The South American genera Mesabolivar González-Sponga, 1998 and Carapoia are among the most species-rich pholcid in Neotropics. Representatives of both occupy a wide range microhabitats from leaf litter to high vegetation, resulting morphological behavioral diversity that complicates not only identification field but also establishment generic limits. present paper is primarily an effort improve foundation for future work on these by describing new species unknown sexes, redescribing poorly...

Hypotheses regarding the function of elaborate male genitalia were tested in a sample insects and spiders by comparing their allometric values (slopes log‐log regressions on indicators body size) with those other parts. Male consistently had lower slopes than Perhaps as consequence this pattern, genitalic size also tended, though less consistently, to have coefficients variation did The morphological details coupling between males females several species clearly indicated that selection...

This is the first revision of Artema Walckenaer, 1837, a genus consisting large and phylogenetically interesting species. Even though not species-rich (now eight nominal species), it has suffered from poor descriptions synonymies. Our main goal was to gather all available material clarify species limits. Four are easily distinguished other congeners: atlanta type species; A. kochi Kulczyński, 1901 (revalidated); bunkpurugu Huber & Kwapong, 2013; nephilit sp. nov. All problematic for...

This paper provides formal descriptions of some the unnamed taxa that were included in most recent molecular phylogeny pholcid spiders (Eberle et al. 2018, BMC Evolutionary Biology, 18, 141). The focus is on new genera and species belong to recently revised genera. Eight 25 are formally described. In Arteminae, three described Artema Walckenaer, 1837: A. bahla sp. n., ghubrat dhofar n. (all from Oman); five Arnapa gen. (eastern Indonesia New Guinea): arfak tinoor manokwari meja tolire n.;...

This paper summarizes current knowledge about Central African pholcids. Africa is here defined as the area between 10°N and 7°S 6°E 18°E, including mainly Lower Guinean subregion of Guineo-Congolian center endemism. includes all Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé Príncipe, most Cameroon Congo Republic, parts neighboring countries. An annotated list 14 genera 79 species recorded from this given, together with distribution maps an identification key to genera. Seven are newly described:...

This paper summarizes current knowledge about East African pholcids. Africa is defined as the area from 12°S to 5°N and 28° 42°E, including all of Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania. An annotated list 15 genera 87 species recorded this given, together with distribution maps an identification key genera. Most (90%) belong one only six genera: Buitinga Huber, 2003 (21 species); Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (18); Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 (17); Spermophora Hentz, 1841 (12); Leptopholcus 1893...

We describe eight new species of the genus Pholcus, and document their microhabitats. Four are assigned to previously described Pholcus ethagala group: P. tanahrata Huber sp. nov., uludong bukittimah nov. from Malay Peninsula, barisan Sumatra. These all litter-dwellers that build domed sheet webs on undersides large dead leaves ground. The other four newly created groups: tambunan group with two northern Borneo: bario nov.; domingo Philippines, Mindanao: matutum latter leaf-dwellers barely...

As part of the German Barcode Life campaign, over 3500 arachnid specimens have been collected and analyzed: ca. 3300 Araneae 200 Opiliones, belonging to almost 600 species (median: 4 individuals/species). This covers about 60% spider fauna more than 70% harvestmen recorded for Germany. The overwhelming majority could be readily identified through DNA barcoding: median distances between closest lay around 9% in spiders 13% harvestmen, while 95% cases, intraspecific were below 2.5% 8%...

We revise the Panjange nigrifrons group in Borneo and document an unexpected diversity western Sarawak forests. Five species occur within 80 km from Kuching, each being known its type locality only. Further east until Niah, but genus seems to be absent Sabah. contrast this with another pholcid (Aetana Huber, 2005), which is diverse Sabah westward does not seem central Sarawak. are newly described: kapit sp. nov., kubah niah pueh seowi nov.; tahai (Huber, 2011) comb. nov. transferred Pholcus.

We describe several new species of the previously monotypic Panjange lanthana group from Philippines and document their extraordinary morphology. Some show strong male genital asymmetry, a phenomenon that seems to be exceedingly rare in spiders. Males most have eye stalks, two these stalks are among longest ever recorded tendency for (pedipalp) elongation, one has thinnest palps Pholcidae. A cladistic analysis is performed including all described undescribed (except “problem species”),...

Two small, ground and litter-dwelling pholcid species from northern Borneo are described as representatives of a new genus, Hantu gen. nov.: H. kapit et sp. nov. niah Previous cladistic analyses suggested closer relationship with the genera Savarna Huber, 2005 Khorata (mainland Southeast Asia) than geographically genus Aetana (Borneo Philippines to Fiji). Since two do not share any synapomorphies while having several on their own (ventral apophysis male palpal coxa; trochanter small teeth or...

As part of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, Sri harbors a rich and diverse fauna, especially in perhumid southwestern island. However, many invertebrate groups such as spiders continue to be poorly studied. The present paper reviews our knowledge about Pholcidae, family that is well represented Lanka, both by numerous (10) introduced species native fauna five genera (described Lankan parentheses): Belisana Thorell, 1898 (6), Leptopholcus Simon, 1893 (1), Pholcus Walckenaer,...

The previously poorly known Southeast Asian spider genus Aetana Huber, 2005 is revised. Fifteen species are newly described, and the first SEM data a phylogenetic analysis of presented. Four groups well supported, one restricted to Borneo, two Philippines, ranging from Philippines Fiji. cladistic field observations suggest that ancestor built its web close ground, in confined spaces among under rocks logs. In at least cases, evolutionary shifts microhabitat resulted being adapted life higher...

The genus Savarna Huber, 2005 was previously one of the most poorly known Pholcinae genera. Less than 20 specimens (representing four nominal species) were available worldwide; nothing about ultrastructure, natural history, or relationships. We present first SEM data, supporting position in outside Pholcus group genera and weakly suggesting a closer relationship with Khorata 2005, Spermophorides Wunderlich, 1992, two undescribed species unknown affinity from Borneo. provide data...

Hoplopholcus Kulczyński, 1908 is a genus of relatively large pholcid spiders, ranging from eastern Central Europe to Crete, the Levant, and Georgia. Species in this are often difficult distinguish each other, reexamination previously published material revealed many misidentifications. The present study provides redescriptions ten described species descriptions six new species, all based on males females: suluin sp. n., H. konya atik bursa n. Turkey, gazipasa Turkey Greece, dim Cyprus. main...

The Venezuelan genus Stenosfemuraia González-Sponga, 1998 is revised, with redescriptions of its three named species: S. parva (type species); cuadrata 2005; and pilosa (González-Sponga, 2005) n. comb. latter species was originally described as Codazziella pilosa, six years later again Chichiriviche costanero 2011 (n. syn.). monotypic genera 2005 are thus newly synonymized Stenosfemuraia. appears restricted to the Cordillera de la Costa region where spiders occupy near-ground microhabitats...

We revise the Southeast Asian Pholcus bicornutus group in which males are characterized by a unique pair of horns on their ocular area, each carries at its tip brush hairs. In two species, hair brushes ‘glued’ or ‘waxed’ together an unidentified substance into very consistently curved and pointed single median tip. other five species known, hairs unglued. present first revision modifications Pholcidae identify twenty supposedly independent origins. Most cases Pholcinae, all but one case...

New World pholcids are revised at the generic level, with an emphasis on South America. A total of 47 extant genera occur in World, 22 which newly described. preliminary key to is presented. Redescriptions given for 11 and 59 species, 106 species Three names 14 specific synonymized (see below). numerical cladistic analysis performed using a matrix 61 taxa (48 them pholcids) morphological characters. The main results as follows: (1) Pholcids strongly supported monophyletic group. (2)...

The genus Stygopholcus Kratochvíl, 1932 is endemic to the Balkan Peninsula and includes only four nominal species: epigean S. photophilus Senglet, 1971 in south (Greece Albania) ‘northern clade’ consisting of three troglophile species ranging from Croatia Albania: absoloni (Kulczyński, 1914); skotophilus 1940; montenegrinus 1940 (original rank re-established). We present redescriptions all species, including extensive data on ultrastructure, linear morphometrics large samples, numerous new...

The genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 includes some of the largest pholcid spiders and is geographically largely restricted to Central Asia, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, eastern Mediterranean. One species has previously been known from West Africa. first Moroccan species, A. martensi sp. n., extends distribution northwestern limit African continent. described two caves in western Anti-Atlas, but it not troglomorphic. A comparative analysis male carapace width 1632 shows that n. with respect...

New methods in taxonomy and systematics can influence the overall practice of formally naming describing biodiversity. DNA barcoding has been controversial since its emergence, but now, large scale species descriptions exclusively based on barcodes have created what be called a 'new quality performance. Its limitations are discussed from different perspectives: nomenclature, general pragmatism, problems DNA-based delimitation light central aim achieving robust stable nomenclature organisms,...