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| We test the limits of the spider superfamily Araneoidea and reconstruct its interfamilial relationships using standard molecular
markers. The taxon sample (363 terminals) comprises for the first time representatives of all araneoid families, including the first
molecular data of the family Synaphridae. We use the resulting phylogenetic framework to study web evolution in araneoids. Araneoidea
is monophyletic and sister to Nicodamoidea rank. n. Orbiculariae are not monophyletic and also include the RTA clade,
Oecobiidae and Hersiliidae. Deinopoidea is paraphyletic with respect to a lineage that includes the RTA clade, Hersiliidae and
Oecobiidae. The cribellate orb-weaving family Uloboridae is monophyletic and is sister group to a lineage that includes the RTA
Clade, Hersiliidae and Oecobiidae. The monophyly of most Araneoidea families is well supported, with a few exceptions. Anapidae
includes holarchaeids but the family remains diphyletic even if Holarchaea is considered an anapid. The orb-web is ancient, having
evolved by the early Jurassic; a single origin of the orb with multiple “losses” is implied by our analyses. By the late Jurassic, the
orb-web had already been transformed into different architectures, but the ancestors of the RTA clade probably built orb-webs. We
also find further support for a single origin of the cribellum and multiple independent losses. The following taxonomic and nomenclatural
changes are proposed: the cribellate and ecribellate nicodamids are grouped in the superfamily Nicodamoidea rank n.
(Megadictynidae rank res. and Nicodamidae stat. n.). Araneoidea includes 17 families with the following changes: Araneidae is recircumscribed
to include nephilines, Nephilinae rank res., Arkyidae rank n., Physoglenidae rank n., Synotaxidae is limited to the
genus Synotaxus, Pararchaeidae is a junior synonym of Malkaridae (syn. n.), Holarchaeidae of Anapidae (syn. n.) and Sinopimoidae
of Linyphiidae (syn. n.). | |
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