The tetragnathid spider genus Orsinome is presently recognized by 17 species, mostly known from Asian tropics, many with singular records and restricted distribution. Although a valid genus, its diagnostic characters have remained unedited since over 120 years. Within the exponentially growing spider phylogenies, this genus has a very poor representation in evolutionary studies. I am revising this genus, delimiting its diagnostic characters and describing detailed morphological characters. A dated phylogeny using six genomic loci and morphology will be used to infer the monophyly of this genus, its relationships within the sub-family Leucauginae and other tetragnathids. Using this phylogeny, I will also reconstruct ancestral area to trace the past dispersal and/or vicariance events that have define the present distribution of Orsinome species. This study will improve our understanding about why some arachnid species in a genus have restricted distribution over other widely distributed species.
Systematics and biogeography of the leucaugine spider genus Orsinome (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)
