Descrição e comparação dos comportamentos reprodutivos de Peucetia flava e Peucetia rubrolineata em um contexto ecológico e evolutivo

Abstract

Although descriptive/comparative studies on the reproductive behavior of spiders are essential for understanding the evolution and speciation process of the group, they remain considerably scarce. In this work, descriptions and comparisons are made between the reproductive behaviors of Peucetia flava and Peucetia rubrolineata, two closely related sympatric species of Oxyopidae, belonging to a family whose reproductive patterns are poorly known. It is demonstrated how, despite the similarities, the reproductive patterns of these species differ in key points, probably associated with differences between their natural habitats and also how these differences can contribute to the reproductive isolation and speciative divergence between them.