A phylogenetic and taxonomic review of baviine jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae, Baviini)

Abstract

The systematics and taxonomy of the tropical Asian jumping spiders of the tribe Baviini is reviewed, with a molecular phylogenetic study (UCE sequence capture, traditional Sanger sequencing) guiding a reclassification of the group’s genera. The well-studied members of the group are placed into six genera: Bavia Simon, 1877, Indopadilla Caleb & Sankaran, 2019, Padillothorax Simon, 1901, Piranthus Thorell, 1895, Stagetillus Simon, 1885, and one new genus, Maripanthus Maddison, gen. nov. The identity of Padillothorax is clarified, and Bavirecta Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018 synonymized with it. Hyctiota Strand, 1911 is synonymized with Stagetillus. The molecular phylogeny divides the baviines into three clades, the Piranthus clade with a long embolus (Piranthus, Maripanthus), the genus Padillothorax with a flat body and short embolus, and the Bavia clade with a higher body and (usually) short embolus (remaining genera). In general, morphological synapomorphies support or extend the molecularly delimited groups. Eighteen new species are described: Bavia nessagyna, Indopadilla bamilin, I. kodagura, I. nesinor, I. redunca, I. redynis, I. sabivia, I. vimedaba, Maripanthus draconis (type species of Maripanthus), M. jubatus, M. reinholdae, Padillothorax badut, P. mulu, Piranthus api, P. bakau, P. kohi, P. mandai, and Stagetillus irri, all sp. nov., with taxonomic authority W. Maddison. The distinctions between baviines and the astioid Nungia Żabka, 1985 are reviewed, leading to four species being moved into Nungia from Bavia and other genera. Fifteen new combinations are established: Bavia maurerae (Freudenschuss & Seiter, 2016), Indopadilla annamita (Simon, 1903), I. kahariana (Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2013), I. sonsorol (Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997), I. suhartoi (Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2013), Maripanthus menghaiensis (Cao & Li, 2016), M. smedleyi (Reimoser, 1929), Nungia hatamensis (Thorell, 1881), N. modesta (Keyserling, 1883), N. papakula (Strand, 1911), N. xiaolonghaensis (Cao & Li, 2016), Padillothorax casteti (Simon, 1900), P. exilis (Cao & Li, 2016), P. flavopunctus (Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018), Stagetillus banda (Strand, 1911), all comb. nov. One combination is restored, Bavia capistrata (C. L. Koch, 1846). Five of these new or restored combinations correct previous errors of placing species in genera that have superficially similar palps but extremely different body forms, in fact belonging in distantly related tribes, emphasizing that the general shape of male palps should be used with caution in determining relationships. A little-studied genus, Padillothorus Prószyński, 2018, is tentatively assigned to the Baviini. Ligdus Thorell, 1895 is assigned to the Ballini.

A new baviine species of the genus Maripanthus Maddison from India (Araneae: Salticidae)

“…The ECP is either unpaired and central, or split into two pockets on each side of the epigynal orifi ce (ECP on prominent medial bulge in Bavia; medial in Indopadilla). The epigynal atrium is long and gaping, situated in an anterior position; the spermathecae are situated posterior to the copulatory openings (spermathecae placed anterior to copulatory openings in Indopadilla) (Maddison et al, 2020). , different in the following: clypeus covered with yellowish hairs (Fig.…”

“…Discussion: When Maddison (2015) provided the fi rst phylogenetic classifi cation of the Salticidae only three genera were included in the tribe Baviini Simon, 1901a. In the most recent updated review (Maddison et al, 2020) it includes seven genera (Bavia, Indopadilla, Maripanthus, Padillothorax Simon, 1901b, Padillothorus Prószyński, 2018, Piranthus Thorell, 1895, andStagetillus Simon, 1885). In India the tribe was known from a single species, Padillothorax casteti (Simon, 1900), until another species, Bavia insularis Malamel, Sankaran & Sebastian, 2015 (presently Indopadilla insularis), was described (see Malamel, Sankaran & Sebastian, 2015).…”

“…The baviine genus Maripanthus was established by Maddison in 2020, with Maripanthus draconis Maddison in Maddison et al, 2020 as its type species . In the most recent review of baviines based on morphological and molecular data (Maddison et al, 2020) the genus falls in 'the Piranthus clade' along with the only other genus, Piranthus Thorell, 1895.…”

“…The baviine genus Maripanthus was established by Maddison in 2020, with Maripanthus draconis Maddison in Maddison et al, 2020 as its type species . In the most recent review of baviines based on morphological and molecular data (Maddison et al, 2020) the genus falls in 'the Piranthus clade' along with the only other genus, Piranthus Thorell, 1895. Presently the genus consists of fi ve species: M. draconis (Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei), M. jubatus Maddison in Maddison et al, 2020 (India), M. menghaiensis (Cao & Li in Cao et al, 2016) (China), M. reinholdae Maddison in Maddison et al, 2020 (Brunei and Malaysia) and Maripanthus smedleyi (Reimoser, 1929) (Sumatra) (see Maddison et al, 2020;World Spider Catalog, 2021).…”

Rediscovery of <I>Dexippus kleini</I> Thorell 1891 (Araneae: Salticidae: Plexippini) after 129 years and its first record from India

“…Studies on salticids lay far behind in comparison with other countries like Australia, Brazil and China with a representative diversity of over 450 species each (Patoleta & Żabka 2020;Richardson 2020;Galvis 2015;Cao et al 2015). Studies in the past decade, on the Indian fauna have nevertheless advanced our knowledge substantially (Basumatary et al 2020a,b;Benjamin 2010;Caleb 2016aCaleb ,b, 2017Caleb & Mathai 2014;Caleb et al 2015Caleb et al , 2018Caleb et al , 2019Caleb et al , 2020Kulkarni & Joseph 2015;Logunov 2020;Maddison et al 2020;Malamel et al 2015Paul et al 2020;Prajapati 2019;Prajapati et al 2016Prajapati et al , 2018Prajapati et al , 2020Roy et al 2016;Sanap et al 2017Sanap et al , 2019Sankaran et al 2019, Sudhin et al 2019a.…”