Morphology to the rescue: molecular data and the signal of morphological characters in combined phylogenetic analyses—a case study from mysmenid spiders (Araneae, Mysmenidae), with comments on the evolution of web architecture

摘要: The limits and the interfamilial relationships of minute orb-weaving symphytognathoid spiders have remained contentious poorly understood. circumscription diagnosis family Mysmenidae always been elusive, its monophyly has never thoroughly tested. We combine sequence data from six genes with a morphological dataset in total-evidence phylogenetic analysis (ca. 6100 characters, 109 taxa: 74 mysmenids), explore signal combined dataset, individual genes, gene combinations different parsimony methods model-based approaches. Several support values parameter-sensitivity schemes are explored to assess stability clades. is supported by ca. 20 420 molecular synapomorphies. monophyletic under all analyses that include morphology. Almost no or combination supports monophyly. Symphytognathoids delimited include: (Theridiosomatidae (Mysmenidae (Synaphridae (Anapidae + Symphytognathidae)))). Micropholcommatids lineage nested within anapid clade thus synonymized Anapidae (Micropholcommatinae New Rank). provide diagnoses for families discuss behavioural evolutionary implications our hypotheses relationships. planar orb web evolved independently twice three-dimensional webs. was modified into sheet cobwebs three times independently. spherical mysmenine single origin. Kleptoparasitism once mysmenids. comment on discrepancies lack resolving power datasets relative signal, relevance morphology inferring pattern relationships. © Willi Hennig Society 2010.