78 p. : 26 cm

"The results are given of a study of some linyphiid spiders from South America; most of the material examined originated from Chile, but small collections from other regions, including Tristan da Cunha, are also included. The majority of the species examined are haplotracheate ('linyphiine'); very few true (desmitracheate) members of the subfamily Erigoninae, and no native members of the Linyphiinae (sensu stricto) or the Micronetinae, are present in the material studied. A total of 65 species is described, of which 44 are new. For the majority of the species it has been necessary to erect new genera, as follows: Catacercus (type species Gonatium fuegianum Tullgren), Cautinelia (type species C. minuta, new species), Ctenophysis (type species C. chilensis, new species), Hormembolus (type species Linyphia aysenensis Tullgren), Laminacauda (type species L. diffusa, new species), Notholepthyphantes (type species Lepthyphantes australis Tullgren), Notiophantes (type species Linyphia meridionalis Tullgren), Onychembolus (type species O. subalpinus, new species), Patagoneta (type species Linyphia antarctica Tullgren), Rhabdogyna (type species Bathyphantes patagonicus Tullgren), and Valdiviella (type species V. trisetosa, new species). The taxonomic relationships of the genera are discussed. A synapomorphy of the external female genitalia indicates a common parentage for the genera Hormembolus, Notiohyphantes, Patagoneta, and Notholepthyphantes, for the Falkland Islands genus Falklandoglenes Usher, and for the subfamily Mynogleninae, but the relationships to the Mynogleninae are not close enough to justify the allocation of any of the genera to that subfamily. Hormembolus is linked to the Linyphiinae (sensu stricto) by several synapomorphies, but because of differences in the epigynal form it cannot be included in that subfamily. The epigynal form of Notiohyphantes shows some similarities to that of the subfamily Micronetinae. The hypothesis is proposed that the most important branching event in the evolution of the Linyphiidae was that associated with the development of a scape/socket, and a cladogram on this basis is presented"--P. [1]

Title from caption

"November 14, 1985."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-78)

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