Systematics of the genusMayazomus(Arachnida: Schizomida): the relevance of using continuous characters and pedipalp setae patterns to schizomid phylogenetics

Abstract

The schizomid genus Mayazomus Reddell & Cockendolpher, 1995, endemic to south‐eastern Mexico, currently comprises seven species. It was originally proposed to accommodate two species, from Chiapas and Tabasco. Recently, five additional species from Chiapas were described. The monophyly of the genus has never been tested using cladistic analysis. We undertook a phylogenetic analysis using the seven described species of Mayazomus as the ingroup, ten exemplar species representing the most similar New World hubbardiids as the outgroup, and one protoschizomid species to root the tree. The analysis was based on 130 morphological characters (continuous and discrete characters). The resulting topologies recovered Mayazomus as paraphyletic, with Heteronochrus estor Armas & Viquez, 2010, from Guatemala nested within the genus; therefore, we formally propose its synonymy herein. Mayazomus appears to be most closely related to Rowlandius Reddell & Cokendolpher, 1995, a South American genus. This contribution also provides new characters derived from the pedipalp setae with important phylogenetic information; as well as the implementation of morphometric ratios, as continuous characters, to partially codify the shape of the male flagellum. The relationships recovered amongst the outgroups used in this contribution are a reliable baseline for future analyses of the phylogeny of the New World schizomids.

Description of a new species of Surazomus (Arachnida: Schizomida), with comments on homology of male flagellum and mating march anchorage in the genus

“…The same event seems to have occurred with the anterior pockets (AP). The AP pair is ventrally located and separate by the stalk in hubbardiines, such as in Naderiore and Cangazomus [ 27 ] (figs 2, 3, 5 and 6), Calima [ 31 ] (figs 3b, 3c, 7b and 7c), Mayazomus [ 20 ] (figs 19, 31, 45, 60, 72, 90 and 107); [ 21 ] (figs 9F and 9G), Rowlandius [ 32 ] (figs 2B and 2D), Piaroa [ 14 ] (figs 3, 6, 25 and 28), and in most species of Surazomus , being always anterior to Dm1, as seen in S . rafaeli ( Fig 8A and 8B ).…”

“…[ 13 ], for cheliceral setation. Pedipalp setation follows Monjaraz-Ruedas & Francke [ 20 , 21 ], including the following new abbreviations: MS: mesal spur; PAP: patellar apophysis; pTS: prolateral tarsal spur; rTS: retrolateral tarsal spur. The nomenclature of flagellar setation follows Monjaraz-Ruedas et al .…”

A trait-based taxonomic data base for the order Schizomida (Arachnida) with descriptions of a new fossil species from Kachin amber and the female ofSurazomus palenqueVillarreal, Miranda & Giupponi 2016

“…All statistical analysis of the STDB was carried out using the R software (33). Excel files were imported into R with the readxl package (34).…”

Tales of schizomid tails: patterns in schizomid flagellum shape from elliptical Fourier analysis

“…The male flagellar shape is phenotypically diverse and characterizing them for quantitative analysis has proven difficult. Linear morphometric ratios 19 and discrete states 20 have been used to code them for cladistic analyses, although, doing so reduces the available shape diversity. Thus, the male flagellum is .…”

“…The male flagellar shape is phenotypically diverse and characterizing them for quantitative analysis has proven difficult. Linear morphometric ratios 19 and discrete states 20 have been used to code them for cladistic analyses, although, doing so reduces the available shape diversity. Thus, the male flagellum is critical for classification and species identification, and is likely important for sexual selection and reproduction, yet, there has been little research done that examines the shape diversity across schizomids 4,17 .…”