First records of extant Hispaniolan spiders of the families Mysmenidae, Symphytognathidae, and Ochyroceratidae (Araneae), including a new species of Ochyrocera

Abstract

A new species of ochyroceratid spider, Ochyrocera cachote, n.sp., is described and its unique web architecture is documented. This is the first record of Ochyroceratidae for the extant fauna of Hispaniola. Additional new family records include Symphytognathidae (Patu sp. and Symphytognatha sp.) and Mysmenidae (Microdipoena sp.), with the latter family having been previously recorded from the fossil amber fauna. This makes a new total of 46 spider families recorded from the extant Hispaniolan fauna, but on the whole the island's araneofauna remains poorly known and warrants further investigation.