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

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  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...

A Review of the Relationships of Australian Funnel-Web Spiders with a New Species of Funnel-Web Spider from Far North-Eastern Tasmania (Hexathelidae: Atracinae: Araneae)

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A Review of the Relationships of Australian Funnel-Web Spiders with a New Species of Funnel-Web Spider from Far North-Eastern Tasmania (Hexathelidae: Atracinae: Araneae)

Abstract

A new species of funnel-web spider, Hadronyche simonfearni, is described from far north-eastern Tasmania. The family status is reviewed. Shortcomings including misidentifications and absence of supporting procedures in molecular analyses placing Atracidae as sister group to the Actinopodidae are identified and solutions proposed. The use of unanalysed venom data of the Atracidae in proposing relationship is rejected. The diagnoses of Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae, as well as that of the Atracidae are rejected as non-diagnostic. They are the closest relatives to each other, as shown by repeated morphological analyses, with further doubt being cast upon limited molecular analyses through misidentifications. The Atracinae are replaced in the Hexathelidae and the Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae placed in the Macrothelinae, also in the Hexathelidae. New genera and a subgenus proposed by Hoser (2017) are rejected.

Raven, R. J. & Douglas, J. C. (2025). A review of the relationships of Australian funnel-web spiders with a new species of funnel-web spider from far north-eastern Tasmania (Hexathelidae: Atracinae: Araneae). Record of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery 122: 1-16.