Research Grants 22/12596-4 - Filogenia, Biogeografia - BV FAPESP
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Origem and diversification of neotropical tarantulas: phylogenomics and biogeography of Theraphosinae (Araneae, Theraphosidae)

Abstract

Tarantulas of the subfamily Theraphosinae comprise the most diverse group of Mygalomorphae, which also includes sheet-web-building spiders and trapdoor spiders. Theraphosinae, endemic to the Neotropics, is composed of spiders that range from small animals to the largest spiders ever recorded, and are mainly characterized by having abdominal urticating setae used for defense. The morphology of these setae, together with traditional morphological characters, has been used to infer phylogenies, resulting in the current generic classification. The most recent proposal, based on molecular data and with sampling limited to a few genera, proposes the division of the subfamily into three tribes: (1) Theraphosini; (2) Grammostolini and (3) Hapalopini. These tribes seem to be congruent in different geographic regions: Grammostolini limited to the south of South America; Hapalopini extends across South America, the Amazon and the Andes, with a northern limit in Central America; Theraphosini extendeds from South America, through Central America and the Caribbean to the southern United States. The low sampling, especially regarding the rich Brazilian fauna and the use of only one molecular marker, demonstrate the need to increase the number of terminals in the analyses and the exploration of phylogenomic data (UCEs), in search of resolution for deep branches in the evolution of the species. Theraphosinae. The first objective of this proposal is a phylogenomic analysis of Theraphosinae, seeking to increase the generic sampling, especially those occurring in the national territory. In addition, the availability of several Theraphosinae representatives that we have properly stored in a tissue collection will allow investigations of recent diversification in forest (Atlantic and Amazon) and open (Cerrado, Caatinga and Pampa) environments, with the use of multiple markers (Sanger sequencing) and focusing on genera that present species in more than one phytophysiognomy. At the end of the proposal development, we hope to obtain a consistent scenario of Theraphosinae intra-relationships, which will allow the investigation of changes in the landscape that have influenced the origin and evolution of these spiders in the Neotropical region. In addition, the focus genera for studies of recent diversification in southeastern Brazilian landscapes will contribute to the knowledge of biogeography in Brazil. (AU)

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