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1 August 2003 OBSERVATIONS OF THEOTIMA MINUTISSIMUS (ARANEAE, OCHYROCERATIDAE), A PARTHENOGENETIC SPIDER
Robert L. Edwards, Eric H. Edwards, Annabel D. Edwards
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Abstract

It has been suggested by several authorities that at least one species of spider of the genus Theotima, family Ochyroceratidae, occurring in tropical regions in South Africa, the Caribbean and Asia may be parthenogenetic. Theotima minutissimus is particularly abundant in the tropical rainforest leaf litter on El Yunque, Puerto Rico. While many hundreds of specimens have been collected over many years, none has been a male. To examine the possibility that this small species, ± 0.9 mm body length, is parthenogenetic, live specimens were collected and maintained in the laboratory. A second generation spiderling, raised separately, produced viable progeny.

Robert L. Edwards, Eric H. Edwards, and Annabel D. Edwards "OBSERVATIONS OF THEOTIMA MINUTISSIMUS (ARANEAE, OCHYROCERATIDAE), A PARTHENOGENETIC SPIDER," The Journal of Arachnology 31(2), 274-277, (1 August 2003). https://doi.org/10.1636/0161-8202(2003)031[0274:OOTMAO]2.0.CO;2
Received: 24 June 2002; Published: 1 August 2003
KEYWORDS
leaf litter
Parthenogenesis
spider
tropical rainforest
Wolbachia
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