Resolving the tribal classification of Lechia Żabka, 1985 (Araneae: Salticidae) utilizing UCE phylogenomics and morphology
Understanding shallow-level relationships throughout the Tree of Life is crucial for resolving taxonomic uncertainties and elucidating evolutionary processes. Regardless of important advances within the deep-level phylogenetics of leaping spiders, many shallow-level relationships stay poorly understood, as exemplified by the widespread Southeast Asian genus Lechia Żabka, 1985. The phylogenetic placement of this genus is unsure, compounded by the shortage of a proper male description for its sort species, Lechia squamata Żabka, 1985. On this research, we current the primary formal description of the male of L. squamata, bettering the morphological prognosis of this genus and resulting in the proposal of two new synonyms: Phintelloides manipur Caleb, 2020 syn. nov. and P. scandens Deeleman-Reinhold, Addink & Miller, 2024 syn. nov. To make clear the phylogenetic placement of Lechia, we reconstructed phylogenies utilizing each phylogenomic (ultraconserved components, UCE) and Sanger datasets. The UCE phylogeny offered well-supported spine relationships, whereas the Sanger dataset maximized the taxonomic protection of Lechia and associated genera by integrating COI and 28S sequences extracted in silico from the UCE knowledge with out there GenBank sequences. Each phylogenetic and comparative morphological proof strongly assist the location of Lechia throughout the tribe Chrysillini, intently associated to the genera Phintelloides Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2019 and Proszynskia Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2019. Moreover, our analyses validate the location of Heliophanoides and Nandicius inside Chrysillini, corroborating earlier morphology-based classifications.
