Revisiting evolutionary relationships of Antrodiaetus (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Antrodiaetidae) using phylogenomics; implications for species diversity and biogeography of a persistent Holarctic lineage

[Display omitted] •UCEs provide robust, well-supported phylogeny of Antrodiaetus evolution.•Previous cryptic diversity hypotheses confirmed; new undescribed diversity revealed.•Morphological conservatism confounds taxonomy, systematics.•UCE data suggests a Palearctic invasion for A. yesoensis; Holarctic generic origin.•We propose phylogeographic hypotheses for low dispersal Nearctic taxa. Antrodiaetus is a lineage of mygalomorph spider (Mygalomorphae: Antrodiaetidae) that has persisted since the late Cretaceous and has a disjunct Holarctic distribution and strong morphological conservatism. These folding-door spiders possess a life history (i.e., limited dispersal, conserved environmental niche) that closely ties their evolution to geology. This study produces a robust, well-supported phylogenomic inference of all currently recognized Antrodiaetus species using UCEs (Ultraconserved Elements), corroborates previous biogeographical hypotheses, and proposes new hypotheses about diversification patterns. We also confirm that previously suspected cryptic diversity within A. pacificus is underestimated, as this nominal species comprises multiple divergent and cryptic lineages. Our phylogeny now serves as a foundation for understanding Antrodiaetus species relationships, biogeography, and speciation.