The spider tree of life: phylogeny of Araneae based on target-gene analyses from an extensive taxon sampling.

We present a phylogenetic analysis of spiders using a dataset of 932 spider species, representing 115 families (only the family Synaphridae is unrepresented), 700 known genera, and additional representatives of 26 unidentified or undescribed genera. Eleven genera of the orders Amblypygi, Palpigradi, Schizomida and Uropygi are included as outgroups. The dataset includes six markers from the mitochondrial (12S, 16S, COI) and nuclear (histone H3, 18S, 28S) genomes, and was analysed by multiple methods, including constrained analyses using a highly supported backbone tree from transcriptomic data. We recover most of the higher-level structure of the spider tree with good support, including Mesothelae, Opisthothelae, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae. Several of our analyses recover Hypochilidae and Filistatidae as sister groups, as suggested by previous transcriptomic analyses. The Synspermiata are robustly supported, and the families Trogloraptoridae and Caponiidae are found as sister to the Dysderoidea. Our results support the Lost Tracheae clade, including Pholcidae, Tetrablemmidae, Diguetidae, Plectreuridae and the family Pacullidae (restored status) separate from Tetrablemmidae. The Scytodoidea include Ochyroceratidae along with Sicariidae, Scytodidae, Drymusidae and Periegopidae; our results are inconclusive about the separation of these last two families. We did not recover monophyletic Austrochiloidea and Leptonetidae, but our data suggest that both groups are more closely related to the Cylindrical Gland Spigot clade rather than to Synspermiata. Palpimanoidea is not recovered by our analyses, but also not strongly contradicted. We find support for Entelegynae and Oecobioidea (Oecobiidae plus Hersiliidae), and ambiguous placement of cribellate orb-weavers, compatible with their non-monophyly. Nicodamoidea (Nicodamidae plus Megadictynidae) and Araneoidea composition and relationships are consistent with recent analyses. We did not obtain resolution for the titanoecoids (Titanoecidae and Phyxelididae), but the Retrolateral Tibial Apophysis clade is well supported. Penestomidae, and probably Homalonychidae, are part of Zodarioidea, although the latter family was set apart by recent transcriptomic analyses. Our data support a large group that we call the marronoid clade (including the families Amaurobiidae, Desidae, Dictynidae, Hahniidae, Stiphidiidae, Agelenidae and Toxopidae). The circumscription of most marronoid families is redefined here. Amaurobiidae include the Amaurobiinae and provisionally Macrobuninae. We transfer Malenellinae (Malenella, from Anyphaenidae), Chummidae (Chumma) (new syn.) and Tasmarubriinae (Tasmarubrius, Tasmabrochus and Teeatta, from Amphinectidae) to Macrobuninae. Cybaeidae are redefined to include Calymmaria, Cryphoeca, Ethobuella and Willisius (transferred from Hahniidae), and Blabomma and Yorima (transferred from Dictynidae). Cycloctenidae are redefined to include Orepukia (transferred from Agelenidae) and Pakeha and Paravoca (transferred from Amaurobiidae). Desidae are redefined to include five subfamilies: Amphinectinae, with Amphinecta, Mamoea, Maniho, Paramamoea and Rangitata (transferred from Amphinectidae); Ischaleinae, with Bakala and Manjala (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Ischalea (transferred from Stiphidiidae); Metaltellinae, with Austmusia, Buyina, Calacadia, Cunnawarra, Jalkaraburra, Keera, Magua, Metaltella, Penaoola and Quemusia; Porteriinae (new rank), with Baiami, Cambridgea, Corasoides and Nanocambridgea (transferred from Stiphidiidae); and Desinae, with Desis, and provisionally Poaka (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Barahna (transferred from Stiphidiidae). Argyroneta is transferred from Cybaeidae to Dictynidae. Cicurina is transferred from Dictynidae to Hahniidae. The genera Neoramia (from Agelenidae) and Aorangia, Marplesia and Neolana (from Amphinectidae) are transferred to Stiphidiidae. The family Toxopidae (restored status) includes two subfamilies: Myroinae, with Gasparia, Gohia, Hulua, Neomyro, Myro, Ommatauxesis and Otagoa (transferred from Desidae); and Toxopinae, with Midgee and Jamara, formerly Midgeeinae, new syn. (transferred from Amaurobiidae) and Hapona, Laestrygones, Lamina, Toxops and Toxopsoides (transferred from Desidae). We obtain a monophyletic Oval Calamistrum clade and Dionycha; Sparassidae, however, are not dionychans, but probably the sister group of those two clades. The composition of the Oval Calamistrum clade is confirmed (including Zoropsidae, Udubidae, Ctenidae, Oxyopidae, Senoculidae, Pisauridae, Trechaleidae, Lycosidae, Psechridae and Thomisidae), affirming previous findings on the uncertain relationships of the "ctenids" Ancylometes and Cupiennius, although a core group of Ctenidae are well supported. Our data were ambiguous as to the monophyly of Oxyopidae. In Dionycha, we found a first split of core Prodidomidae, excluding the Australian Molycriinae, which fall distantly from core prodidomids, among gnaphosoids. The rest of the dionychans form two main groups, Dionycha part A and part B. The former includes much of the Oblique Median Tapetum clade (Trochanteriidae, Gnaphosidae, Gallieniellidae, Phrurolithidae, Trachelidae, Gnaphosidae, Ammoxenidae, Lamponidae and the Molycriinae), and also Anyphaenidae and Clubionidae. Orthobula is transferred from Phrurolithidae to Trachelidae. Our data did not allow for complete resolution for the gnaphosoid families. Dionycha part B includes the families Salticidae, Eutichuridae, Miturgidae, Philodromidae, Viridasiidae, Selenopidae, Corinnidae and Xenoctenidae (new fam., including Xenoctenus, Paravulsor and Odo, transferred from Miturgidae, as well as Incasoctenus from Ctenidae). We confirm the inclusion of Zora (formerly Zoridae) within Miturgidae.

Description of the first cave dwelling species of the spider genus Trilacuna Tong & Li from Iran (Araneae: Oonopidae).

A new species of the hard-bodied oonopid genus Trilacuna Tong & Li is described from a cave in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, southwestern Iran. Trilacuna qarzi sp. nov. is the first troglobiont species known of the genus, and is also the fifth oonopid species to be reported from Iran. Relationships of this new species are briefly discussed in the context of the limits of the genera belonging to the Dysderoides complex.

The first palpimanid spiders from Bolivia: two new species of the genus Otiothops MacLeay, and the female of Fernandezina pulchra Birabén (Araneae: Palpimanidae: Otiothopinae).

The araneomorph spider family Palpimanidae is reported from Bolivia for the first time. Two new species: Otiothops kathiae and O. naokii are described and illustrated based on specimens recently collected in Santa Cruz Department. Additionally, Fernandezina pulchra Birabén, 1951 previously known only from Formosa, in northern Argentina, is newly recorded from Santa Cruz, and the female is described for the first time. Potential relationships with previously described species are also briefly discussed.

A new species of the genus Osornolobus Forster & Platnick from the maulino forests of Chile (Araneae, Orsolobidae).

A faunistic survey in the Maule region in central-southern Chile resulted in the discovery and description of a new species of the spider genus Osornolobus: O. violetaparra n. sp., based on males collected using pitfall traps in the province of Talca. This is the northernmost record of the genus in Chile, previously known from Ñuble to Magallanes.

Taxonomic review of the Andean crab spiders genus Coenypha Simon, 1895 (Thomisidae: Stephanopinae).

The genus Coenypha Simon, 1895 is composed of species distributed on the Southern Andean Region and Patagonia, and presents remarkable somatic morphologies, such as the flattened habitus, enlarged femora I, and a wide opisthosoma. Molecular and morphology-based phylogenies have revealed the close relationship of this genus with sympatric species previously assigned to Stephanopis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869. Our recent cladistic analysis extended such preliminary results in recovering numerous morphological characters as synapomorphies of a well-supported clade, thus justifying the transfer of all species of 'Andean Stephanopis' to Coenypha. In the present work, we provide a taxonomic review of these species, update their diagnoses, descriptions and illustrate them through detailed photographs. New distribution records are presented, the male of C. antennata (Tullgren, 1902) is described for the first time, and two new species are described based on both sexes (Coenypha trapezium sp. nov. and Coenypha foliacea sp. nov.). Stephanopis exigua (Nicolet, 1849) is considered a nomen dubium. Stephanopis verrucosa (Nicolet, 1849), Thomisus spectrum Nicolet, 1849, and T. pubescens Nicolet, 1849 are synonymized with Coenypha nodosa (Nicolet, 1849). The synonymy of Thomisus nicoleti Roewer, 1951 (a replaced name for T. cinereus Nicolet, 1849 due to a homonymy) with Misumenops temibilis (Holmberg, 1876) is rejected, and considered together with Stephanopis spissa (Nicolet, 1849), Thomisus variabilis Nicolet, 1849 and Stephanopis maulliniana Mello-Leitão, 1951, synonyms of Coenypha ditissima (Nicolet, 1849); Stephanopis badia Keyserling, 1880 is transferred to Sidymella Strand, 1942.

A taxonomic revision of the spider genus Meriola Banks (Araneae: Trachelidae).

The genus Meriola Banks currently includes 24 known species of spiders distributed across America, especially in southern South America. They have a nearly straight and narrower posterior eye row compared to other American genera of Trachelidae, and elongated and sharply tipped ventral leg cuspules. The study of specimens of Meriola available in collections revealed two undescribed species, M. avalosi sp. nov. and M. peras sp. nov., and the previously unknown females of M. balcarce Platnick Ewing and M. quilicura Platnick Ewing, all of which are described here. The female of M. lineolata (Mello-Leitão) comb. nov., transferred from Cetonana Strand, is described for the first time. Two further new combinations are proposed here: M. macrocephala (Nicolet) comb. nov., transferred from Trachelopachys Simon, and M. setosa (Simon) comb. nov., transferred from Cetonana; these two species are also considered senior synonyms of M. barrosi (Mello-Leitão) and M. hyltonae (Mello-Leitão), respectively. Additionally, a new sex matching of M. ramirezi Platnick Ewing and M. davidi Grismado is proposed, with a redescription of the female of M. ramirezi provided. New geographical records are provided for all of the species, with images and a revised diagnosis for the genus and the previously known species.

Description of Almafuerte, a new genus of ground spiders from South America (Araneae, Gnaphosidae).

A new genus of gnaphosid spiders, Almafuerte, gen. nov., is described for seven species from Southern South America. The new genus is diagnosed by a conspicuous retrolateral tegular projection on the male palp, and by having three teeth on the cheliceral retromargin. It comprises six species from Argentina, A. peripampasica sp. nov. (type species), from Central Argentina, also present in Uruguay, A. kuru sp. nov., from Santiago del Estero, A. vigorosa sp. nov., from Corrientes, A. goloboffi sp. nov., from Salta and Jujuy, A. remota sp. nov., from Santiago del Estero and Mendoza, and A. giaii (Gerschman & Schiapelli) comb. nov., here transferred from Echemus, from Santa Fe (the female is here described by the first time); and one species from Bolivia, A. facon sp. nov., from Cochabamba. Hypotheses of relationships of the new taxa are briefly discussed, in the context of the previously proposed groupings: the subfamilies Echeminae and Drassodinae (sensu Platnick 1990) and the "Echemus group" (sensu Murphy 2007).

The spider genus Cyrioctea Simon on Chañaral Island (Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve, Atacama, Chile): description of a new species, and the male of Cyrioctea cruz Platnick (Araneae, Zodariidae).

A faunistic survey on Chañaral Island, Atacama, near the northern Pacific coast of Chile, allowed the discovery and description of a new species of the spider genus Cyrioctea: C. islachanaral sp. nov., based on females collected by pitfall traps. Strikingly, this new species shares morphological characters with some Southern African representatives of this genus rather than with the species of continental South America. The male of the species C. cruz Platnick, previously known from continental Chile (northern Coquimbo), is described for the first time based on specimens collected in the same locality.

Three new species and the first known males of the Andean spider genus Orinomana Strand (Araneae, Uloboridae).

Three new species of the uloborid genus Orinomana Strand, O. penelope n. sp. from Ecuador, O. viracocha n. sp. from Peru, and O. florezi n. sp. from Colombia, are described. Additionally, the male of O. ascha Grismado, from Northwestern Argentina, is described for the first time. This material includes the first males known of the genus, providing diagnostic characters for its recognition; the complex and massive embolus with several branches is proposed as a synapomorphy of the genus.

The Amazonian Goblin Spiders of the New Genus Gradunguloonops (Araneae: Oonopidae).

A new genus of soft-bodied oonopids, Gradunguloonops, is established for a group of goblin spiders found in the Amazonian rainforests of northern South America. Members of this genus differ from other oonopids in that the proclaw of tarsi I and II is notably larger than the corresponding retroclaw, a putative synapomorphy of the group. Gradunguloonops comprises twelve species, all new and described in this contribution: G. mutum (type species) from Brazil and Peru, G. bonaldoi, G. amazonicus, G. urucu, G. pacanari, G. juruti from Brazil, G. erwini from Peru, G. orellana and G. nadineae from Ecuador, G. benavidesae and G. florezi from Colombia, and G. raptor from Venezuela. Two preliminary intrageneric groups are proposed on the basis of their female genital morphology: the bonaldoi group, to which are assigned the species with the anterior section comprising only a single anterior sclerite, and the mutum group, with a more complex, tripartite anterior section.

Nuevas especies de la familia Mecysmaucheniidae (Araneae) de Chile y Argentina / x

Se describen dos nuevas especies de la familia Mecysmaucheniidae: Mecysmauchenius platnicki, sp. nov., de Malleco, Chile y Mecysmauchenioides quetrihue, sp. nov., de Neuquén, Argentina, constituyendo esta última la segunda especie conocida de su género.

Two new species of the family Mecysmaucheniidae are described: Mecysmauchenius platnicki n. sp., from Malleco, Chile and Mecysmauchenioides quetrihue n. sp., from Neuquén, Argentina, the latter being the second known species of the genus.