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Systematics · Biogeography · Ecology · Behaviour · Conservation
CERZOS (CONICET / UNS) · Department of Agronomy, Bahía Blanca
About us
We study the origin and diversity of Mygalomorphae spiders, investigating the processes that shape their temporal and spatial dynamics. Our work brings together systematics, biogeography, ecology and behaviour. Mygalomorphs hold great potential for integrative evolutionary studies because of their unique biological traits — the same traits that place them among the most endangered spider species.
We take multidisciplinary approaches, using mygalomorphs as model organisms for the processes underlying their biodiversity and the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems. Specifically, we describe new species and build biological inventories, databases and digital imaging. We also delimit species through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis, and examine biogeographic patterns and the processes behind them, alongside natural history, thermal ecology, behaviour and conservation.
News
What the group has been up to
August 28, 2026
Team
Maite Allegue realizó una pasantía de un mes en la Universidade Estadual Paulista, donde se capacitó en técnicas de morfometría aplicadas al estudio de arañas migalomorfas.
Read the storyApril 22, 2026
Award
El artículo “Hilos de curiosidad: la doble arquitectura de una tarántula serrana”, de Micaela Millenpeier, fue distinguido con el Premio al Mejor Artículo de Divulgación CERZOS 2026.
Read the storyOctober 30, 2025
Book
Un recorrido exhaustivo y actualizado sobre la fauna de arañas Theraphosidae de la Argentina: 56 especies, 200 fotos color y mapas de distribución.
Read the storyTeam
Who works in the group
Independent Researcher · CERZOS · DBByF (UNS)
Research interest: Diversity and evolution of Neotropical mygalomorph spiders, particularly the systematics, taxonomy, behavior and biogeography of the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas).
My research interests include morphological and molecular phylogenetics, species delimitation, and the development and testing of biogeographic hypotheses to better understand the evolutionary history and diversification of this group of spiders.
Assistant Researcher · CERZOS
Research interest: Biology and thermal ecology of mygalomorph spiders, particularly tarantulas from Argentina.
The main objective is to understand how the species respond to environmental conditions and thermal variability by integrating field and experimental studies at the individual and population levels. My research includes the characterization of thermal performance and thermal limits, the study of thermal habitat quality, and the assessment of species vulnerability to environmental and climatic change. This work is complemented by studies on biology and ecology, with the aim of generating information that contributes to our understanding and conservation of mygalomorph spiders.
Postdoctoral Researcher · CERZOS
Research interest: Evolution of reproductive morphology and sexual behavior in mygalomorph spiders.
I aim to characterize copulatory mechanics and sperm storage by integrating morphological, behavioral, and phylogenetic evidence, in order to understand how their reproductive organs evolved and what role sexual selection played in their diversification.
PhD Student · CERZOS
Research interest: Diversity and evolution of mygalomorph spiders, combining systematics, phylogenetics, behavior and biogeography. My PhD research addresses the tarantula genus Euathlus (Theraphosidae).
My main interests include taxonomic revision, phylogenetic relationships, sexual behavior, and species distribution patterns, with the aim of understanding the evolutionary processes that have shaped the diversity of this group. Additionally, I work on other lineages of mygalomorph spiders, contributing to the knowledge of their diversity, biology, and natural history.
PhD Student · CERZOS
Research interest: Systematic, taxonomic, phylogenetic and biogeographic study of mygalomorph spiders of the genus Grammostola from Argentina.
The main objective is to assess the diversity of the genus through the study of morphological and phylogenetic characters, integrating phylogenetic and biogeographic analyses to clarify evolutionary relationships, species distributions, and species delimitation. This work includes the revision of known species, the assessment of synonymies and species revalidations, and the description of new species, contributing to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of tarantulas in the Southern Cone.
PhD Student · CERZOS · DBByF (UNS)
Research interest: Biogeography and conservation of spiders, with particular interest in species distribution patterns and the knowledge gaps that hinder their conservation.
I am also interested in integrating approaches from biogeography, ecology, and systematics to expand our understanding of species diversity, biology, and natural history.
PhD Student · CERZOS
Research interest: Systematics and historical biogeography of the family Migidae, a group of Gondwanan-distributed trapdoor spiders.
I aim to reconstruct their evolutionary history by integrating morphological, molecular, and biogeographic evidence, exploring the processes that contributed to their diversification, and advancing the taxonomic revision of the group.
Publications
Scientific articles and outreach pieces
2025
[EJEMPLO] Apellido N., Apellido M. · [EJEMPLO] Revista de ejemplo
2024
[EJEMPLO] Apellido N. · [EJEMPLO] Suplemento de ciencia
2024
[EJEMPLO] Apellido N., Apellido M., Apellido P. · [EJEMPLO] Revista de ejemplo
2023
[EJEMPLO] Apellido M. · [EJEMPLO] Revista de ejemplo
Projects
Ongoing and completed research projects
![[EJEMPLO] Inventario de biodiversidad en pastizales](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjQsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--1f5f9d36ec8fccd507c47fc1a6d546e36b8163a1/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJ3ZWJwIiwicmVzaXplX3RvX2xpbWl0IjpbMTYwMCwxMjAwXSwic2F2ZXIiOnsicXVhbGl0eSI6ODB9fSwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--0217b152f6ebb2ac9910aba712cb530125c99f2e/1.jpg?locale=en)
UNDP · 2024–Ongoing
[EJEMPLO] Descripción de ejemplo del proyecto.
![[EJEMPLO] Diversity and evolution of Mygalomorphae](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjUsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--f7b62df7d963362d62efa74c97436707c81803ec/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJ3ZWJwIiwicmVzaXplX3RvX2xpbWl0IjpbMTYwMCwxMjAwXSwic2F2ZXIiOnsicXVhbGl0eSI6ODB9fSwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--0217b152f6ebb2ac9910aba712cb530125c99f2e/2.jpg?locale=en)
PICT · 2023–2026
[EJEMPLO] Placeholder project description.
![[EJEMPLO] Conservación de migalomorfas amenazadas](/rails/active_storage/representations/redirect/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6NjYsInB1ciI6ImJsb2JfaWQifX0=--c2b63b352bde803eb50e04a856bb5cb553b43c03/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsiZGF0YSI6eyJmb3JtYXQiOiJ3ZWJwIiwicmVzaXplX3RvX2xpbWl0IjpbMTYwMCwxMjAwXSwic2F2ZXIiOnsicXVhbGl0eSI6ODB9fSwicHVyIjoidmFyaWF0aW9uIn19--0217b152f6ebb2ac9910aba712cb530125c99f2e/3.jpg?locale=en)
Rufford · 2022–2024
[EJEMPLO] Descripción de ejemplo del proyecto.
Field campaigns
The group in the field
Chubut · Chubut
2025
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PN Calilegua, PN Copo, Tucumán, Salta y Santiago del Estero · Jujuy, Tucumán, Salta y Santiago del Estero
2025
Meseta de Somuncurá · Río Negro
2024
Outreach
Videos, guides and public activities
Video
Científicos Industria Argentina - Arañas migalomorfas (Sierra de la Ventana) - 19-04-14 (1 de 2)
Video
Científicos Industria Argentina - Arañas migalomorfas (Sierra de la Ventana) - 19-04-14 (2 de 2)
Other material
Article
Nelson Ferretti
Article
Micaela Nicoletta, Leonela Schwerdt, Justina Panchuk, Arthur Galleti-Lima y Nelson Ferretti
Article
Maite Allegue y Micaela Nicoletta
Article
Leonela Schwerdt y Rodrigo Batista
Article
Nelson Ferretti
Article
Justina Panchuk
Article
Micaela Nicoletta
Guide
DBByF — UNS
Contact
If our work interests you, if you would like to join a field campaign or propose a collaboration, write to us. We also welcome enquiries from students looking for a thesis topic or an internship.
Contact