Abstract
Based on a survey of a wide variety of oonopid genera and outgroups, we hypothesize new synapomorphies uniting the Oonopidae (minus the South African genus Calculus Purcell, which is transferred to the Orsolobidae). The groundplan of the tarsal organ in Oonopidae is hypothesized to be an exposed organ with a distinctive, longitudinal ridge originating from the proximal end of the organ, and a serially dimorphic pattern of 4-4-3-3 raised receptors on legs I–IV, respectively. Such organs typify the diverse, basal, and ancient genus Orchestina Simon. Several other genera whose members resemble Orchestina in retaining two plesiomorphic features (an H-shaped, transverse eye arrangement and a heavily sclerotized, thick-walled sperm duct within the male palp) are united by having tarsal organs that are partly (in the case of Cortestina Knoflach) or fully capsulate (in the case of Sulsula Simon, Xiombarg Brignoli, and Unicorn Platnick and Brescovit). The remaining oonopids are united by the loss of the heavily sclerotized palpal sperm duct, presumably reflecting a significant transformation in palpal mechanics. Within that large assemblage, a 4-4-3-3 tarsal organ receptor pattern and an H-shaped eye arrangement seem to be retained only in the New Zealand genus Kapitia Forster; the remaining genera are apparently united by a reduction in the tarsal organ pattern to 3-3-2-2 raised receptors on legs I–IV and by the acquisition of a clumped eye arrangement. Three subfamilies of oonopids are recognized: Orchestininae Chamberlin and Ivie (containing only Orchestina; Ferchestina Saaristo and Marusik is placed as a junior synonym of Orchestina), Sulsulinae, new subfamily (containing Sulsula, Xiombarg, Unicorn, and Cortestina), and Oonopinae Simon (containing all the remaining genera, including those previously placed in the Gamasomorphinae). The type species of Sulsula and Kapitia, S. pauper (O. P.-Cambridge) and K. obscura Forster, are redescribed, and the female of S. pauper is described for the first time. A new sulsuline genus, Dalmasula, is established for Sulsula parvimana Simon and four new species from Namibia and South Africa.
Highlights
Goblin spiders have long been among the most poorly known groups of spiders; the bulk of the species and much of the generic-level diversity of the family have remained undescribed, and the phylogenetic relationships of its members have been poorly understood, at all levels
Thanks to a Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI) project, initiated in September 2006 with support from the U.S National Science Foundation (NSF), knowledge of these animals has expanded rapidly; at present, the PBI project involves over 45 participants in more than a dozen countries, and almost one-third of the total project budget comes from sources other than NSF, in several nations
We present here results based on investiga¬ tions of the tarsal organ morphology of a wide variety of oonopids and their outgroups
Summary
Goblin spiders (the family Oonopidae) have long been among the most poorly known groups of spiders; the bulk of the species and much of the generic-level diversity of the family have remained undescribed, and the phylogenetic relationships of its members have been poorly understood, at all levels. Dorsal view, Oonops pulcher Templeton, female (1-5) and male (6-10), Triaeris
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