The spiders of the Falkland Islands 2: non-erigonine Linyphiidae

Abstract

Abstract This is the second in a series of accounts providing descriptions of all the spider species found on the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Here, seven species of non-erigonine Linyphiidae are reported from the Falkland Islands. Six species are recorded from the islands for the first time, four are new species: Falklandoglenes hadassa sp. nov., Falklandoglenes iasonum sp. nov., Falklandoglenes weddelli sp. nov., and Stictonanus lafonia sp. nov. Falklandoglenes is an endemic genus and Stictonanus lafonia is known only from the Falkland Islands. The introduced species Tenuiphantes tenuis (Blackwall, 1852) and Lepthyphantes leprosus (Ohlert, 1865) are recorded from the islands for the first time. Two erigonine species, Erigone palustris Millidge, 1991 and Sphecozone rubescens O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871 are recorded from the islands for the first time; both are introductions. The taxonomic position of the endemic Falkland Island species is discussed. Falklandoglenes is considered to be close to a characteristically southern Neotropical group of species. The position of Stictonanus remains ambiguous. The relationships of both genera within the Linyphiidae remains unclear. The conservation status of the new species is discussed, with Falklandoglenes spinosa noted as of great concern because it is known from only one small island and has not be refound since its discovery in 1980.