Molecular phylogenetic analysis of pirate spiders (Araneae, Mimetidae) with the first description of maternal care behavior in the family and a new African genus

We investigate the phylogeny of “pirate spiders” (Mimetidae), a family of araneophagic spiders known for their use of aggressive mimicry as a foraging strategy, but poorly understood phylogenetically. Relationships are inferred by including molecular data from six loci for 92 mimetid terminals spanning four genera, and 119 outgroups representing 12 families. Phylogenetic analyses based on parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches as well as static and dynamic homology robustly support monophyly of Mimetidae and a sister group relationship to a clade comprising Tetragnathidae + Arkyidae. Relationships among the mimetid genera are largely congruent across methods, as follows: (Gelanor (Ero (Anansi n. gen. (Australomimetus, Mimetus)))). Diversification of Mimetidae is estimated to be around 114 Ma, in the Early Cretaceous. In light of the results of our phylogenetic analyses we erect Anansi n. gen. to include a clade of mimetids from West Africa that contains at least four species, including the newly described A. luki n. sp. Finally, and based on novel field observations, maternal care is reported for the first time in Mimetidae.