RADIATION OF THE GENUS DYSDERA (ARANEAE, HAPLOGYNAE, DYSDERIDAE) IN THE CANARY-ISLANDS - THE WESTERN ISLANDS

The spider genus Dysdera has undergone an extraordinary species radiat ion 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 req uired. The present paper deals with the endemic species that inhabit t he western Canaries: La Gomera, La Palma and Fl Hierro. Four new speci es are described: Dysdera enghoffi sp, n., D. hirguan sp. n., D. oraha n sp. n. and D. ramblae sp. n. Three new synonymies are reported: D. p almensis Schmidt, 1982 = D. crocota Koch, 1839, D. multipilosa Wunderl ich, 1991 = D. levipes Wunderlich, 1987 and D. silvatica Schmidt, 1981 = D. rugichelis Simon, 1907. Four species are redescribed: D. caldere nsis Wunderlich, 1991 D, clavisetae Wunderlich, 1991 D. levipes Wunder lich, 1987 and D, rugichelis Simon, 1907 for which a neotype is design ated. The presence on the western islands of the formerly described sp ecies D. insulana Simon, 1883, D. macra Simon, 1883 and D. nesiotes Si mon, 1907 are considered to be doubtful. The citation of D. cribellata Simon, 1883 in La Palma (Simon, 1907) was based on a mis-identificati on. The species D. gomerensis Strand, 1911 is designated as a nomen du bium. Morphological affinities as well as ecology and distribution of the species are discussed. (C) 1997 The Norwegian Academy of Science a nd Letters.