Topic
Microstigmata
About: Microstigmata is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3 publications have been published within this topic receiving 94 citations.
Papers
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The African Microstigmatidae, all Microstigmata, are revised and predictions implicit in the familial cladogram of Platnick & Forster (1982) are tested and corroborated.
Abstract: The African Microstigmatidae, all Microstigmata, are revised. Predictions implicit in the familial cladogram of Platnick & Forster (1982) are tested and corroborated. Six species of Microstigmata are recognised, including M. ukhahlamba sp. n., M. lawrencei sp. n., and M. amatola sp. n., and a cladogram is proposed. Vicariant distributional patterns among sister-taxa are related to historical geographic barriers. A minimum age of late Miocene to early Pliocene is suggested for Microstigmata species.
37 citations
TL;DR: A survey of ground living spiders was conducted over a year period (1992-1993) at Ngome State Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Abstract: As part of the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) inventories are underway to determine the arachnid biodiversity of various biomes. Asurvey of groundliving spiders was conducted over a year period (1992-1993) at Ngome State Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Spiders were collected with 180 pitfall traps from five different habitat types ranging from indigenous forest to a pine plantation and grassland. A total of 186 specimens of the rare Mygalomorphae family Microstigmatidae were sampled, representing 2 % of the total spider fauna collected during the study. Two species, Microstigmata longipes (Lawrence) and M. zuluensis (Lawrence), occur sympatrically. Both species were more active in the indigenous forest, and were absent or present in low numbers in the open grass and pine plantation. Microstigmata zuluensis was slightly more abundant (59 % of total) and was recorded from three of the five habitats, while M. longipes (41 %) was found in four of the habitat types. Both species were active throughout the year with the lowest numbers recorded in winter (June to August). The males of M. longipes peaked in November while those of M. zuluensis peaked in April.
9 citations
TL;DR: The area cladogram is hard to reconcile with historical scenarios involving primarily dispersal or Pleistocene vicariance events, and a Mesozoic origin for parts of the biogeographic pattern for afromontane spiders is possible.
Abstract: The application of cladistic data is seen as crucial to answering questions regarding the definition, mode of origin and age of historical biogeographic patterns. From the cladograms and distributional data for four groups of afromontane spiders [Microstigmata (Microstigmatidae), the Moggridgea quercina group (Migidae), and the subfamilies Vidoleini and Phyxelidini (Amaurobiidae)] a set of nine disjunct areas of endemism is defined for African and Malagasy forests. Taxonlarea cladograms are combined through a parsimony method to produce a general area cladogram. General conclusions are: (1) Madagascar is related to eastern Africa and/or eastern South Africa rather than being the sister area to all of Africa; (2) eastern South Africa shows affinities with tropical Africa rather than with the nearby Cape region; (3) the Cape region of South Africa is highly distinctive; and (4) the area cladogram is hard to reconcile with historical scenarios involving primarily dispersal or Pleistocene vicariance events, and a Mesozoic origin for parts of the biogeographic pattern for afromontane spiders is possible.
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 |