Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region

• DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4940.1.1
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04T00:08:06Z
• Authors: RUAN BOOYSEN; CHARLES R. HADDAD
• Keywords: DNA Barcoding

The genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) is a group of small (1.85–5 mm) ant-like spiders that can be distinguished from other gnaphosids by their piriform gland spigots are similar in size to the major ampullate spigots. According World Spider Catalog, there 105 species world, which only three known African part Afrotropical Region, namely M. chrysis (Simon, 1910), tersissima Simon, 1910 and beaufortia (Tucker, 1923). objectives this study were revise providing new updated records for each species, evaluating relationships between them using COI barcoding data, information on biology, mimetic feeding ecology. These met collecting fresh material KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, Northern Cape Free State provinces South Africa. Fresh collected type localities, Komaggas Port Nolloth (Northern Province), respectively, identification DNA analyses. sequences generated, together with those sourced Barcode Life Data Systems (BOLD) GenBank, aligned CulstalW alignment algorithm Mega X software, molecular phylogenetic analyses performed MrBayes Bayesian Inference (BI) RaxML maximum likelihood (ML) Morphological examination voucher yielded 17 basaliducta sp. nov. (♀, ♂, Africa), bimaculata Mauritania), bispicula Namibia, durbana Africa, Zambia), felix Cameroon, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe), gagnoa Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania), koingnaas (♂, lata laxa mediospina parvotibialis Senegal), plana Ethiopia), quadrata quinquemaculosa rivonosy Madagascar), sanipass Africa) scutellata Africa). Furthermore, both sexes beaufortia, as well male tersissima, redescribed. Both described first time, was juvenile. Of previously (Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe) (Côte Tanzania) widespread Afroptropics, while inference analysess recovered (sensu lato) monophyletic inclusion subopaca group. pulicaria polyphyletic BI ML Four rossica Thorell, 1875/M. foxi Gertsch, 1933 group, formed clade sister formicaria (Sundevall, 1831). Eight now have data uploaded BOLD.