Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus yichengicus Species Group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Central China

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Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus yichengicus Species Group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Central China 

Abstract

Two new cryptic species from central China, belonging to the Pholcus yichengicus species group, were identified using an integrative approach combining morphological and three molecular species delimitation methods, and incorporating data from five related previously described species. These two new species are named Pholcus chengkou sp. nov. and P. yanan sp. nov. DNA barcodes were generated for the two new species to calculate p-distances and K2P distances, thus confirming their identities alongside the five previously described species. Additionally, revised diagnoses for the five previously described species and a distribution map encompassing all the species discussed are provided.

Yan, Mei-Chen, and Zhi-Yuan Yao. 2026. "Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal Two New Cryptic Spider Species of the Pholcus yichengicus Species Group (Araneae, Pholcidae) from Central China" Animals 16, no. 12: 1884. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121884