Behavior and Biology of Mygalomorphae

Pérez‐Miles, Fernando; Perafán, Carlos

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-65717-2_2

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Regarding predator/parasite defense, the burrow is a double‐edged sword, providing both camouflage and a means of protection, but also limiting avenues of escape. Certain fungi, buthid scorpions, pompilid wasps, and acrocerid flies are known to specialize on burrowing mygalomorph spiders (Kurczewski et al, 2021; Pérez‐Miles & Perafán, 2017), and predators such as centipedes (MGR, personal observation) and even other araneophagic spiders may target them (Dippenaar‐Schoeman, 2002). This has led to the evolution of myriad defensive strategies in burrowing taxa, including secondary escape shafts (Harvey et al, 2018), false bottoms (Main, 1985), spherical pellets used to block the entrance (Leroy & Leroy, 2005), phragmotic abdomens (Rix et al, 2018), urticating setae (Bertani & Guadanucci, 2013), and of course, entrance modifications which camouflage the burrow and can be held closed against intruders.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation with a limited set of behavioral niches explains the convergence of somatic morphology in mygalomorph spiders

Wilson

Bond

Harvey

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding the drivers of morphological convergence requires investigation into its relationship with behavior and niche space, and such investigations in turn provide insights into evolutionary dynamics, functional morphology, and life history. Mygalomorph spiders (trapdoor spiders and their kin) have long been associated with high levels of morphological homoplasy, and many convergent features can be intuitively associated with different behavioral niches. Using genus‐level phylogenies based on recent genomic studies and a newly assembled matrix of discrete behavioral and somatic morphological characters, we reconstruct the evolution of burrowing behavior in the Mygalomorphae, compare the influence of behavior and evolutionary history on somatic morphology, and test hypotheses of correlated evolution between specific morphological features and behavior. Our results reveal the simplicity of the mygalomorph adaptive landscape, with opportunistic, web‐building taxa at one end, and burrowing/nesting taxa with structurally modified burrow entrances (e.g., a trapdoor) at the other. Shifts in behavioral niche, in both directions, are common across the evolutionary history of the Mygalomorphae, and several major clades include taxa inhabiting both behavioral extremes. Somatic morphology is heavily influenced by behavior, with taxa inhabiting the same behavioral niche often more similar morphologically than more closely related but behaviorally divergent taxa, and we were able to identify a suite of 11 somatic features that show significant correlation with particular behaviors. We discuss these findings in light of the function of particular morphological features, niche dynamics within the Mygalomorphae, and constraints on the mygalomorph adaptive landscape relative to other spiders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation with a limited set of behavioral niches explains the convergence of somatic morphology in mygalomorph spiders

Wilson

Bond

Harvey

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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“…While mygalomorph spiders appear to have recruited DRPs post divergence of family members, Araneomorphae may have accomplished this before. Since most araneomorph spiders heavily rely on their foraging web for prey capture, and because these spiders mostly prey on insects (29), their venom DRPs may have become relatively less diverse (Figure 4, Table S2). In complete contrast, venom DRPs in mygalomorph spiders that mostly rely on venom, and not silk being either ambush or sit-and-wait predators, to capture a much diverse prey base, appear to have experienced a significantly greater influence of the diversifying selection [(30), Figure 4, Table S1].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The primordial knot: the deep-rooted origin of the disulfide-rich spider venom toxins

Shaikh

Sunagar

2022

Preprint

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Spider venoms are a complex concoction of enzymes, polyamines, inorganic salts and disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs). Although DRPs are widely distributed and abundant, their evolutionary origin has remained elusive. This knowledge gap stems from the extensive molecular divergence of DRPs and a lack of sequence and structural data from diverse lineages. By evaluating DRPs under a comprehensive phylogenetic, structural and evolutionary framework, we have not only identified over 70 novel spider toxin superfamilies but also provide the first evidence for their common origin. We trace the origin of these toxin superfamilies to a primordial knot - the 'Adi Shakti' - nearly ∼375 MYA in the common ancestor of Araneomorphae and Mygalomorphae. As these lineages constitute over 50% of the extant spiders, our findings provide fascinating insights into the early evolution and diversification of the spider venom arsenal. Reliance on a single molecular toxin scaffold by nearly all spiders is in complete contrast to most other venomous animals that have recruited into their venoms diverse toxins with independent origins. Moreover, by comparatively evaluating araneomorph and mygalomorph spiders that differentially depend on their ability to secrete silk for prey capture, we highlight the prominent role of predatory strategies in driving the evolution of spider venom.

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“…6H-K) (Coyle et al 1992;Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002). These burrows provide a suitable microclimate that protects the spiders from predators, parasites and microbial infections, and behave as effective expansions for ambushing prey (Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002;Pérez-Miles & Perafán 2017). Idiops spiders live in a variety of habitats, ranging from dry environments with scattered vegetation and harder soils to more humid environments with dense vegetation and softer soils (Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002;Gupta et al 2013;RFF pers.…”

Section: Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trapdoor spiders belonging to the infraorder Mygalomorphae Pocock, 1892, which include the family Idiopidae, are usually associated with a sedentary lifestyle, high longevity, limited dispersion skills and high environmental specificity (Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002;Bond & Stockman 2008;Pérez-Miles & Perafán 2017;Mason et al 2018). These characteristics, together with the strong morphological homogeneity contrasted with the high genetic diversification, make these spiders great evolutionary and biogeographic models (Bond et al 2001;Satler et al 2013;Opatova & Arnedo 2014;Harrisson et al 2017;Opatova et al 2020).…”

Section: Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical spiders of the genus Idiops Perty, 1833 (Araneae, Idiopidae), with description of four new species

Fonseca-Ferreira

Guadanucci

Yamamoto

et al. 2021

EJT

1,081

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Neotropical species of the genus Idiops Perty, 1833 are reviewed, and four new species are described from Brazil: I. duocordibus Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. guri Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov., I. mocambo Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. and I. sertania Fonseca-Ferreira, Guadanucci & Brescovit sp. nov. The majority of species are redescribed based on the examination of the types and extensive material. Males of I. petiti (Guérin, 1838), I. rastratus (Pickard-Cambrige, 1889), I. rohdei Karsch, 1886 and I. nilopolensis Mello-Leitão, 1923, and females of I. fuscus Perty, 1833 and I. pirassununguensis Fukami & Lucas, 2005, hitherto unknown, are described for the first time. Idiops nilopolensis, considered a nomen dubium, is revalidated. Idiops fulvipes Simon, 1889 is synonymized with I. argus Simon, 1889, and I. santaremius (Pickard-Cambrige, 1896) is synonymized with I. petiti. Neotypes are designated for Idiops fuscus, I. nilopolensis and I. siolii (Bücherl, 1953). Idiops bonapartei Hasselt, 1888 is considered species inquirendae, since the type is an immature female. Finally, an updated distribution map of Neotropical species is included. The genus now has 24 species in the Neotropical region.

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Behavior and Biology of Mygalomorphae

Cited by 15 publications

References 76 publications

Correlation with a limited set of behavioral niches explains the convergence of somatic morphology in mygalomorph spiders

Correlation with a limited set of behavioral niches explains the convergence of somatic morphology in mygalomorph spiders

The primordial knot: the deep-rooted origin of the disulfide-rich spider venom toxins

Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical spiders of the genus Idiops Perty, 1833 (Araneae, Idiopidae), with description of four new species

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