Revision and Cladistic Analysis of Pholcus and Closely Related Taxa (Araneae, Pholcidae)

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The genus Pholcus Walckenaer and nine other pholcid genera are characterized by a simplified type of combhair on the fourth tarsi. This supposedly monophyletic group (Pholcus group of genera) is herein revised, with special emphasis on Pholcus, the largest genus in the family Pholcidae. The group is largely restricted to the Old World, with a few exceptions of presumably relict and newly introduced species in the New World.

As revised here, the group includes 320 species, most of which (254) belong to the genus Pholcus. Eighty three previously described species are redescribed; some are illustrated for the first time. A first cladistic analysis based on morphological data is presented for the group. The new genus Sihala is proposed for Pholcus ceylonicus from Sri Lanka and a newly described Indian species. Further new genera are indicated by the cladistic analysis, but a conservative approach is adopted due to weak support and poor diagnosability of the respective clades. 112 species are newly described.

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