Cândido Firmino de Mello-Leitão (July 17, 1886 – December 14, 1948) was a Brazilian

zoologist Zoology ( , ) is the scientific study of animals. Its studies include the structure, embryology, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their ecosystems. Zoology is one ...

who is considered the founder of

Arachnology Arachnology is the science, scientific study of arachnids, which comprise spiders and related invertebrates such as scorpions, Pseudoscorpionida, pseudoscorpions, Opiliones, harvestmen, Tick, ticks, and mites. Those who study spiders and other a ...

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...

, publishing 198 papers on the

taxonomy image:Hierarchical clustering diagram.png, 280px, Generalized scheme of taxonomy Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization. Typically, there are two parts to it: the development of an underlying scheme o ...

Arachnida Arachnids are arthropods in the class Arachnida () of the subphylum Chelicerata. Arachnida includes, among others, spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, camel spiders, whip spiders and vinegaroons. Adult arachnids ...

. He was also involved with education, writing high-school textbooks, and contributed to

biogeography Biogeography is the study of the species distribution, distribution of species and ecosystems in geography, geographic space and through evolutionary history of life, geological time. Organisms and biological community (ecology), communities o ...

, with essays on the distribution of Arachnida in the South American continent.

Biography

Cândido Firmino de Mello-Leitão was born on the Cajazeiras Farm, Campina Grande,

Paraíba Paraíba ( , ; ) is a states of Brazil, state of Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Northeast, and it is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte to the north, Ceará to the west, Pernambuco to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Paraíba i ...

state, Brazil, to Colonel Cândido Firmino and Jacunda de Mello-Leitão. He died in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, Brazil. His parents were subsistence farmers, and he had 15 brothers and sisters. He lived most of his childhood at the state of

Pernambuco Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...

. His first job as a zoologist (1913) was at the Escola Superior de Agricultura e Medicina Veterinária in Piraí, RJ, as a teacher of general Zoology and Systematics. In 1915, he published his first taxonomical paper, with descriptions of some genera and species of

spider Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...

s from Brazil. He also produced much taxonomic information on the

Opiliones The Opiliones (formerly Phalangida) are an Order (biology), order of arachnids, Common name, colloquially known as harvestmen, harvesters, harvest spiders, or daddy longlegs (see below). , over 6,650 species of harvestmen have been discovered w ...

Solifugae Solifugae is an Order (biology), order of Arachnid, arachnids known variously as solifuges, sun spiders, camel spiders, and wind scorpions. The order includes more than 1,000 described species in about 147 genus, genera. Despite the common names, ...

Amblypygi Amblypygi is an order of arachnids also known as whip-spiders or tailless whip-scorpions, not to be confused with whip-scorpions or vinegaroons that belong to the related order Thelyphonida. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a referen ...

Uropygi Uropygi is an arachnid order comprising invertebrates commonly known as whip scorpions or vinegaroons (also spelled vinegarroons and vinegarones). They are often called uropygids. The name "whip scorpion" refers to their resemblance to scorpion ...

, and smaller orders of arachnids. Mello-Leitão was appointed professor of Zoology at the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro in April 1931, where he remained until December 1937. Among the many species of spiders researched and catalogued by the zoologist there is one in particular which is very intriguing, given its big size, beauty and carnivore habits (it is a bird eater) – the ''

Lasiodora parahybana ''Lasiodora parahybana'', the Brazilian salmon pink bird-eating tarantula, also simply known as the salmon pink or LP, is a tarantula from north-eastern Brazil and considered to be the fourth largest tarantula in the world (behind the three spec ...

''. The species was discovered and first described in 1917 in the vicinities of the city of Campina Grande, Paraíba, from where it is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

. Mello-Leitão received many honor awards and was appointed or elected to distinguished positions during his career. He was president of the

Brazilian Academy of Sciences Brazilian commonly refers to: * Brazil, a country * Brazilians, its people * Brazilian Portuguese, its dialect Brazilian may also refer to: * "The Brazilian", a 1986 instrumental music piece by Genesis * Brazilian Café, Baghdad, Iraq (1937) * Bra ...

from 1943 to 1945. On June 6, 1949, his friend

Augusto Ruschi Augusto Ruschi (12 December 1915 — 3 June 1986) was a Brazilian agronomist, ecologist, and naturalist. Ruschi was interested in the study of plants and animals since childhood, allowing him to know in depth several branches of biology, becoming ...

inaugurated the Museum of Biology Mello-Leitão in Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo (state). The "Mello-Leitão Award" is granted by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

Contributions to the taxonomy of Arachnida

Below a list of species of spiders discovered, studied and named by the zoologist, as well as the date of discovered and the country where it they are found:Passion-terrario.net
/ref> * ''

Avicularia ancylochira ''Avicularia avicularia'', sometimes called the pinktoe tarantula, is a species of tarantula native from Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago to Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. This species is sometimes called the Guyana p ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Avicularia bicegoi ''Avicularia'' is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of arboreal tarantulas. The genus is native to Panama, the Caribbean, and tropical South America. Each species in the genus has very distinguishable pink foot pads. ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Avicularia cuminami ''Avicularia'' is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of arboreal tarantulas. The genus is native to Panama, the Caribbean, and tropical South America. Each species in the genus has very distinguishable pink foot pads. ...

,'' 1930 — Brazil * ''

Avicularia juruensis ''Avicularia juruensis'' is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil). ''Avicularia urticans'' was brought into synonymy in 2017. It has been given the English name Amazonian pink ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Avicularia nigrotaeniata ''Avicularia'' is a genus of the Family (biology), family Theraphosidae containing various species of arboreal tarantulas. The genus is native to Panama, the Caribbean, and tropical South America. Each species in the genus has very distinguishab ...

,'' 1940 — Guyana * '' Avicularia palmicola,'' 1945 — Brazil * '' Avicularia pulchra,'' 1933 — Brazil * '' Avicularia taunayi,'' 1920 — Brazil * ''

Iridopelma zorodes ''Iridopelma'' is a genus of Brazilian tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. Diagnosis Males of this genus can be distinguished by the tibial spurs on leg 1 and 2, while females differ from most other genera by th ...

,'' 1926 — Brazil * ''

Catumiri argentinense ''Catumiri'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by J. P. L. Guadanucci in 2004. The name is derived from the Tupi "''Catumiri''", meaning "very small". Description Members of ''Catumiri'' have a labium that is much ...

,'' 1941 — Chile, Argentina * ''

Hemiercus proximus ''Schismatothele'' is a genus of South American Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Ferdinand Karsch, Ferdinand Anton Franz Karsch in 1879. Species it contains sixteen species, found in South America: * ''Schismatothele benedet ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Tapinauchenius violaceus,'' 1930 — French Guiana, Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria chiracantha,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria cunhae,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria gomesiana,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Acanthoscurria juruenicola ''Acanthoscurria juruenicola'' is a species of ground dwelling tarantula native to Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Acanthoscurria melanotheria ''Acanthoscurria'' is a genus of Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. They are found throughout South America including the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria parahybana,'' 1926 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria paulensis,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria rhodothele,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Acanthoscurria rondoniae ''Acanthoscurria'' is a genus of Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. They are found throughout South America including the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Acanthoscurria violacea,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Cesonia irvingi,'' 1944 — Bahamas, United States * '' Ctenus vespertilio,'' 1941 — Colombia * ''

Cyclosternum garbei ''Cyclosternum'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. Species it contains twelve species, found in South America, Costa Rica, and Mexico: *'' Cyclosternum darienense'' Gabriel & Sherwood, 2022 = Panama * ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Cyriocosmus fasciatus ''Cyriocosmus'' is a genus of Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1903. They are small to medium spiders, with a bicolored or one same color carapace. Diagnosis It differs from all other ...

,'' 1930 — Brazil * ''

Cyrtopholis zorodes ''Cyrtopholis'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished by being found in the Caribbean, and by the presence of claviform stridulatory hairs on the trochanter ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Eupalaestrus spinosissimus ''Eupalaestrus'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. Species it contains six species, found in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil: *''Eupalaestrus campestratus'' (Simon, 1891) ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Grammostola inermis ''Grammostola'' is a genus of South American Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described in text by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. These medium- to large-sized spiders are native to tropical South America, and are usually brown ...

,'' 1941 — Argentina * ''Grammostola porteri'', 1936 (synonym of '' G. rosea'') — Chile * '' Grammostola pulchra,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Hapalopus nigriventris ''Hapalopus'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1875. Diagnosis They own a ring like keel on the palpal bulb, the tibial apophysis with convergent branches and a spermatheca having a membrane like base. The ...

,'' 1939 — Venezuela * '' Hapalopus nondescriptus,'' 1926 — Brazil * '' Hapalotremus cyclothorax,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Hapalotremus exilis,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Hapalotremus muticus ''Hapalotremus'' is a genus of South American Theraphosidae, tarantulas in the Theraphosinae subfamily that was first described by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1903. They have red or white Type III urticating hair, urticating (relatively ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Hapalotremus scintillans ''Hapalotremus'' is a genus of South American tarantulas in the Theraphosinae subfamily that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1903. They have red or white Type III urticating (relatively long, thin) hairs, up to , with a fine poin ...

,'' 1929 — Brazil * ''

Homoeomma hirsutum ''Homoeomma'' (''eyelike'', from Ancient Greek ὅμοιος, ''like'', and ὄμμα, ''eye'') is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. It is considered a senior synonym of ''Calopelma'', ''But ...

,'' 1935 — Brazil * ''

Homoeomma montanum ''Homoeomma'' (''eyelike'', from Ancient Greek ὅμοιος, ''like'', and ὄμμα, ''eye'') is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. It is considered a senior synonym of ''Calopelma'', ''But ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Homoeomma uruguayense ''Homoeomma'' (''eyelike'', from Ancient Greek wiktionary:ὅμοιος, ὅμοιος, ''like'', and wiktionary:ὄμμα, ὄμμα, ''eye'') is a genus of South American Theraphosidae, tarantulas that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 18 ...

,'' 1946 — Uruguay, Argentina * '' Lasiodora acanthognatha,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora citharacantha ''Lasiodora'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1850. They are often very large; body lengths of up to , including the legs, are not unusual. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished from other ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora cristata,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora cryptostigma,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora difficilis ''Lasiodora difficilis'', common name Brazilian red birdeater, is a species of tarantulas belonging to the family Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species hav ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora dolichosterna ''Lasiodora'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1850. They are often very large; body lengths of up to , including the legs, are not unusual. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished from other ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora dulcicola ''Lasiodora'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1850. They are often very large; body lengths of up to , including the legs, are not unusual. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished from other ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora erythrocythara ''Lasiodora'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1850. They are often very large; body lengths of up to , including the legs, are not unusual. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished from other ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

Lasiodora fracta ''Lasiodora'' is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1850. They are often very large; body lengths of up to , including the legs, are not unusual. Diagnosis This genus can be distinguished from other ...

,'' 1921 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora itabunae,'' 1921 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora lakoi,'' 1943 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora mariannae,'' 1921 — Brazil * ''

,'' 1917 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora pleoplectra,'' 1921 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora sternalis,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Lasiodora subcanens,'' 1921 — Brazil * '' Phormictopus australis,'' 1941 — Argentina * '' Phormictopus ribeiroi,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Plesiopelma insulare,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Plesiopelma minense,'' 1943 — Brazil * '' Plesiopelma physopus,'' 1926 — Brazil * ''

Plesiopelma rectimanum ''Plesiopelma'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. ''Plesiopelma'' species are particularly abundant along mountainous ranges, frequently living under stones. Both males and females l ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Proshapalopus anomalus ''Crypsidromus'' is a genus of tarantulas. It was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871. Species it contains eight species: * ''Crypsidromus brevibulbus'' Valerio, 1980 — Costa Rica * ''Crypsidromus carinatus'' Valerio, 1980 — Costa ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Proshapalopus multicuspidatus,'' 1929 — Brazil * ''

Sericopelma fallax ''Sericopelma'' is a genus of tarantula (family Theraphosidae), found in Central America from Nicaragua to Panama. The limits of the genus and its distribution have long been confused; it is closely related to the genus ''Aphonopelma''. ''Serico ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Vitalius dubius ''Vitalius'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by S. Lucas, P. I. da Silva Jr. & Rogério Bertani in 1993. Diagnosis They can be distinguished from other tarantulas by the lack of stridulating hairs on the prolate ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Vitalius roseus,'' 1923 — Brazil * '' Vitalius sorocabae,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Vitalius vellutinus ''Vitalius'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by S. Lucas, P. I. da Silva Jr. & Rogério Bertani in 1993. Diagnosis They can be distinguished from other tarantulas by the lack of stridulating hairs on the prolate ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil * ''

Vitalius wacketi ''Vitalius'' is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by S. Lucas, P. I. da Silva Jr. & Rogério Bertani in 1993. Diagnosis They can be distinguished from other tarantulas by the lack of stridulating hairs on the prolate ...

,'' 1923 — Brazil

List of arachnological works

Kury, A.B. & Baptista, Renner L.C., 2004. Arachnological papers published by Cândido Firmino de Mello-Leitão (Arachnida). ''Publicações Avulsas do Museu Nacional'', Rio de Janeiro, 105: 1-17. ate of publ: October 2004br>PDF

References

* Cândido de Mello-Leitão (1886–1948). pp 59–63. In: Nomura, Hitoshi. 1991. ''Vultos da Zoologia Brasileira''. Volume I. Coleção Mossoroense série "C", 661, pp. 1–121. {{DEFAULTSORT:Mello-Leitao, Candido Firmino de 1886 births 1948 deaths 20th-century Brazilian zoologists Brazilian arachnologists Members of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences