Phylogeny and biogeography of Charinidae Quintero, 1986 based on morphological and molecular data

Gustavo Silva de Miranda

Abstract

The work presented in this thesis seeks to understand the diversity and evolution of a major group within the order Amblypygi (whip spiders), the family Charinidae (Chelicerata, Arachnida, Amblypygi). Members of the family Charinidae have a circumtropical distribution and comprises three genera, CatageusCharinus, and Sarax. The taxonomic revision of Charinus and Catageus revealed the synonymy of Catageus with a genus outside Charinidae (Stygophrynus) and includes description of 24 new Charinus species, increasing the diversity of this genus to 88 species. A phylogenetic analysis of the family Charinidae (species and genera) using morphology and molecules revealed an early monophyletic branch that is described as a new genus, Weygoldtia. This genus is restricted to Indochina. As a result of the phylogentic analyses a number of Charinus species are transferred to Sarax. The molecular data proved to be a reliable source of information for the analysis of relationships within Charinidae. A combined phylogenetic analysis using both molecular and morphological data resulted in a preferred phylogenetic hypothesis for the family and suggest a close relationship of an Arabian and Southeast Asian clade within the genus Sarax. Additionally, the Sarax species from the Malay Peninsula are sister group to all other Southeast Asian species of Sarax. In the genus Charinus, C. africanus was recovered as sister to the Amazonian species C. vulgaris with good support value, and the north South American species branched off together with the Caribbean species of Charinus. Using Bayesian divergence dating, ages were estimated for the various Charinidae lineages, revealing a very ancient origin of the family, around 313.9 Ma, during the Carboniferous. The split between the clades of Weygoldtia and Charinus+Sarax happened by the end of the Permian (approx. 235.7 Ma) and this branching event is suggested to have been a consequence of the series of climatic catastrophes that happened during the great Permian extinctions. Remarkably, strong support was found for a Gondwanan relict of the New Caledonian fauna of the family Charinidae (Charinus neocaledonicus and C. elegans), a clade sister to the Australian species C. pescotti, given further insight information to the evolution of those islands.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherNatural History Museum of Denmark, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Number of pages479
Publication statusPublished - 2017

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