Advancing the systematics of Araneae: ultraconserved elements phylogenomics demonstrates the non-monophyly of Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and supports the Familial Rank of Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001

  Advancing the systematics of Araneae: ultraconserved elements phylogenomics demonstrates the non-monophyly of Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and supports the Familial Rank of Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 Abstract The systematic status of the family Miturgidae Simon, 1886 and related subfamilies has long been problematic, primarily due to challenges in interpreting morphological characters and limited molecular sampling. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of Miturgidae using ultraconserved elements and estimate its divergence time. Our results suggest that Systariinae does not belong to Miturgidae, but rather is sister to all other families of the Dionycha B clade. Consequently, we elevate it to family rank as Systariidae Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and discuss its morphological synapomorphies. Furthermore, our analyses place Miturgidae as the sister clade to Viridasiidae + Selenopidae under multiple phylogenetic methods. Divergence time estimates indicate an ancient origin of...

Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXXII. Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti

 


Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXXII. Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti

Abstract


Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti is described and compared with other species of the genus. B. hofereki sp. n. is the only species of the genus with pedipalp movable finger with 8 rows of granules and pectinal tooth count 27–28 in female. Also, its pedipalp chela with very narrow manus (chela length/width ratio 6.07 in female), narrower than in all other African species of the genus. A map of the distribution of the genus in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula is provided.


Kovařík, F. 2024 . Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXXII. Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti. Euscorpius, No. 387: 1-11. https://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/vol2024/iss387/1/