Amblypygi is an ancient order of arachnid chelicerate arthropods also known as African cave-dwelling spiders, whip spiders and tailless whip scorpions. The name "amblypygid" means "blunt tail", a reference to a lack of the flagellum that is otherwise seen in whip scorpions. Amblypygids possess no silk glands or venomous fangs. They rarely bite if threatened, but can grab fingers with their pedipalps, resulting in thorn-like puncture injuries.
Cybaeidae is a family of spiders first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. The diving bell spider or water spider Argyroneta aquatica was previously included in this family, but is now in the family Dictynidae.
Austrochilidae is a small spider family with nine species in two genera. Austrochilus and Thaida are endemic to the Andean forest of central and southern Chile and adjacent Argentina.
The Palpimanoidea or palpimanoids, also known as assassin spiders, are a group of araneomorph spiders, originally treated as a superfamily. As with many such groups, its circumscription has varied. As of September 2018, the following five families were included:
The Eresoidea or eresoids are a group of araneomorph spiders that have been treated as a superfamily. As usually circumscribed, the group contains three families: Eresidae, Hersiliidae and Oecobiidae. Studies and reviews based on morphology suggested the monophyly of the group; more recent gene-based studies have found the Eresidae and Oecobiidae to fall into different clades, placing doubt on the acceptability of the taxon. Some researchers have grouped Hersiliidae and Oecobiidae into the separate superfamily Oecobioidea, a conclusion supported in a 2017 study, which does not support Eresoidea.
The Dictynoidea or dictynoids are a group of araneomorph spiders that have been treated as a superfamily. The composition of the group has varied. Phylogenetic studies in the 21st century have failed to confirm the monophyly of the dictynoids as originally defined.
The Haplogynae or haplogynes are one of the two main groups into which araneomorph spiders have traditionally been divided, the other being the Entelegynae. Morphological phylogenetic studies suggested that the Haplogynae formed a clade; more recent molecular phylogenetic studies refute this, although many of the ecribellate haplogynes do appear to form a clade, Synspermiata.
The Entelegynae or entelegynes are a subgroup of araneomorph spiders, the largest of the two main groups into which the araneomorphs were traditionally divided. Females have a genital plate (epigynum) and a "flow through" fertilization system; males have complex palpal bulbs. Molecular phylogenetic studies have supported the monophyly of Entelegynae.
Atypoidea is a clade of mygalomorph spiders, one of the two main groups into which the mygalomorphs are divided. It has been treated at the rank of superfamily. It contains five families of spiders:
The caves of the Serro da Ramalho karst area in the municipality of Serra do Ramalho, a municipality of the same name in southwestern Bahia State, Brazil, have been explored since the early 2000s. The several large cave systems present a great biospeleological potential. Newly discovered species include the first troglobitic Amblypygi recorded for Brazil, Charinus troglobiusBaptista & Giupponi, 2003, an eyeless harvestman, an as yet undescribed genus of spiders (Ochyroceratidae), and a species of catfish.
Charinidae is an arachnid family within the order of tailless whip scorpions. The family is monophyletic and contains three genera: Weygoldtia is sister to a monophyletic group comprising Charinus and Sarax, neither of which are reciprocally monophyletic.
Orbiculariae is a potential clade of araneomorph spiders, uniting two groups that make orb webs. Phylogenetic analyses based on morphological characters have generally recovered this clade; analyses based on DNA have regularly concluded that the group is not monophyletic. The issue relates to the origin of orb webs: whether they evolved early in the evolutionary history of entelegyne spiders, with many groups subsequently losing the ability to make orb webs, or whether they evolved later, with fewer groups having lost this ability. As of September 2018, the weight of the evidence strongly favours the non-monophyly of "Orbiculariae" and hence the early evolution of orb webs, followed by multiple changes and losses.
Synspermiata is a clade of araneomorph spiders, comprising most of the former "haplogynes". They are united by having simpler genitalia than other araneomorph spiders, lacking a cribellum, and sharing an evolutionary history of synspermia – a particular way in which spermatozoa are grouped together when transferred to the female.
Sarax is a genus of amblypygids of the family Charinidae.
Toxopidae is a small family of araneomorph spiders, first described in 1940. For many years it was sunk into Desidae as a subfamily, although doubts were expressed as to whether this was correct. A large-scale molecular phylogenetic study in 2016 led to the family being revived.
Avicularioidea is a clade of mygalomorph spiders, one of the two main clades into which mygalomorphs are divided. It has been treated at the rank of superfamily.
Paracharon is a genus of tailless whip scorpion. A single species, Paracharon caecus has been described. It is endemic to Guinea-Bissau. An undescribed species is known from Colombia. It is the most basal known living member of Amblypygi, and the only living member of the Palaeoamblypygi, which also includes the genus Weygoldtina from the Carboniferous of Euramerica and Paracharonopsis from Eocene aged Indian Cambay amber. Both living species are troglobites, having no eyes, with P. caecus living in termite nests, while the undescribed Colombian species was found living in a cave.
Charinus is a genus of amblypygids of the family Charinidae.
Paracharontidae is an arachnid family within the order of tailless whip scorpions. Paracharontidae and Weygoldtinidae form the suborder Paleoamblypygi, the putative sister group to the remaining Amblypygi; this suborder is primarily known from Late Carboniferous and Eocene deposits, but also comprises two extant species: Paracharon caecus Hansen, 1921 from Guinea-Bissau, and an undescribed species from Colombia.
Catageus is a genus of amblypygids of the family Charontidae.
