Morphology and relationships within the spider family Filistatidae (Araneae: Araneomorphae)

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 9 years ago

Abstract - The morphology and generic relationships of the filistatid spiders are discussed, with emphasis upon genitalic and silk spinning structures. A cladistic analysis of generic relationships is presented and two new subfamily groupings are recognised. These are the Filistatinae (Filistata, Kukulcania, Sahastata and, provisionally, Zaituna), and the Prithinae, subfam. nov. (Pritha, Wandella, Yardiella, Andoharano, Afrofilistata, Pikelinia, Filistatoides, Filistatinella). The taxonomic validity of the prithine genera Malalistata and Tricalanws are questioned. The affinities of the enigmatic central Asian genus Microfilistata remain obscure.