A wolf spider from South American grasslands: phylogenetic placement and redescription of Paratrochosina amica (Mello-Leitao 1941)

The male of the wolf spider Paratrochosina arnica (Mello-Leitao 1941) is redescribed, and the female of this species is described for the first time. Additionally, we evaluate the phylogenetic position of P. arnica using the mitochondrial genes cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1), the 12S rRNA (12S) and 16S rRNA (16S), NADH deshydrogenase subunit I (nad1) and the complete tRNA leu (L1). In live specimens we recognized three different morphotypes based on colour patterns. There were no differences in genitalic features of males and females among the three morphotypes. Molecular results through GMYC analyses did not identify independent evolutionary lineages. Genetic and taxonomic results support that the three morphotypes are conspecific. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the position of P. arnica in the subfamily Allocosinae. (C) 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The male of the wolf spider Paratrochosina arnica was redescribed, and the female of this species was described for the first time. The phylogenetic position of P. arnica was evaluated using mitochondrial genes, revealing three different morphotypes based on colour patterns with no differences in genitalic features between males and females. Genetic and taxonomic results supported that the three morphotypes are conspecific.