Spider taxonomy
Spider taxonomyis the part oftaxonomythat is concerned with the science of naming, defining and classifying allspiders,members of the Araneaeorderof thearthropodclassArachnida,which has more than 48,500 describedspecies.[1]However, there are likely many species that have escaped the human eye as well asspecimensstored incollectionswaiting to be described and classified. It is estimated that only one-third to one half of the total number of existing species have been described.[2]
Arachnologistscurrently dividespidersinto twosuborderswith about 129families.
Due to constant research, with new species being discovered every month and others being recognized assynonyms,the number of species in the families is bound to change and only reflects the present state of knowledge. Nevertheless, the species numbers given here are useful as a guideline – see thetable of familiesat the end of the article.
History
[edit]Spider taxonomy can be traced to the work of Swedish naturalistCarl Alexander Clerck,who in 1757 published the firstbinomial scientific namesof some 67 spiders species in hisSvenska Spindlar( "Swedish Spiders" ), one year beforeLinnaeusnamed over 30 spiders in hisSystema Naturae.In the ensuing 250 years, thousands more species have been described by researchers around the world, yet only a dozen taxonomists are responsible for more than one-third of all species described. The most prolific authors includeEugène Simonof France,Norman PlatnickandHerbert Walter Leviof the United States,Embrik Strandof Norway, andTamerlan Thorellof Sweden, each having described well over 1,000 species.[3]
Overview of phylogeny
[edit]At the very top level, there is broad agreement on thephylogenyand hence classification of spiders, which is summarized in thecladogrambelow. The three maincladesinto which spiders are divided are shown in bold; as of 2015[update],they are usually treated as one suborder,Mesothelae,and two infraorders,MygalomorphaeandAraneomorphae,grouped into the suborderOpisthothelae.[4][5]The Mesothelae, with about 140 species in 8 genera as of October 2020[update],make up a very small proportion of the total of around 49,000 known species. Mygalomorphae species comprise around 7% of the total, the remaining 93% being in the Araneomorphae.[note 1]
Araneae (spiders) | |
The Araneomorphae are divided into two main groups: theHaplogynaeand theEntelegynae.The Haplogynae make up about 10% of the total number of spider species, the Entelegynae about 83%.[note 1]The phylogenetic relationships of the Haplogynae, Entelegynae and the two smaller groupsHypochiloideaandAustrochiloidearemain uncertain as of 2015[update].Some analyses place both Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea outside Haplogynae;[6]others place the Austrochiloidea between the Haplogynae and the Entelegynae;[7][8]the Hypochiloidea have also been grouped with the Haplogynae.[9]Earlier analyses regarded the Hypochiloidea as the sole representatives of a group called the Paleocribellatae, with all other araneomorphs placed in the Neocribellatae.[10]
The Haplogynae are a group of araneomorph spiders with simpler male and female reproductive anatomy than the Entelegynae. Like the mesotheles and mygalomorphs, females have only a single genital opening (gonopore), used both for copulation and egg-laying;[11]males have less complexpalpal bulbsthan those of the Entelegynae.[12]Although some studies based on both morphology andDNAsuggest that the Haplogynae form amonophyleticgroup (i.e. they comprise all the descendants of a common ancestor),[13][9]this hypothesis has been described as "weakly supported", with most of the distinguishing features of the group being inherited from ancestors shared with other groups of spiders, rather than being clearly indicative of a separate common origin (i.e. beingsynapomorphies).[14]One phylogenetic hypothesis based on molecular data shows the Haplogynae as aparaphyleticgroup leading to the Austrochilidae and Entelegynae.[15]
The Entelegynae have a more complex reproductive anatomy: females have two "copulatory pores" in addition to the single genital pore of other groups of spiders; males have complex palpal bulbs, matching the female genital structures (epigynes).[13]The monophyly of the group is well supported in both morphological and molecular studies. The internal phylogeny of the Entelegynae has been the subject of much research. Two groups within this clade contain the only spiders that make vertical orb webs: theDeinopoideaarecribellate– the adhesive properties of their webs are created by packets of thousands of extremely fine loops of dry silk; theAraneoideaare ecribellate – the adhesive properties of their webs are created by fine droplets of "glue". In spite of these differences, the webs of the two groups are similar in their overall geometry.[16]The evolutionary history of the Entelegynae is thus intimately connected with the evolutionary history of orb webs. One hypothesis is that there is a single clade, Orbiculariae, uniting the orb web makers, in whose ancestors orb webs evolved. A review in 2014 concluded that there is strong evidence that orb webs evolved only once, although only weak support for the monophyly of the Orbiculariae.[17]One possible phylogeny is shown below; the type of web made is shown for each terminal node in order of the frequency of occurrence.[18]
Entelegynae |
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If this is correct, the earliest members of the Entelegynae made webs defined by the substrate on which they were placed (e.g. the ground) rather than suspended orb webs. True orb webs evolved once, in the ancestors of the Orbiculariae, but were then modified or lost in some descendants.
An alternative hypothesis, supported by some molecular phylogenetic studies, is that the Orbiculariae areparaphyletic,with the phylogeny of the Entelegynae being as shown below.[19]
Entelegynae |
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On this view, orb webs evolved earlier, being present in the early members of the Entelegynae, and were then lost in more groups,[20]making web evolution more convoluted, with different kinds of web having evolved separately more than once.[17]Future advances in technology, including comparative genomics studies,[1]and whole-genome sampling should lead to "a clearer image of the evolutionary chronicle and the underlying diversity patterns that have resulted in one of the most extraordinary radiations of animals".[17]
Suborder Mesothelae
[edit]Mesothelaeresemble theSolifugae( "wind scorpions" or "sun scorpions" ) in having segmented plates on their abdomens that create the appearance of the segmented abdomens of these other arachnids. They are both few in number and also limited in geographical range.
- †Arthrolycosidae(primitive spiders, extinct)
- †Arthromygalidae(primitive spiders, extinct)
- Liphistiidae(primitive burrowing spiders)
- Heptathelidae(primitive burrowing spiders)
Suborder Opisthothelae
[edit]SuborderOpisthothelaecontains the spiders that have no plates on their abdomens. Opisthothelae is divided into two infraorders, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae, which can be distinguished by the orientation of their fangs. It can be somewhat difficult on casual inspection to determine whether the fang orientation would classify a spider as a mygalomorph or araneomorph. The spiders that are called "tarantulas"in English are so large and hairy that inspection of their fangs is hardly necessary to categorize one of them as a mygalomorph. Other, smaller, members of this suborder, however, look little different from the araneomorphs. (See the picture ofSphodros rufipesbelow.) Many araneomorphs are immediately identifiable as such since they are found on webs designed for the capture of prey or exhibit other habitat choices that eliminate the possibility that they could be mygalomorphs.
Infraorder Mygalomorphae
[edit]Spiders in infraorderMygalomorphaeare characterized by the vertical orientation of their fangs and the possession of four book lungs.
Infraorder Araneomorphae
[edit]Most, if not all, of the spiders one is likely to encounter in everyday life belong to infraorderAraneomorphae.It includes a wide range of spider families, including theorb-weaver spidersthat weave their distinctive webs in gardens, thecobweb spidersthat frequent window frames and the corners of rooms, thecrab spidersthat lurk on flowers waiting for nectar- and pollen-gathering insects, thejumping spidersthat patrol the outside walls of buildings, and so on. They are characterized by havingfangswhose tips approach each other as they bite, and (usually) having one pair ofbook lungs.
Classification above families
[edit]Spiders were long classified into families that were then grouped into superfamilies, some of which were in turn placed into a number of higher taxa below the level of infraorder. When more rigorous approaches, such ascladistics,were applied to spider classification, it became clear that most of the major groupings used in the 20th century were not supported. Many were based on shared characteristics inherited from the ancestors of multipleclades(plesiomorphies), rather than being distinct characteristics originating in the ancestors of that clade only (apomorphies). According toJonathan A. Coddingtonin 2005, "books and overviews published prior to the last two decades have been superseded".[21]Listings of spiders, such as theWorld Spider Catalog,currently ignore classification above the family level.[21][22]
At the higher level, the phylogeny of spiders is now often discussed using informal clade names, such as the "RTA clade",[23]the "Oval Calmistrum" clade or the "Divided Cribellum" clade.[24]Older names previously used formally are used as clade names, e.g.EntelegynaeandOrbiculariae.[25]
Table of families
[edit]Genera | 1 | ≥2 | ≥10 | ≥100 |
Species | 1–9 | ≥10 | ≥100 | ≥1000 |
Notes
[edit]- ^abSpecies counts fromWorld Spider Catalog (2020,Currently valid spider genera and species), family classification fromCoddington (2005,p. 20).
- ^Unless otherwise shown, currently accepted families and counts based on theWorld Spider Catalogversion 22.5 as of 5 November 2021[update].[26]In the World Spider Catalog, "species" counts include subspecies. Assignment to sub- and infraorders based onCoddington (2005,p. 20) (when given there).
References
[edit]- ^abDimitrov & Hormiga (2021).
- ^Platnick & Raven (2013),p. 600.
- ^Platnick & Raven (2013),p. 597.
- ^Bond et al. (2014).
- ^Coddington (2005).
- ^Coddington (2005),p. 20.
- ^Griswold et al. (2005).
- ^Blackledge et al. (2009),p. 5232.
- ^abBond et al. (2014),p. 1766.
- ^Coddington & Levi (1991),p. 577.
- ^Eberhard & Huber (2010),pp. 256–257.
- ^Eberhard & Huber (2010),p. 250.
- ^abCoddington (2005),p. 22.
- ^Michalik & Ramírez (2014),p. 312.
- ^Agnarsson, Coddington & Kuntner (2013),p. 40.
- ^Hormiga & Griswold (2014),p. 488.
- ^abcHormiga & Griswold (2014),p. 505.
- ^Blackledge et al. (2009),Fig. 3.
- ^Bond et al. (2014),Fig 3. Web types defined asBlackledge et al. (2009,Fig. 3)
- ^Bond et al. (2014),p. 1768.
- ^abCoddington (2005),p. 24.
- ^World Spider Catalog (2020).
- ^Hormiga & Griswold (2014),p. 491.
- ^Ramírez (2014),p. 4.
- ^Hormiga & Griswold (2014),pp. 490–491.
- ^World Spider Catalog (2021),Currently valid spider genera and species.
Bibliography
[edit]- Agnarsson, Ingi; Coddington, Jonathan A. & Kuntner, Matjaž (2013). "Systematics: Progress in the study of spider diversity and evolution". In Penney, David (ed.).Spider research in the 21st century: trends & perspectives.Manchester, UK: Siri Scientific Press.ISBN978-0-9574530-1-2.
- Blackledge, Todd A.; Scharff, Nikolaj; Coddington, Jonathan A.; Szüts, Tamas; Wenzel, John W.; Hayashi, Cheryl Y. & Agnarsson, Ingi (2009)."Reconstructing web evolution and spider diversification in the molecular era".Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.106(13): 5229–5234.Bibcode:2009PNAS..106.5229B.doi:10.1073/pnas.0901377106.PMC2656561.PMID19289848.
- Bond, Jason E.; Garrison, Nicole L.; Hamilton, Chris A.; Godwin, Rebecca L.; Hedin, Marshal & Agnarsson, Ingi (2014)."Phylogenomics Resolves a Spider Backbone Phylogeny and Rejects a Prevailing Paradigm for Orb Web Evolution".Current Biology.24(15): 1765–1771.Bibcode:2014CBio...24.1765B.doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.06.034.PMID25042592.
- Coddington, Jonathan A. (2005)."Phylogeny and classification of spiders"(PDF).In Ubick, D.; Paquin, P.; Cushing, P.E. & Roth, V. (eds.).Spiders of North America: an identification manual.American Arachnological Society. pp. 18–24.Retrieved2015-09-24.
- Coddington, Jonathan A. & Levi, Herbert W. (1991). "Systematics and evolution of spiders (Araneae)".Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics.22:565–592.doi:10.1146/annurev.es.22.110191.003025.JSTOR2097274.
- Dimitrov, Dimitar & Hormiga, Gustavo (7 January 2021)."Spider Diversification Through Space and Time".Annual Review of Entomology.66(1): 225–241.doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-061520-083414.ISSN0066-4170.S2CID221235817.
- Eberhard, W.G. & Huber, B.A. (2010)."Spider genitalia: precise manoeuvers with a numb structure in a complex lock"(PDF).In Leonard, Janet L. & Córdoba-Aguilar, Alex (eds.).The evolution of primary sexual characters in animals.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-971703-3.Retrieved2015-09-20.
- Griswold, C.E.; Ramirez, M.J.; Coddington, J.A. & Platnick, N.I. (2005)."Atlas of phylogenetic data for entelegyne spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae: Entelegynae) with comments on their phylogeny"(PDF).Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences.56(Suppl. 2): 1–324.Retrieved2015-10-11.
- Hormiga, Gustavo & Griswold, Charles E. (2014)."Systematics, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Orb-Weaving Spiders".Annual Review of Entomology.59(1): 487–512.doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162046.PMID24160416.
- Michalik, Peter & Ramírez, Martín J. (2014). "Evolutionary morphology of the male reproductive system, spermatozoa and seminal fluid of spiders (Araneae, Arachnida)–Current knowledge and future directions".Arthropod Structure & Development.43(4): 291–322.Bibcode:2014ArtSD..43..291M.doi:10.1016/j.asd.2014.05.005.hdl:11336/19081.PMID24907603.
- Platnick, Norman I. & Raven, Robert J. (2013)."Spider Systematics: Past and Future".Zootaxa.3683(5): 595–600.doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3683.5.8.PMID25250473.
- Ramírez, Martín J. (2014).The morphology and phylogeny of dionychan spiders (Araneae, Araneomorphae).Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Vol. 390.hdl:2246/6537.
- World Spider Catalog(2020)."World Spider Catalog version 21.5".Natural History Museum Bern.Retrieved2020-10-31.