Integrative taxonomic revision of the genera Nesticella and Howaia in Japan with the description of five new species (Araneae, Nesticidae, Nesticellini).

ABSTRACT: The Japanese species of the genera Nesticella Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 and Howaia Lehtinen & Saaristo, 1980 (Araneae, Nesticidae, Nesticellini) are revised using an integrative taxonomic approach. Their morphology, phylogenetic position within the genera, assignment to species groups, and distribution in mainland Japan and the Ryukyu islands are discussed herein. A phylogenetic and species delimitation analysis was conducted to confirm the boundaries between the putative species that were initially discriminated based on external and genital morphology. As a result of the present study, six species of Nesticella and three species of Howaia are proposed for the fauna of Japan based on the combined results of morphology and molecular analyses. Male and female of

SUBMITTER: Ballarin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10439460 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature