REVSYS: Systematics and taxonomy of the tarantula spider genus Aphonopelma (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae)

蜘蛛科，通常被称为‘狼蛛’，是包括陷门蜘蛛和漏斗网蜘蛛在内的一群蜘蛛中最多样化的一种。狼蛛是世界上最大的蜘蛛，可以活30多年，有着臭名昭著的名声。尽管它们的多样性和恶名远播，但治疗性蜘蛛的研究相对较少。狼蛛的分类一团糟，被广泛认为是一场分类和命名的噩梦；该科的成员在形态上相似，分类单元仅基于一个或几个标本描述，很少有研究采取基于进化的分类方法。在这个REVsys项目中，Jason Bond和Brent Hendrixson将实施一项为期三年的计划，通过解决最多样化(90个物种)和最接近家园的Ahonopelma属来刺激治疗用药系统学的复兴。作为这项研究的一部分，他们将使用多种类型的特征证据(形态和分子)，通过进化、生物地理和阿尔法分类学修订来增强Ahonopelma属的生物多样性文献，开发在线分类检索表和工具，通过在北美和中美洲进行广泛的田野调查来收集稀有蜘蛛，并培训学生进行基础生物多样性研究。培训下一代分类学和有机学专业知识形成了贯穿该项目研究努力的一条主线。教育目标将是为学生提供治疗药物系统学的全面培训，包括研究解决系统学、生物多样性保护和进化生物学中的基本概念问题。该项目的计算机化和外展目标将大大提高治疗药物多样性的普遍可及性，并提高这些蜘蛛对普通公众的能见度。最后，狼蛛独特的生活史特征，加上它们在全球生物多样性热点地区的广泛分布，使其成为与保护相关的研究和评估的理想模式。

The spider family Theraphosidae, commonly referred to as 'tarantulas', is the most diverse lineage among a group of spiders that includes trapdoor and funnel web spiders. Tarantulas are the world's largest spiders, can live for over 30 years and have decidedly infamous reputations. Despite their diversity and notoriety, theraphosid spiders are relatively understudied. The classification of tarantulas is in shambles and is widely regarded as 'a taxonomic and nomenclatural nightmare'; members of the family are morphologically similar, taxa have been described on the basis of only one or few specimens, and few studies have taken an evolution-based approach to classification. In this REVSYS project Jason Bond and Brent Hendrixson will carry out a three-year plan to stimulate a renaissance in theraphosid systematics by tackling the most diverse (90 species) and 'close to home' genus, Aphonopelma. As part of this study they will employ multiple types of character evidence (morphological and molecular) to enhance biodiversity documentation of the genus Aphonopelma through evolutionary, biogeographic, and alpha-taxonomic revisions, develop online taxonomic keys and tools, collect rare spiders through extensive fieldwork in North and Central America, and train students in basic biodiversity research.Training the next generation of taxonomic and organismal expertise forms a thread that runs through this project's research endeavors. The educational goal will be to provide students comprehensive training in theraphosid systematics that involves research addressing fundamental conceptual issues in systematics, biodiversity conservation, and evolutionary biology. The computerization and outreach objectives of this project will greatly enhance general accessibility to theraphosid diversity and increase the visibility of these spiders to the general public. Finally, the unique life history characteristics of tarantulas, coupled with their extensive distribution throughout global biodiversity hotspots, makes this group an ideal model for conservation related studies and assessments.