthesize the current taxonomic and biogeographic knowledge on the Neotropical araneomorphs, based on a large database of species described since 1758. We describe the pattern of described species accumulation through time in the Neotropics, and explore factors responsible for variations in species discovery in space and time. We also use statistical methods to predict the total number of species in the Neotropics and discuss the challenges involved in the description of the remaining Neotropical species. Finally, we describe biogeographical patterns throughout the Neotropics, based on detailed species distribution data for well-known spider families.