Ecological niche modeling in a whip spider, Heterophrynus boterorum (Phrynidae), from the Colombian Central Andes

Abstract

The species Heterophrynus boterorum is endemic to Colombia, and was described in 2013 with just a few specimens. It has morphological variation that may be correlated with environmental conditions, or with isolation processes. We modeled the potential distribution of this species using software Maxent in order to know of other possible occurrence localities and the influence of environmental variables which can condition its presence. Additionally, we contrasted the potential distribution with the National System of Protected Areas of Colombia. The species has a potential distribution in the central region of the Andes in the Cordillera Central and Occidental, which connects all known populations. Precipitation and temperature, especially during the driest season, were the most influential variables in the model, which is coherent regarding the requirements for humidity and climatic stability in Amblypygi. Only one of the known populations is recorded in a protected area, so it is necessary to design better conservation strategies to preserve H. boterorum.