Cladistic analysis of the subfamily Cteninae and revision of the genus Celaetycheus (Araneae, Cteninae)

Author(s)

Daniele Polotow Geraldo

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2010-11-25

Examining board members

Antonio Domingos Brescovit; José Paulo Leite Guadanucci; Marcos Ryotaro Hara; Cristina Anne Rheims; Ricardo Pinto da Rocha

• Advisor: Antonio Domingos Brescovit

Abstract

A cladistic analysis using the parcimony method is used to test the monophyly of the subfamily Cteninae. The results of the analysis indicate that the subfamily is poliphiletic as currently delimited. The monophyly of Cteninae requires the exclusion of the genus Celaetycheus and five Ctenus species, C. anahitiformis, C. bulimus, C. inazensis, C. miserabilis and C. tarsalis. The subfamily is composed by Ctenus, the genus which contain the type species of the family, and by the genera Africactenus, Amauropelma, Anahita, Centroctenus, Isoctenus, Ohvida, Parabatinga, Petaloctenus, Phoneutria, Thoriosa, Trogloctenus and at least more seven independent lineages. The subfamily Cteninae can be recognized by one non-ambiguous synapomorphy: swollen median field of the epigynum. The Cteninae clade is also supported by five ambiguous synapomophies: embolus fixed by membranous area, cup-shaped median apophysis, hyaline conductor wider than long, four teeth in the chelicerae retromargin and chelicerae with intermarginal denticles. Only two of the synapomorphies described above are present in all Cteninae species used in the analysis: swollen median field of the epigynum and cup-shaped median apophysis. The genus Ctenus, with the high number of species of the family (about 240), appears as a poliphylec group as currently delimited. The monophyly of Ctenus requires the exclusion of 22 species used in this analysis. The 12 species which remain in Ctenus sensu strict form a clade supported by two non-ambiguous synapomorphies: median field of the epigynum with area of the copulatory opening projected and copulatory opening as a lobe. Some evolutive patterns observed in the analysis are discussed. The genus Celaetycheus Simon is revised and trasferred to the subfamily Calocteninae with basis on the new results of the cladistic analysis of Cteninae. The type species, Celaetycheus flavostriatus Simon is redescribed and eight new species are described, all collected in the State of Bahia, Brazil: Celaetycheus sp. 1 from Uruçuca and Barro Preto; Celaetycheus sp. 2 from Mascote, Pau Brasil, Jussari and Camacan; Celaetycheus sp. 3 from Coaraci, Itagibá and Jequié; Celaetycheus sp. 4 from Prado and Itamarajú; Celaetycheus sp. 5 from Salvador, Mata de São João, Cachoeira and Cruz das Almas; Celaetycheus sp. 6 from Porto Seguro; Celaetycheus sp. 7 from Ilhéus and Uruçuca; Celaetycheus sp. 8 from Camacan. The species Celaetycheus modestus Bryant is transferred to Ohvida Polotow & Brescovit. A distribution map is provided. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/55230-7 - Cladistic analysis of the spiders of the Cteninae subfamily and revision of the genus Celaetycheus Simon (Areneae: Ctenidae)
• Grantee: Daniele Polotow Geraldo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate