First molecular phylogeny of species of the genus Heteropoda (Sparassidae: Heteropodinae): implications for taxonomy

Abstract The genus Heteropoda Latreille, 1804 holds importance within both the subfamily Heteropodinae Thorell, 1873 and the family Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872, constituting the second most diverse and extensive group within these taxa. Despite their ecological significance in tropical and subtropical environments, knowledge about the phylogenetic relationships of these organisms remains limited. Here, we present the first molecular phylogeny of Heteropoda. Our phylogenetic analyses combine 2 mitochondrial and 4 nuclear genes to delineate the systematic relationships among Heteropoda species, thereby providing novel insights into their evolutionary history. Our results provide strong support for the monophyly of Heteropoda and confirm its sister relationship to Spariolenus Simon, 1880. We establish 4 new species groups: the Heteropoda helge group, the Heteropoda tetrica group, the Heteropoda simplex group, and the Heteropoda amphora group, based on a comprehensive analysis of both molecular data and morphological characters, and also describe 2 new species: H. flammasp. nov. and H. curvatasp. nov. Additionally, our study provides phylogenetic support for the Heteropoda javana group and offers insights into newly identified species. This first molecular phylogeny of the genus Heteropoda serves as a valuable tool for comparative analyses and establishes a solid foundation for future endeavors in biodiversity assessment and taxonomic elucidation within this genus.