Description of six new species ofLoxosceles(Araneae: Sicariidae) endemic to the Canary Islands and the utility of DNA barcoding for their fast and accurate identification

• DOI: 10.1111/zoj.12226
• Publication Date: 2015-04-21T06:50:44Z
• Authors: Enric Planas; Carles Ribera
• Keywords: DNA Barcoding; Endemism

We conducted an integrative taxonomic study of a radiation Loxosceles spiders endemic to the Canary Islands combining molecular (mtDNA and nDNA) morphological data. This led formal description six new species: mahan sp. nov. Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, adjacent islets; bentejui tazarte both Gran Canaria; guayota tibicena Tenerife; hupalupa La Gomera El Hierro. These species are included in rufescens group, clearly distinguished from L. by conspicuous dark V-mark posteriorly on pars cephalica, embolus length, shape seminal receptacles. Given that crucial step for development proper health management is correct identification involved bite accidents, we additionally tested efficacy DNA barcoding as fast reliable tool identifying found Islands, including human-introduced rufescens.