New records and phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic spider Cybaeodes mallorcensis Wunderlich, 2008 (Araneae: Liocranidae)

Abstract

The spider genus Cybaeodes Simon, 1878 is found in the Western Mediterranean region. It belongs to the family Liocranidae, but its exact phylogenetic position has been debated due to its unique morphological features. Here we present the first records of the species Cybaeodes mallorcensis Wunderlich, 2008 outside of the Balearic Islands, specifically in the Iberian Peninsula, and speculate on the possible causes of this disjunct distribution. Additionally, we publish the first genetic data for the genus Cybaeodes and use them to interrogate about the phylogenetic position of this remarkable genus within the spider tree of life. The moderate genetic differentiation found among some of the individuals sampled in the Iberian Peninsula suggests that these may be native populations, and not the result of introductions from the Balearic Islands. However, sequencing specimens from the islands would help shed some light on their origin. Finally, the phylogenetic tree containing the new genetic data of Cybaeodes renders Liocranidae paraphyletic, the genus Cybaeodes being more closely related to the family Cithaeronidae and two liocranid genera, albeit with low supports. Our results highlight the need for a more comprehensive phylogeny to determine the placement of this obscure genus.