IS25009Taxonomy and systematics of the Australasian gum nut orb-weaving spider genus Carepalxis (Araneae, Araneidae)


The molecular phylogeny of the gum nut orb-weaving spider genus Carepalxis was investigated, revealing a polyphyletic Carepalxis: its Australasian representatives were part of the informal clade ‘backobourkiines’, and the Neotropical species were related to the genus Ocrepeira. A revised Carepalxis, recognised by the presence of two cephalic humps in females and two enlarged tibial spines in males, is composed of seven endemic Australian species, including four new species described here, and C. beelzebub, which also occurs in New Guinea. (Photography by Pedro Castanheira.)
IS25009 Abstract | IS25009 Full Text | IS25009PDF (20.2 MB) | IS25009Supplementary Material (2.6 MB) Open Access Article