Thiratoscirtinae

Monograph of the Salticidae (Araneae) of the World 1995-2015. Introduction to alternative classification of Salticidae
Classification of the Salticidae genera of the World
group of genera
Clade THIRATOSCIRTINAE
of Bodner & Maddison 2012 - pending revision
by Jerzy Prószyński
Version December 31st, 2015
Note on illustrations. This introduction to classification of Salticidae includes only species defined by diagnostic illustrations in the taxonomic literature, arranged by similarities of embolus and spermophor. Images are displayed as thumbnails to save space and allow for rapid scanning of theoretically closely-related species. Thumbnails are small versions of illustrations in other parts of the monograph, whera are displayed together with particulars of their sources and permissions.

REMARK. Bodner & Maddison (2012, p. 221-222) proposed a new clade "THIRATOSCIRTINAE", which they consider subfamily, and discuss its evolutionary significance. Understanding premises for that is difficult because their taxonomic documentation is limited to listing genera they propose to include into THIRATOSCIRTINAE, without taxonomic definition or description, apart from a cladogram based on molecular analyses, whose taxonomic significance is unclear. To provide some orientation in their proposal I quote below the taxonomic documentation of all species they consider. For more comments - see- THIRATOSCIRTINAE

Remarks of relationships between genera of Thiratoscirtinae and other clades of Salticidae. Morphological documentation available in the literature is insufficient and therefore inconclusive. Structure of epigyne and palps represent two types, which deserve further attention, there are also some rather incompatible species. The most tempting similarity is separation of eyes anterior lateral and posterior lateral by prominent depression, with microscopic size of eyes II, supposedly indicating relationships to fossil Eocene Prolinus, and its extant analogues Tomocyrba and Hispo, looks probable in the case of Massagiris schisma, (whose relationship to Thiratoscirtinae is, however, questionable), but is not supported by eyes of Thiratoscirtus and related genera. Coiled embolus may indicate relationships to Euophryinae, but require further documentation of its basis. There is intriguing resemblance in posterior part of epigyne with Asiatic genus Habrocestoides, with curious circular structure inside, but that require further study. In view of very incomplete morphological documentation of diversity in Thiratoscirtinae, no firm conclusion on their placement could be drawn.

Type species Alfenus calamistratus .
Diagnostic illustrations below are integral part of the definition.