Total evidence analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of the neotropical genus Acanthoctenus Keyserling, 1877 (Acanthocteninae, Ctenidae, Araneae)

• Grant number: 18/22762-3
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Daniele Polotow Geraldo
• Grantee: Stephany Arizala Cobo
• Supervisor abroad: Peter Jaeger
• Home Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Local de pesquisa : Senckenberg Naturmuseum Frankfurt, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/17363-0 - Taxonomy and systematic phylogenetic of the neotropical spider genus Acanthoctenus Keyserling, 1877 (Acanthocteninae, Cteninae, Araneae), BP.MS

Abstract

The genus Acanthoctenus, type genus of the subfamily Acanthocteninae (Araneae, Ctenidae), currently contains 10 described species with Neotropical distribution. They are large spiders (8 to 20 mm in total length), with nocturnal habits and do not produce webs to catch their prey. The genus is diagnosed by the presence of a scopula of chemosensitive hairs in the dorsal male palp and elongated copulatory opening in the female epigyne. However, due to their nocturnal habits and the fact that they are few studies of the genus, our knowledge about morphology, evolution and natural history is still incipient. According to some recent phylogenetic analysis, the genus Acanthoctenus does not appears to belong to the family Ctenidae. The purpose of the present study is to perform a phylogenetic analysis based on total evidence (morphological and molecular data) for the determination of the phylogenetic relationships of Acanthoctenus. The outgroup will consist of representatives of other genera of the subfamily (Nothroctenus and Viracucha) in addition to various genera of the Oval Calamistrum clade (Udubidae, Senoculidae, Zoropsidae, Ctenidae, Oxyopidae, Pisauridae, Trechaleidae, Lycosidae, Psechridae and Thomisidae). (AU)