Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 4 deserves special mention. Most of the th 17 International Congress of 168 species described in this work are Arachnology well documented and recognisable with the original illustrations. São Pedro, São Paulo (Brazil) Modern taxonomic studies of 5-10 August 2007 Australian Salticidae emerged 35 years ago. Proszynski (1971) catalogued http://www.ib.usp.br/~ricrocha/ISA17/ISA.htm salticid type material from major collections worldwide and verified the generic status of some of the species. The same author produced a two-volume atlas of diagnostic drawings (Proszynski 1984, 1987) and a catalogue (Proszynski 1990), all three of them eventually amalgamated into an online world catalogue of the Salticidae (Proszynski 2003). Davies and Zabka (1989) published a key to the 50 Australian genera of Salticidae with diagnoses and remarks on some species of uncertain taxonomic status. The interactive CD- Rom Spiders of Australia by Raven et al. (2002) was one of the latest contributions to include jumping spiders. Jumping spider (Araneae, In the last 20 years nearly 140 new Salticidae) taxonomy and species and 14 genera were described biogeography in Australia: (see Richardson and Zabka 2003; current state and future bibliography below), most of them by myself (9 genera and 109 species) and by prospects F.R. Wanless (4 genera and 25 species). Marek Zabka, Academy of Podlasie, Thus, the current list of Australian Siedlce, Poland, email: jumping spiders comprises 355 species in [email protected] 76 genera (8 of which are doubtful) (Richardson & Zabka 2003; Zabka, The history of Australian jumping unpublished data). These numbers, spider (Salticidae) research started in the however, are far from complete. Recent mid 19th century and resulted in a number field research and a review of major of papers, most of them by Karsch, C.L. Australian collections suggest an Koch, L. Koch, Keyserling, Simon and estimate of close to a thousand species Thorell. Of the early works (for a (Zabka, unpublished data). This estimate complete listing see Roewer (1955) and is based on pre-and post-revision species Bonnet (1955-1959)), the monumental numbers of some better-studied genera, Die Arachniden Australiens by L. Koch for example Holoplatys (7 and 37 species (1871-1881) and Keyserling (1881-1890) respectively) (Zabka 1991). Similar Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 5 numbers were confirmed for the Astieae salticid faunas worldwide. Julianne (Wanless 1988), Lycidas (Zabka 1987), Waldock (Western Australian Museum, Simaetha (Zabka 1994), Ocrisiona (Zabka Perth) is revising Maratus (over 20 1990) and Afraflacilla (Zabka 1993b). species) and the Lycidas chrysomelas- group (currently 17 species), while B. Recent major advances in salticid Richardson’s (CSIRO, Canberra) taxonomy in Australia were made taxonomic studies focus on revisions of possible by comprehensive biodiversity Prostheclina (in collaboration with myself) surveys conducted in particular by the and Servaea. Michael Rix (Western Australian Museum (Sydney), the Australian Museum, Perth) described the Queensland Museum (Brisbane) and the monotypic genus Judalana and some Western Australian Museum (Perth). follow-up projects in collaboration with These surveys resulted in copious and myself are currently being undertaken diverse material, mostly collected by [Editors comment: Sara Ceccarelli pitfall trapping (a method not applied by revised some species of the ant-mimicing early collectors). Some previously genus Myrmarachne as part of her Ph.D. unknown or rare genera such as Tauala, studies, see abstract on page 11]. Sondra, Pseudosynagelides, Zebraplatys and Paraplatoides proved quite common. Taxonomic research on Salticidae Not surprisingly, the richest taxonomic suffers from difficulties in relation to the data are available for areas near major uniformity and simplicity of the genitalia centres of arachnological research and and large intraspecific variation in those areas subject to their research morphological characters. Wayne activities (Richardson et al. 2006). In Maddison (University of British Columbia, contrast, some inland areas and most Vancouver) and co-workers showed that parts of topical Western Australia and the some systematic problems, mostly at the Northern Territory are still extremely family and genus level, could be solved poorly studied. employing molecular techniques (Maddison 1996, Hedin and Maddison Few scientific institutions currently 2001, Maddison and Hedin 2003). conduct taxonomic projects on Australian Salticidae. Barbara Patoleta, J. Modern biogeographical research that Gardzinska and myself work on the included Australian salticids was initiated genera Opisthoncus (some 30 species), by Main (1981a, 1981b, 1982). Cosmophasis (more than 20 new species Subsequent analyses based on more from Australia alone), Cytaea and on the complete data sets (including adjacent subfamily Dioleninae at the Academy of areas such as New Guinea, Fiji, New Podlasie (Siedlce, Poland). Our research Caledonia, and New Zealand) were also includes New Guinea, Fiji and New presented by Zabka (1990, 1991, 1993a), Caledonia. Dmitri Logunov (University of Zabka et al. (2002), Zabka and Patoleta Manchester) is working on the “Neon” (2004), Patoleta (2002) and Proszynski group, which actually comprises a (1996). Some aspects of island number of genera. The relationships biogeography were studied by Patoleta between representatives of Neon from the and Zabka (1999). Southern and Northern Hemispheres may Patterns of salticid distribution based be crucial for understanding the origin of on biotic and climatic parameters were Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 6 discussed by Richardson et al. (2006), while Harvey et al. (2000) and Churchill (1996, 1999) presented interesting contributions to the ecology and regional biogeography of spiders (including Salticidae) in Australia. Due to its long-term isolation and evolution of unique climates and biota, the Australian salticid fauna is highly diverse and many taxa represent endemic “prisoners” of the continent with only limited abilities to colonise more or less distant areas such as New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji or New Zealand (Zabka 1993a, Zabka et al. 2002, Patoleta 2002). No significant links to other southern (post-Gondwanan) faunas have so far been established, although very little research has been conducted on the fauna of Nothofagus and other wet temperate forest, especially in southern parts of the continent and Tasmania. Suggested future research directions Photo: Megalastia mainae Zabka, 1995 1. Many areas of central, northern from the Mitchell Plateau, Kimberleys and western Australia are still blank (Western Australia). These salticids are spots from taxonomic, ecological and large; the male holotype has legs ranging biogeographical perspectives. from 29.5 – 45mm! 2. The study of Nothofagus forests Photo: Jiri Lochman (via J.M. Waldock) and other temperate rainforests may shed a new light on the origins of the Australian salticid fauna. Bibliography and suggested reading 3. The analysis of (micro) habitats, Bonnet P. 1955. Bibliographia Araneorum. biotic and climatic parameters may 2(1). Les Frères Douladoure, contribute to the knowledge on the Toulouse, 1-918. evolution of the fauna in the last 45 million years. Bonnet P. 1956. Bibliographia Araneorum. 4. Some large and difficult genera 2(2). Les Frères Douladoure, such as “Neon”, Servaea, “Lycidas” Toulouse, 919-1926. or Clynotis require revision, as their Bonnet P. 1957. Bibliographia Araneorum. affinities may be important for 2(3). Les Frères Douladoure, understanding the history of the Toulouse, 1927-3026. Australian fauna. Australasian Arachnology No. 76 Page 7 Bonnet P. 1958. Bibliographia Araneorum. Harvey M.S., Sampey A., West P.L.J. 2(4). Les Frères Douladoure, and Waldock J.M. 2000. Toulouse, 3027-4230. Araneomorph spiders from the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Bonnet P. 1959. Bibliographia Araneorum. Australia: a consideration of 2(5). Les Frères Douladoure, biogeographic relationships. Records Toulouse, 4231-5058. of the Western Australian Museum Churchill T.B. 1996. Coastal heathland Supplement 61, 295-321. spiders: spatial distribution and Hedin M.C. and Maddison W.P. 2001. A biogeographic significance. Records combined molecular approach to of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art phylogeny of the jumping spider Gallery 103, 151-158. subfamily Dendryphantinae (Araneae, Churchill T.B. 1999. Measuring spider Salticidae). Molecular Phylogenetics richness: effects of different sampling and Evolution 18, 386-403. methods and spatial and temporal Koch, L. (1871-1881). Die Arachniden scales. Journal of Insect Conservation Australiens. Nach der Natur 3, 287-295. beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume Davies T.V. and Zabka M. 1989. 1. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. 1- Illustrated keys to the genera of 1271. jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) Keyserling, E. 1881-1883. Die Arachniden in Australia. Memoirs of the Australiens. Nach der Natur Queensland Museum 27, 189-266. beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume Gardzinska J. 1996. New species and 1. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. records of Astieae (Araneae: 1272-1489. Salticidae) from Australia and Papua Keyserling, E. 1886-1890. Die Arachniden New Guinea. Memoirs of the Australiens. Nach der Natur Queensland Museum 39, 297-305. beschrieben und abgebildet. Volume Gardzinska J. 2006. A revision of the 2. Bauer und Raspe, Nürnberg, pp. spider genus Ohilimia Strand, 1911 87-274. (Araneae: