Integrative species delimitation and five new species of lynx spiders (Araneae, Oxyopidae) in Taiwan

An accurate assessment of species diversity is a cornerstone of biology and conservation. The lynx spiders (Araneae: Oxyopidae) represent one of the most diverse and widespread cursorial spider groups, however their species richness in Asia is highly underestimated. In this study, we revised the species diversity with extensive taxon sampling in Taiwan and explored species boundaries based on morphological traits and genetic data using a two-step approach of molecular species delimitation. Firstly, we employed a single COI dataset and applied two genetic distance-based methods: ABGD and ASPA, and two topology-based methods: GMYC and bPTP. Secondly, we further analyzed the lineages that were not consistently delimited, incoporated H3 to the dataset for a coalescent-based analysis using BP&P. A total of eight morphological species were recognized, including five new species, Hamataliwa cordivulva sp. nov., Hamat. lepusauris sp. nov., Tapponia auriola sp. nov., T. parvum sp. nov. and T. rarobulbus sp. nov., and three newly recorded species, Hamadruas hieroglyphica (Thorell, 1887), Hamat. Foveata Tang & Li, 2012 and Peucetia latikae Tikader, 1970. All eight morphological species exhibited reciprocally monophyletic lineages. The results of molecular-based delimitation analyses suggested a variety of species hypotheses which did not fully corresponding to the eight morphological species. We found that Hamat. cordivulva sp. nov. and Hamat. foveata showed shallow genetic differentiation in the COI, but they were unequivocally distinguishable according to their genitalia. In contrast, T. parvum sp. nov. represented a deep divergent lineage, while the difference of genitalia did not detected. This study highlights the need to comprehensively employ multiple evidences and methods to delineate species boundaries and the values of diagnostic morphological characters for taxonomic studies in lynx spiders.