Family ties: molecular phylogeny of crab spiders (Araneae: Thomisidae)

The first quantitative phylogenetic analysis of three sequenced genes (16S rRNA, cytochromecoxidase subunit I, histone 3) of 25 genera of crab spiders and 11 outgroups supports the monophyly of Thomisidae. Four lineages within Thomisidae are recovered. They are informally named here as theBorboropactusclade,Epidiusclade,Stephanopisclade and theThomisusclade, pending detailed morphology based cladistic work. TheThomisusclade is recovered as a strongly supported monophyletic group with a minimal genetic divergence. Philodromidae previously widely considered a subfamily of Thomisidae do not group within thomisids and is excluded from Thomisidae. However, Aphantochilinae previously generally considered as a separate family falls within theThomisusclade and is included in Thomisidae. The recently proposed new family Borboropactidae is rejected, as it is paraphyletic.