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Dysderidae is
a highly diverse spider family, mostly circumscribed to the
Mediterranean region. The family is currently classified into 24
genera and three subfamilies, but its taxonomy is debatable. The
species richness distribution is highly biased, 80% of the
species belong to just two genera, Dysdera (282 species) and
Harpactea (180). Dysderids are nocturnal ground dwellers that
actively hunt their prey. Cave adaptation is prevalent across
the family, with some genera exclusively known from
cave-dwelling species. Our understanding of the origin and
evolutionary processes within Dysderidae has been hampered by
the lack of a quantitative hypothesis on its phylogenetic
relationships. We present the result of a target, multilocus
phylogenetic analysis, using mitochondrial (COI, 16S and 12S)
and nuclear genes (H3, 28S and 18S), of an exhaustive taxonomic
sample within Dysderidae and across related families
(Synspermiata). We further estimated divergence times using a
combination of fossil and biogeographic node calibrations. Our
results support the monophyly of two subfamilies (Rhodinae and
Dysderinae), but rejects Harpacteinae as currently defined.
Moreover, Harpacteine phylogeny do not support its current
taxonomy, confirming that diagnostic traits at the genus level
need to be re-evaluated. The origin of the family most likely
post-dated the break-up of Pangea. |
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