On three monotypic nursery web spider genera from Madagascar with first description of the male of Tallonia picta Simon, 1889 and redescription of the type-species of Paracladycnis Blandin, 1979 and Thalassiopsis Roewer, 1955 (Araneae: Lycosoidea: Pisauridae)

Abstract

With 333 described species, the Pisauridae is a moderately species-rich spider family. The family is world wide in distribution and its members exhibit an exceptionally wide range of foraging and prey capture behavior, from web-based hunters, water surface hunters to ambusher hunters in the vegetation. While some pisaurid genera are diverse, boasting numerous species, such as Dolomedes with 96 described species, nearly half of pisaurid genera (22/48) are monotypic (Platnick 2013). Recent collecting and biodiversity research has uncovered several new species, especially from heretofore poorly collected regions in Africa (including Madagascar) and Asia (e.g. Jaeger 2011, Jocqué 1994). Initial steps have been undertaken to develop a phylogenetic framework for parts of the family, e.g., Sierwald 1987; Santos 2007. However, no phylogenetic analysis exists that includes a representatively wide range of genera. The clade Pisaurinae (see Sierwald 1997) appears to be well supported by morphological characters, while the relationships among non-pisaurine genera remain uncertain.