Publication details
Taxonomic review and phylogenetic analysis of central European Eresus species (Araneae: Eresidae)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Zoologica Scripta |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | Eresus; taxonomy; Araneae; revision |
| Description | Ladybird spiders (Eresus spp.) have attracted scientific interest since the 18th century, but taxonomical knowledge of the genus is unsatisfactory. Early classification based on colour and size variation divided European Eresus into numerous species. These were later lumped into one predominant morphospecies, Eresus niger / E. cinnaberinus, which could be found from Portugal to Central Asia. Here, we perform a major revision of Eresus from northern and central Europe using morphological, phenological, habitat, distribution and molecular data. Three species, E. kollari, E. sandaliatus and E. moravicus sp. n. were distinguished. The name E. niger (originally Aranea nigra) cannot be used as the name A. nigra was used for a previous spider species. The name E. cinnaberinus is considered a nomen dubium. |
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