Radiation of the genus Dysdera (Araneae, Haplogynae, Dysderidae) in the Canary Islands: The western islands

The spider genus Dysdera has undergone an extraordinary species radiation in the Canary Islands. As a first step towards the recovery of the endemic species phylogeny and the study of the evolutionary processes underlying its diversification, an exhaustive taxonomical work is required. The present paper deals with the endemic species that inhabit the western Canaries: La Gomera, La Palma and Fl Hierro. Four new species are described: Dysdera enghoffi sp, n., D. hirguan sp. n., D. orahan sp. n. and D. ramblae sp. n. Three new synonymies are reported: D. palmensis Schmidt, 1982 = D. crocota Koch, 1839, D. multipilosa Wunderlich, 1991 = D. levipes Wunderlich, 1987 and D. silvatica Schmidt, 1981 = D. rugichelis Simon, 1907. Four species are redescribed: D. calderensis Wunderlich, 1991 D, clavisetae Wunderlich, 1991 D. levipes Wunderlich, 1987 and D, rugichelis Simon, 1907 for which a neotype is designated. The presence on the western islands of the formerly described species D. insulana Simon, 1883, D. macra Simon, 1883 and D. nesiotes Simon, 1907 are considered to be doubtful. The citation of D. cribellata Simon, 1883 in La Palma (Simon, 1907) was based on a mis-identification. The species D. gomerensis Strand, 1911 is designated as a nomen dubium. Morphological affinities as well as ecology and distribution of the species are discussed. (C) 1997 The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.