Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution

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  Image Credit: WikiCommons Big Spider, Big Genome: Chromosome-level genome of a North American tarantula (Aphonopelma marxi) and comparative genomics across 300 million years of spider evolution Abstract The comparison of chromosome-level genomes allows biologists to investigate new axes of organismal evolution. Spiders comprise a significant proportion of known arachnid diversity, with many complex morphologies and unique natural histories, yet comparative genomics in spiders has been limited due to the number of available genomes. We present a de novo chromosomal reference genome of a mature male tarantula, Aphonopelma marxi, and comparatively examine spider genome evolution across the Order Araneae. Using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing, the final 6.5 Gb assembly consists of 17 autosomes, 1 X chromosome, and 127 unplaced scaffolds, with an N50 of 370 Mb and Arachnida (odb10; 2934 genes) BUSCO of 96.7%. By comparing 20 additional spider genomes from 15 families, we find mygalomo...

A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species

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A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species

    

Abstract 


A new Brazilian genus of curtain-web spiders, family Dipluridae Simon, 1889, Harpathele gen. nov., is described, with Harpathele gymnognatha comb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) (Rio de Janeiro state) as its type species. The new genus is a lyrate Diplurinae and it is known only from southeast Brazil. It may be recognized by the relatively small body, maxilla with dorsal transverse suture showing distinct curve at its basal third, a field of numerous long and thin setae above that suture, and a field of small rigid bristles below it, among other characters. Harpathele gymnognatha comb. nov. (Bertkau, 1880) is revalidated and redescribed, with the designation of a neotype and the first description of a male, based on specimens collected in its type locality that match the original description and illustrations, and is pointed as senior synonym of Diplura annectens (Bertkau, 1880). Additionally, two species of the new genus are described: Harpathele cariacica sp. nov., based on females from Espírito Santo state, and Harpathele salinas sp. nov., based on males from Rio de Janeiro state. 


Wermelinger-Moreira, G., Pedroso, D. R., Castanheira, P. de S. & Baptista, R. L. C. (2024). A new genus of lyrate curtain-web spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Dipluridae) from southeastern Brazil, with two new species and revalidation of a formerly described species. Arachnology 19(8): 1060-1073.