New species and cladistic reanalysis of the spider genus Monapia (Araneae, Anyphaenidae, Amaurobioidinae)

The known range of the South American genus Monapia, previously known only from temperate South American forests, is expanded to central and eastern Argentina and Uruguay. A monophyletic group of five species with spinose forelegs is proposed, including M. angusta, newly transferred from Arachosia, plus four new species: M. charrua, M. guenoana, M. fierro and M. carolina. One new species, in. tandil (from Buenos Aires Province), is proposed to be the sister group of Monapia vittata. A data matrix with 43 characters for the 13 species of the genus (plus 9 amaurobioidine outgroups) was cladistically analyzed. Although relationships among species are mostly resolved, the basal phylogeny of the genus remains unclear. The previous hypothesis of relationships of Monapia alupuran is unsupported in this new analysis. Additional records are given for M. lutea and M. dilaticollis.