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. 2024 Feb 19:12:e117072.
doi: 10.3897/BDJ.12.e117072. eCollection 2024.

Integrative taxonomy reveals first record of Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1820) (Araneae, Sicariidae) in the Philippines

Aimee Lynn A Barrion-Dupo  1   2 , Ireneo L Lit Jr  1   2 , Camille Faith D Duran  1 , Ma Francia Kyla M Cammayo  1 , Marnelli S Alviola  1   2 , Sheila Mae Q Mercado  2 , Cecille Ann L Osio  2 , Orlando L Eusebio  1 , Cristian C Lucañas  1 , Alberto T Barrion  3
Affiliations

Integrative taxonomy reveals first record of Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1820) (Araneae, Sicariidae) in the Philippines

Aimee Lynn A Barrion-Dupo et al. Biodivers Data J. .

Abstract

Background: The spider family Sicariidae Keyserling, 1880 represented by the synanthropic Mediterranean recluse spider, Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1820), is reported in the Philippines for the first time, based on morphological and molecular data. The introduced spider was observed in a small cave (Kamantigue Cave) in Lobo, Batangas Province. Considering the medical importance of this spider, the proximity of its habitat to human habitation and tourist sites poses a potential public health concern.

New information: This study reports on the first record of the family Sicariidae in the Philippines and the fourth recorded occurrence of L.rufescens in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: Loxoscelesrufescens; Mediterranean recluse; caves; loxoscelism.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of Kamantigue Cave in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines (A) and cave entrances (B-D). Cave map by DENR CENRO-Lipa, Batangas; b, c, d = entrance; ? - unexplored areas.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1820), male (A-D) and female (E-F); Habitus, dorsal view (A, E); palp: prolateral (B), retrolateral (C), apical (D); spermatheca (F). Abbreviations: f - femur, p - patella, Ti - tibia, c - cymbium, b - bulb, e - embolus.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
UPGMA tree generated using the COI sequences of the four Philippine Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1892) specimens and 20 other Loxosceles species. Evolutionary distances were calculated using the Tamura-Nei parameter model with 1,000 bootstrap iterations. AU – Adelaide, Australia; CH – Guangxi, China; CS – Cabo de Gata, Spain; FI – Fars, Iran; GC – Subida San Felipe, Gran Canaria; ID - Maharashra, India; KT – Kepez, Turkey; PH – Batangas, Philippines; PT – Porto Santo, Portugal; SI – Sardinia, Italy; SS – Sagunt, Spain; US – New York, USA; VS – Vilamarxant, Spain; YI – Yazd, Iran.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Loxoscelesrufescens (Dufour, 1820) in Kamantigue Cave. A web in cave wall; B Juvenile; C Male; D Female; E Female with eggs; F Female feeding on a pholcid, Smeringopuspallidus (Blackwall, 1858).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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