Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution

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  Systematic revision of the Savignia genus group (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Erigoninae) with notes on their cephalic lobe evolution Abstract The Savignia genus group includes nine morphologically complex yet similar genera where species were assigned based mainly on the cephalic lobes. Among these genera, males of Diplocephalus Bertkau, 1883, Savignia Blackwall, 1833 and Araeoncus Simon, 1884 show some of the most extraordinary cephalic lobes among dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae, Erigoninae). In this study we undertake the first phylogenetic analysis of the Savignia genus group. We use 269 morphological characters (175 newly defined) and 70 taxa (59 ingroup taxa) to reconstruct the relationships and evolutionary trends of cephalic lobes in this lineage. Our findings show that cephalic lobes with varying shapes and sizes appear in several Savignia genus group lineages, highlighting that it is not a good diagnostic character. The high support in several clades allows the redefinition of t...

A review of the spider genus Sinoalaria (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new combinations

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A review of the spider genus Sinoalaria (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new combinations

Abstract

The spider genus Sinoalaria Zhao & Li, 2014 is redefined and reviewed. A total of ten species are studied, including four new species: S. chi Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀), S. shenhei Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♀), S. shuidi Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♀), S. xiaotu Yu & Lin, sp. nov. (♂♀). Two new combinations are proposed: Sinoalaria nitida (Zhao & Li, 2012), comb. nov. and S. prolata (Zhao & Li, 2012), comb. nov., both transferred from Karstia Chen, 2010. The material of six known species were re-examined and photographed, including the type species, S. chengguanensis (Zhao & Li, 2012). A key is provided for all species of the genus, as well as diagnoses, illustrations, and a distribution map.


Zhang J, Feng C, Yu H, Lin Y (2023) A review of the spider genus Sinoalaria (Araneae, Theridiosomatidae), with the descriptions of four new species and two new combinations. ZooKeys 1173: 307-338. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1173.105123