Multilocus genetic and morphological phylogenetic analysis: Unveiling a new genus and species in the Tribe Nannenini of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae)

Abstract

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are a diverse group of non-web-building predators and the most species-rich spider family. The Salticidae Tribe Nannenini consists of a small group of Oriental jumping spiders that are very poorly known. The use of explicit phylogenetic analyses to establish its affinities has so far remained limited. The Nannenini genus Epidelaxia has a peculiar morphology, making its systematic position uncertain. In this study, we present a comprehensive dataset combining molecular and morphological data for Nannenini, including exemplars from all genera. This dataset comprises DNA sequences of approximately 2400 bp, including nuclear genes (18S, 28S and H3) and the mitochondrial gene CO1, sequenced for 40 taxa (20 ingroups and 20 outgroups), along with 61 morphological characters. Notably, both DNA sequences and morphological traits were analysed separately and concurrently for the first time. The Nannenini clade is recovered with high support. Further, Epidelaxia is monophyletic and sister to Tubalaxia gen. n. This is the first hypothesis on the internal phylogenetic structure of Epidelaxia and its placement within the Tribe Nannenini. A new genus Tubalaxia gen. n. and the following new species are described: E. bharathi sp. n., E. somasundaram sp. n., T. castanea sp. n., T. aurea sp. n. The following new combination is proposed: Tubalaxia minuta (Prószyński, 1992) comb. n. Epidelaxia albostellata, E. albocruciata and E. obscura are redescribed. It is worth noting that the newly described species face endangerment due to their limited distribution and small population sizes.