A giant spider from the Jurassic of China reveals greater diversity of the orbicularian stem group

摘要: A large female spider, Nephila jurassica, was described from Middle Jurassic strata of north-east China and placed in the modern genus (family Nephilidae) on basis many morphological similarities, but, as with ancient fossils, single specimen lacked synapomorphies family (Selden et al. 2011). In order to test placement within nephilid phylogenetic tree, Kuntner (2013) calibrated molecular phylogeny using N. jurassica three different scenarios based inferred mitochondrial substitution rates. They concluded that fitted better a stem orbicularian than nephilid. Now, giant male spider has been discovered at same locality yielded jurassica. The two sexes are considered conspecific their similar features, size, provenance. cannot be accommodated Nephilidae because its pedipalp morphology, so new Mongolarachne Mongolarachnidae erected for species. Comparison possibly related families show is most likely stem, close other cribellate orbicularians (e.g., Deinopoidea), which suggests greater diversity during Jurassic.