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The following spider taxa (order Araneida) in Upper (Mid) Cretaceous Burmese (Kachin) amber (Burmite), 100-110 million years old, are described: (1) Suborder CHIMERARACHNIDA: Chimerarachnidae: Chimerarachne patrickmueller n. sp., C. alexbeigel n. sp. and C. spiniflagellum n. sp.; (2) Suborder ARANEAE: Scytodidae: ?Scytodes nonalta n. sp.; Tetrablemmidae: Electroblemma retroflectum n. sp., Kachinblemma constrictum n. gen. n. sp.; Uloboridae: Parakachin pectunculus n. gen. n. sp.; Protoaraneoididae: Spinipalpitibia occulta n. sp.; Megasetidae: Parvimegasetae araneoidea n. gen. n. sp.; ?Mysmenidae: Myanmarmysmena grandipalpus n. gen. n. sp.; Nanoaenigmatidae n. fam.: Nanoaenigma pumilio n. gen. n. sp.; Zarqaraneidae: Curvitibia pellucidus n. sp., ?Cornicaraneus unuspedipalpus n. sp., Gibberaraneoid furcula n. gen. n. sp. - Parachimerarachne WUNDERLICH 2022 is regarded as a junior synonym of Chimerarachne WANG et al. (2018) (n. syn.). Ideas regarding phylogeny and relationships of the suborder Chimerarachnida - including a revised diagnosis and the new term METACYMBIUM -, as well as of the high taxa Araneae, Araneida, Araneoidea and the symphytognathidan branch are presented. - The Cretaceous taxa represent a remarkable and unique MIX OF TAXA PRESERVED IN AMBER OF THE SAME DEPOSIT: (1) Both suborders of spiders (Araneae and Chimerarachnida), (2) the high branches Mesothelae, Mygalomorpha and Araneomorpha, and (3) ancestors of the RTA-clade as well as members of the very large branches Araneoidea, Deinopoidea and Synspermiata. - The present fossils offer keys (a) to the phylogeny of spiders (Araneida), and (b) to the knowledge of the origin(s) of the orb web; see the paper on extant spiders of the Algarve in this volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasons for the high rate of extinction of spider (Araneae) families - 27 of ca. 48 = 56 % - in Burmese amber are discussed and compared with the rates of other arachnid orders and with certain orders of insects. The high extinction rate of the Araneae is regarded as possibly connected with the CT (K-Pg) boundary events which caused enormous global changes - of the ecology, the geology, the climate, the fauna and the flora - as well as with the rapid and late (Palaeogene) diversification of the advanced araneomorph spiders of the Dipneumonomorpha (namely the Araneoidea and the RTA-clade) after the CT boundary events during probably only less than 15 million years. Although the members of the RTA-clade and most families of the Araneoidea were absent, the diversity of families of the Burmese amber forest was higher than the diversity of certain tropical rain forests in southwest China today in which the Synspermiata are underrepresented and members of the RTA-clade are overrepresented in contrast to the fauna in Burmite in which the RTA-clade is absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emended classification and cladograms of high taxa of the Aeaneae are provided. Ca. 48 families of spiders (Araneae) in Mid Cretaceous Burmese amber are listed; the report of the families Atypidae, Idiopidae and Ochyroceratidae is doubtful. The spiders of the Infraorder MYGALOMORPHA are treated, a provisional key to its families is given. The 9 superfamilies of the diverse clade SYNSPERMIATA are diagnosed, 20 families, 11 are known in Burmite, 5 are extinct. Synspermiata contains the three subclades Caponiomorpha, Dysderomorpha and Pholcomorpha. Ca. three quarters of haplogyne families in Burmite are members of the Synspermiata. I call the Cretaceous the "age of Synspermiata and Palpimanoidea (= Archaeoidea)". The colulate and basically eight-eyed Synspermiata is actually not any more regarded as sister group of the family Filistatidae but of the clade CRIBELLATAE in a new sense which includes several diverse branches. Hence the name Basalhaplogynae WUNDERLICH 2019 is superfluous (name rejected). In my opinion the cribellum originated only once. The taxon Microsegestriinae WUNDERLICH 2004 (under Segestriidae) in Lebanese amber is now regarded as a questionable member of the superfamily Dysderoidea, probably Oonopidae (quest. n. relat.). Segestrioidea is split off from the Dysderoidea and contains three families. The family Ariadnidae WUNDERLICH 2004 (n. stat., elevated from Ariadninae) is unknown in Burmite. Jordansegestria WUNDERLICH 2015 with its generotype J. detruneo in Jordanian amber is regarded as a synonym of Parvosegestria WUNDERLICH 2015 of the new family Parvosegestriidae (n. syn. & n. relat.), based on Parvosegestria WUNDERLICH 2015. The genus Denticulsegestria WUNDERLICH 2015 is regarded as a synonym of Parvosegestria (n. syn.). The synonymy of Myansegestria WUNDERLICH 2015 with Parvosegestria is not excluded (n. quest. syn.). Magnosegestria tuber n. gen. n. sp. - a questionable member of the Segestriidae - in Burmite is described. The holotype of Magnosegestria tuber is considered to be the prey of a mygalomorph spider. Burmorsolidae WUNDERLICH 2015 (n. stat.) (from Burmorsolini) is transferred from the Plumorsolidae to the new superfamily Burmorsoloidea (n. relat.). With some hesitation the extant family Trogloraptoridae GRISWOLD et al. 2012 from Noth America is regarded as related to the Burmorsolidae (quest. n. relat.). Loxodercinae WUNDERLICH 2017 has previously been transferred from the family Eopsilodercidae WUNDERLICH 2008 to the Segestriidae: Segestriinae but is now regarded as a synonym of the Burmorsolidae (n. syn.). Burmorsolidae (under Burmorosolini) has erroneously been described by WUNDERLICH (2015) as a member of the family Plumorsolidae WUNDERLICH 2008. Plumorsolidae is known in Lebanese amber but is unknown in Burmese amber. This family is now regarded as a plesion, probably of the branch Dipneumonomorpha: Oecobioidea? (quest. n. relat.). Plumorsolidae in the previous sense of WUNDERLICH is not a monophyletic taxon: Loxoderces WUNDERLICH 2017 and Pseudorsolus WUNDERLICH 2017 are regarded as junior synonyms of Burmorsolus WUNDERLICH 2015 (n. syn.) of the family Burmorsolidae. - The relationships of the family Copaldictynidae WUNDERLICH 2004 n. stat. of the new taxon Agelenomorpha in subrecent COPAL FROM MADAGASCAR is revised and regarded as related to the extant families Titanoecidae and Nicodamidae of the Nicodamoidea (n. relat.). - The following FURTHER NEW TAXA are described (Burmorsoloidea and Segestrioidea: See above): Ctenizidae: Parvocteniza parvula n. gen. n. sp.; Nemesiidae: Burmesia sordida n. gen. n. sp., Myannemesia glaber n. gen. n. sp.; Theraphosidae: Protertheraphosinae n. subfam. based on Protertheraphosa spinosa n. gen. n. sp.; Oonopidae: Burmorchestina circular n. sp.; Burmorsolidae: Burmorsolus: globosus n. sp., longembolus n. sp. and longibulbus n. sp.; Eopsilodercidae: Propterpsiloderces crassitibia n. sp., P. cymbioseta n. sp., P. duplex n. sp.; Psilodercidae: Priscaleclercera furcate n. sp., P. hamo n. sp., P. liber n. sp.; the family Aliendiguetidae n. fam., a plesion probably close to the Ochyroceratoidea and Plectreuroidea, based on Aliendiguetia praecursor n. gen. n. sp.; Praepholcidae n. stat., from Eopsilodercidae: Praepholcinae: Hamoderces opilionoides n. gen. n. sp.; Tetrablemmidae: Bicornoculus granulans n. sp., Cymbioblemma fusca n. sp., C. hamoembolus n. sp., Electroblemma bifurcate n. sp., E. caula n. sp., E. pinnae n. sp., Eogamasomorpha rostratis n. sp., Unicornutiblemma n. gen., U. brevicornis n. gen., U. gracilicornis n. sp., U. longicornis n. sp.; Hersiliidae: ?Burmesiola kachinensis n. sp.; Archaeidae: ?Burmesarchea bilongapophyses n. sp.; Pholcochyroceridae: Spinicreber vacuus n. sp.; Praearaneidae: Praearaneus araneoides n. sp.; Zarqaraneidae: Palazarqaraneus hamulus n. gen. n. sp., Paurospina fastigata n. sp. ?Baalzebub mesozoicum PENNEY 2014 from the Late Cretaceous OF FRANCE (under Theridiosomatidae) is transferred to the family Zarqaraneidae (n. relat.) and regarded as the member of an undescribed genus. - A note on Burmese Tilin amber is added. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basal branchings of spider evolution are treated, based on selected characters of extinct and extant taxa. The orders Uraraneida (extinct) and Araneida (in a new sense) have been united in the superorder Serikodiastida by GARWOOD & DUNLOP 2014. A strongly modified classification of the order Araneida is presented, including the extinct order Chimerarachnida WUNDERLICH 2018, based on the Chimerarachnidae n. fam., and its sister suborder, the Araneae. The taxon Araneae is used in the traditional sense; it includes all Araneida (except the Chimerarachnida): The suborders Mesothelae and Opisthothelae, see fig. A. Opisthothelae includes (a) the Basalhaplogynae (Synspermiata - e. g. Dysderidae and Pholcidae - and Filistatidae) and (b) its sister group, the Neocribellatae (new sense): The Hypochilidae and its sister group, the "Praeentelegyne" (new name): The Austrochiloidea and its sister group, the Dipneumonomorpha (= Entelegynae): All the remining taxa like Archaeidae, Oecobiidae, Araneidae and taxa of the RTA-clade (e.g. Lycosidae and Salticidae). The taxon Cleistospermiata WUNDERLICH 2015 has to be deleted. - Further main ideas/results of this study regard the evolution of spiders: (1) The posterior pair of lungs was lost three times; (2) the anterior pair of median spinnerets were displaced two times by a cribellum (in the Neoribellatae and in the Filistatidae; a reversal is unknown to me) and were probably displaced DIRECTLY by a colulus in the Synspermiata which ancestor did not possess a cribellum; (3) the mediognath position of the basal cheliceral articles evolved at least three times separately: In the Mesothelae, within certain Mygalomorpha as well as in the Araneomorpha; (4) the labidognathy evolved two times: In the Basalhaplogynae and in the Dipneumonomorpha. - The phylogeny of the Mesothelae is discussed, the translocation of the spinnerets in the anterior direction during the evolution of the Mesothelae is documented by fossils. The diagnoses of the Mesothelae and of certain spider families have to be strongly modified if fossil taxa are included and mainly apomorphic characters are used. The Cretaceous mesothelid new family Eomesothelidae - based on Eomesothele noninclinata n. gen. n. sp. - and the probably confamiliar Intermesiothele pulcher n. gen. n. sp. are described. Notes are given on faunistic changes, relic and extinct taxa, as well as additions and corrections regarding vol. 11 (2018) of the Beitr. Araneol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently discovered connecting („missing") links in Mid Cretaceous Burmese amber provide significant insight deep into the phylogeny of certain higher taxa of spiders (Araneae: Araneomorpha). It is assumed that the Jurassic and Cretaceous cribellate superfamily Pholcochyroceroidea (Mongolarachnidae and Pholcochyroceridae) may play a „key role" in understanding the phylogeny of the Deinopoidea and probably of other superfamilies. The origin of the spider superfamily Araneoidea is discussed; its origin and the - probably DOUBLE - ORIGIN OF THE ORB WEB may be better understandable with the help of Cretaceous fossils: According to the existence of a large and erect paracymbium the extinct new families Protoaraneoididae and Zarqaraneidae may connect the superfamilies Leptonetoidea and Araneoidea as „missing links" and the basically cribellate superfamily Leptonetoidea is considered to be the sister group of the Araneoidea (fig. C) (rev. diagn.). If so the orb web should have evolved in the Araneoidea independently to the Deinopoidea; "Orbiculariae" is regarded to be only a descriptive but not a taxonomic term. The Cretaceous eighteyed extinct leptonetoid families Praeterleptonetidae (n. diagn.) (ecribellate, the genera Praeterleptoneta and Palaeohygropoda) and Protoaraneoididae n. fam. (cri bellate, 4 genera) are regarded as (near) the sister group of the six-eyed Leptonetidae + Telemidae (fig. B). - Based on recently identified Cretaceous fossils the symphytognathoid branch - they include the families Theridiosomatidae (most probably Cretaceous - but not known in Burmite) and the extinct Cretaceous new family Cretamysmenidae - are regarded to be part of the sister group of the Araneidae and its relatives. These derived orb weaving taxa are considered to be the sister group of the Linyphioid branch + the Spineless Femur Clade, which build irregular capture webs - like their ancestor of/near the leptonetoid branch, see fig. C - but did never possess an orb web. - The new findings in Cretaceous spider taxa turn out to be in strong contrast to most phylogenomic results. It is suggested that no sure Mesozoic proof of the Linyphioid branch exist. To my recent knowledge these families have to be removed from the Mesozoic fauna (like all taxa of the RTA-clade), but taxa of the spineless femur-clade (Cretamysmenidae and Theridiidae) in Burmite are known. Few taxa in Burmite are discussed as predecessors or even basal members of the RTA-clade. - SYONOMYMY, NEW RELAT. and NEW STAT.: The Jurassic genus Zhizhu SELDEN et al. (2016) is supposed to be a member of the family Mongolarachnidae, probably closely related to the Juraraneidae and both may be members of the Pholcochyroceroidea. The subfamily Loxodercinae WUNDERLICH 2017 of the Eopsilodercidae is transferred to the Segestriidae SIMON 1893 (n. rel..) and regarded as a tribe of the Segestriinae (n. relat. & n. stat.). The extinct taxon Palaeoleptonetinae WUNDERLICH 2012 (Leptonetidae) in Burmite is downgraded to the level of a tribe - Palaeoleptonetini (n. stat.) - of the Leptonetinae; a functioning cribellum is apparently absent in this tribe. - The following NEW TAXA in Mid Cretaceous Burmite are described: (a) PHOLCOCHYROCEROIDEA: Pholcochyroceridae: Parvibulbus incompletus n. gen. n. sp., Pholcochyrocer calidum n. sp. and P. vermiculus n. sp.; (b) DEINOPOIDEA: Alteruloboridae n. fam. including Alteruloborus araneoidea n. gen. n. sp., Fraterteruloboridae n. fam. including Frateruloborus bulbosus n. gen. n. sp. and Uloboridae: Burmasuccinus bulla n. gen. n. sp., Kachin serratus n. sp., Paramiagrammopes pusillus n. sp., Eotibiaoapophysini n. trib. (questionable member of the Uloboridae) with Eotibiaapophysis reliquus n. gen. n. sp. (c) LEPTONETOIDEA: Protoaraneoididae n. fam. including Protoaraneoides longispina n. gen. n. sp., Proaraneoides cribellatum n. gen. n. sp., Praeteraraneoides bifurcatum n. gen. n. sp., P. bipartitum n. gen. n. sp., P. leni n. gen. n. sp., and Spinipalpitibia hirsuta n. sp.; Leptonetidae: Palaeoleptoneta nils n. sp. and P. thilo n. sp. (d) ARANEOIDEA: The tribe Biapophysini WUNDERLICH 2015 is regarded as a probable member (plesion) of the leptonetoid-araneoid branch. Zarqaraneidae: Crassitibia baculum n. sp. and the new genera Alteraraneus, Burmaforceps, Converszarqaraneus, Cornicaraneus, Microproxiaraneus, Paurospina, Proxiaraneus, Ramozarqaraneus and Spinicymbium. The family Burmascutidae WUNDERLICH 2008 is regarded as a member of the Araneoidea, probably related to the Araneidae, Burmascutum brevis n. sp. is described. Leviunguidae n. fam. is described with 12 n. sp. of Leviunguis WUNDERLICH 2012; Theridiidae: Cretotheridiinae WUNDERLICH 2017: Burmatheridion sinespinae n. gen. n. sp.; Cretamysmenidae n. fam. including Cretamysmena fontana n. gen. n. sp. of the symphytognathoid subbranch. - Keys are given, e. g., to the families of the superfamilies Araneoidea and Leptonetoidea in Burmese amber. Some Information concerning Cretaceous spiders (mainly in Burmite) - faunistics, behaviour, ecology and phylogeny - are given; a member each of the families Cyrtauceniidae or Nemesiida, Scytodidae and Theraphosidae (new to the fauna in Burmese amber) are reported but not described in detail or named. The taxonomical value of the leg autotomy is shortly discussed. Remains of the oldest known orb webs - of cribellate spiders - are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New results on spider's evolution, extinctions, palaeofaunas, palaeogeography, palaeobehaviour, palaeoecology and phylogeny are dealt with. The composition of the Cretaceous spider fauna - at least 35 families are reported - indicates a global change of this fauna, and probably the most pronounced revolution of spider evolution and diversification, which could have happened during the Palaeocene. The KT events caused a distinct faunal cut in spiders: 16 of the families in Burmite are extinct. - Probably (a taxon near) the sister group of the diverse superfamily Araneoidea has been found within fossil spiders in Burmite: the new cribellate family Praearaneidae. I do not want to exclude that the branch which includes Burmadictynidae n. fam. + Salticoididae may be the sister to the superfamilies Araneoidea + Deinopoidea. - The results of phylogenomics are partly not in accord with findings concerning fossil spiders. - The following fossil spider (Araneae) TAXA in Mid Cretaceous Burmite are described/treated: (a) MESOTHELAE: BURMATHELIDAE n. fam.: Burmathele biseriata n. gen. n. sp.; CRETACEOTHELIDAE n. fam.: Cretaceothele lata WUNDERLICH 2015; PARVITHELIDAE n. fam.: Parvithele muelleri n. gen. n. sp., Parvithele spinipes n. gen. n. sp. and Pulvillothele haupti n. gen. n. sp. The extant families Liphistiidae and Heptathelidae are regarded as families of their own but not as subfamilies and are unknown from fossils. Mainly the oldest fossil Mesothelae need a revision. A provisional chronocladogram of the higher extinct and extant taxa as well as notes on the historical biogeography and the evolution of the Mesothelae are given. (b) OPISTHOTHELAE: Mygalomorpha: DIPLURIDAE: Cethegoides patricki n. gen. n. sp.; HEXATHELIDAE: Alioatrax incertus n. gen. n. sp. - Araneomorpha: SEGESTRIIDAE; PLUMORSOLIDAE: Pseudorsolus n. gen.; OONOPIDAE: Orchestiniinae: Burmorchestina acuminata n. sp., B. biangulata n. sp., B. plana n. sp., B. pulcher WUNDERLICH 2008, B. pulcheroides n. sp., B. tuberosa n. sp.; TETRABLEMMIDAE: Brignoliblemma bizarre n. gen. n. sp., B. nala n. gen. n. sp., B. paranala n. gen. n. sp., Cymbioblemma corniger n. gen. n. sp., Electroblemma bifida SELDEN et al. 2016, Eogamasomorpha ?clara WUNDERLICH 2015, E. hamata n. sp., ?E. unicornis n. sp., ?E. sp. with its capture web, Furcembolus crassitibia n. sp., F. grossa n. sp., F. longior n. sp., Longissithorax myanmarensis n. gen. n. sp., Longithorax furca n. gen. n. sp., Palpalpaculla pulcher n. gen. n. sp.; EOPSILODERCIDAE: Eopsiloderces serenitas WUNDERLICH 2015, Praepholcinae n. subfam., Praepholcus huberi n. gen. n. sp., Loxodercinae n. subfam., Loxoderces longicymbium n. gen. n. sp., L. curvatus n. gen. n. sp., L. rectus n. gen. n. sp.; PSILODERCIDAE: Aculeatosoma pyritmutatio n. gen. n. sp., Priscaleclercera n. gen., P. paucispina n. gen. n. sp., P. brevispina n. gen. n. sp., P. spinata (DEELEMAN-REINHOLD 1995 n. comb. (extant), P. sexaculeata (WUNDERLICH 2015) n. comb.; PHOLCOCHYROCEROIDEA n. superfam.: MONGOLARACHNIDAE: Longissipalpus cochlea n. sp., L. magnus WUNDERLICH 2015, Pedipalparaneus seldeni WUNDERLICH 2015; PHOLCOCHYROCERIDAE: Pholcochyrocer altipecten n. sp.; Leptonetidae: Palaeoleptoneta crus n. sp.; TELEMIDAE: ?Telemophila crassifemoralis n. sp.; PRAETERLEPTONETIDAE: Autotomiana WUNDERLICH 2015 is transferred from the Praeterleptonetidae to the Pholcochyroceridae (n. relat.) ARCHAEIDAE: Burmesarchaea alissa n. sp., B. caudata n. sp., B. crassicaput n. sp., B. crassichaelae n. sp., B. gibber n. sp., B. gibberoides n. sp., B. grimaldii (PENNEY 2003), B. longicollum n. sp., B. propinqua n. sp., B. pseudogibber n. sp., B. pustulata n. sp., B. quadrata n. sp., B. speciosa (WUNDERLICH 2008) (n. comb.), Eomysmauchenius dubius n. sp., ?E. longissipes (WUNDERLICH 2015), E. septentrionalis n. sp.; Planarchaeini n. trib., Planarchaea kopp WUNDERLICH 2015, P. oblonga n. sp., P. ovata n. sp.; Filiauchenius WUNDERLICH 2008 ?= Planarchaea WUNDERLICH 2008 (questionable n. syn.), Lacunauchenius WUNDERLICH 2008 = Burmesarchaea WUNDERLICH 2008 (n. syn.), Lacunauchenius speciosus WUNDERLICH 2008 (the type species) and L. pilosus WUNDERLICH 2015 are transferred to Burmesarchaea (n. comb.); LAGONOMEGOPIDAE: Albiburmops annulipes n. gen. n. sp., ?Parviburmops bigibber n. sp., ?Paxillomegops cornutus n. sp., Planimegops parvus n. gen. n. sp.; SPATIATORIDAE: Spatiatoridae indet.; VETIATORIDAE n. stat. (from Vetiatorinae of the Spatiatoridae): Pekkachilus vesica n. gen. n. sp. Vetiator gracilipes WUNDERLICH 2015; STENOCHILIDAE (extant); MICROPALPIMANIDAE: Micropalpimanus poinari WUNDERLICH 2008, PALPIMANIDAE: Chediminae indet.; OECOBIIDAE; ?DEINOPIDAE: Deinopedes tranquillus n. gen. n. sp.; BURMADICTYNIDAE n. fam.: Burmadictyna postcopula n. sp., Eodeinopis longipes n. gen. n. sp.; ULOBORIDAE: Furculoborus patellaris n. gen. n. sp., Kachin fruticosus n. gen. n. sp., K. fruticosoides n. gen. n. sp., Propterkachin magnooculus n. gen. n. sp.; PRAEARANEIDAE n. fam: Praearaneus bruckschi n. gen. n. sp.; THERIDIOSOMATIDAE; a quite questionable member indet. of the RTA-CLADE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finds of Mid Cretaceous South East Asian fossils of the spider suborder Mesothelae (Araneae) are compared with results of molecular genetical (e. g. mtDNA) investigations of extant spiders. The proof of these fossils contradict conclusions by molecular genetical studies and even may falsify these conclusions: The Mesothelae did not invade South East Asia in the Palaeogene for the first time but their members lived already in this region for million of years. Fossils possess a great importance regarding the historical biogeography, evolution and phylogeny: Based on the asiatic fossils an Euroamerican origin of the suborder Mesothelae appears quite doubtful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cretaceous families Hirsutisomidae n. fam. and Monooculricinuleidae n. fam. (Arachnida: Ricinulei: Suborder Primoricinulei WUNDERLICH 2015) in Burmese amber from Myanmar (Burma) are described including five new species of two genera: Hirsutisoma n. gen: acutiformis n. sp., bruckschi n. sp., denticulata n. sp., and Monooculricinuleus n. gen.: incisus n. sp. and semiglobolus n. sp. The first known fossil adult male of the order Ricinulei, a dwarf member of the genus Hirsutisoma is described. The relationships of ?Poliochera cretacea WUNDERLICH 2012 (suborder Posteriorricinulei) remain unsure. Findings of the fossil taxa provide new insight on the basic characters, the relationships, the evolution, the extinction, the life style, the behaviour and the biogeography of the order Ricinulei; a revised diagnosis of this order is given. The present fossils document examplarily the change of the life style during hundred million years in a whole arthropod order, the Ricinulei. Probably "modern" (post-mesozoic) spiders (Araneae) of the RTA-clade displaced/restricted the members of a whole arthropod order - the Ricinulei - to hidden species of a relict taxon of today. The taxonomy of the diverse Cretaceous Ricinulei remains not well-known but especially the Carboniferous ricinuleid taxa need a revision. Notes are given on the enigmatic Carboniferous genus Idmonarachne GARWOOD et al. 2016 - which is considered here to be probably a member of the order Trigonotarbida, not close to the order Araneae -, and on the Devonian genus Palaeocharinus HIRST 1923 (Trigonotarbida). It is not excluded that Ricinulei and Trigonotarbidae have to be united in a single order, the Trigonotarbida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of a pair of predatory fossil arachnids (Acari: Bdellidae and Araneae: Oonopidae: Orchestininae) in Mid Cretaceous Burmese amber is shortly described and discussed: A mite attacked, spun in and apparently sucked out an oonopid spider. This is the geologically oldest report of such a behaviour. These fossil arachnids demonstrate that spiders were the prey of mites already 100 million years ago, and a peculiar spinning ability and capturing behaviour of the family Bdellidae already existed at this time like in today's mites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Araneophagy by fossil spiders is shortly discussed. Reports of spider eating spiders (Araneae) are treated: (a) in Eocene Baltic amber: For the first time a member of the extinct family Spatiatoridae - a member of the mainly spider-feeding superfamily Archaeoidea - is described capturing a female of the spider family Synotaxidae. A member of the family Archaeidae capturing a female Theridiidae and a member of the family Mimetidae in the web of two Linyphiidae have previously been reported and are shortly repeated. (b) in Cretaceous amber (Burmite) a member of the extinct family Lagonomegopidae (Archaeoidea) is described which has been captured, spun in and sucked out probably by a mygalomorph spider of the family Dipluridae. A member of the family Spatiatoridae in Burmite is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mesozoic spider (Araneae) faunas - mainly preserved in ambers - are listed and discussed, their evolution, fauna and biogeography are dealt with. Observations on the behaviour and the biology of Mesozoic spiders are treated, e. g. parts of capture webs, prey, an egg sac, camouflage, the first case of a mating plug and genital selfmutilation of a male in 100 million year-old Burmese amber. - The mesozoic spider fauna of mainly higher strata (preserved in amber, besides relatively few taxa in stone) has turned out to be strongly dominated by haplogyne taxa besides members of the entelegyne Deinopoidea: Uloboridae. Taxa of the ecribellate Araneoidea are extremely rare, few reports of the families Nephilidae, Zygiellidae and probably Theridiidae exist. Sure Mesozoic reports of members of the today most diverse Linyphiidae and of the RTA-clade like Salticidae or Lycosidae are missing (!). So apparently most families of spiders radiated - or even originated - only DURING A SIXTH of the 400 million years of spider evolution. - Diversity of the faunas and extinctions: See the list of the families and the annotated list. - The results of my (preliminary) studies of the Mesozoic (mainly Cretaceous) spider faunas are as follows: - Up to 39 families are reported, the determination of 7 or 8 of these is unsure, only 9 (less than a third of the surely reported 30 families) are entelegyne. - Almost all of these families are reported from the Cretaceous; the Juraraneidae are only known from the Jurassic, the Mongolarachnidae from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous, Spatiatoridae from the Cretaceous to the Eocene (Baltic amber). Mesothelae - probably the only spiders of the Palaeozoicum and surviving up to now - are reported first from Mid Cretaceous Burmese amber (Burmite). - 12 (more than one third) of the surely reported families are extinct; only one of these, the Spatiatoridae, survived up to the Eocene. Besides the mygalomorph Fossilcalcaridae all the extinct families are members of the Haplogynae. - Ca. 110 genera are reported: 1 of the Mesothelae, 11 of the Mygalomorpha, ca. 100 of the Araneomorpha: Up to 78 of the Haplogynae (incl. the Archaeoidea) and and ca. 25 of the Entelegynae (= 1/4 of the Araneomorpha). - Most genera are only known from the Cretaceous; 5 from the Triassic: Ambiortiphagus (?Atypidae), Argyrarachne (Araneomorpha indet.), Mesaranea (Araneoidea indet.), Rosamygale (?Hexathelidae) and Triasaraneus (Araneomorpha indet.); 5 from the Jurassic: Eoplectreurys (Plectreuridae), Juraraneus (Juraraneidae), Jurarchaea (Archaeidae), Sinaranea (fam.?) and Tatbragaraneus (Uloboridae): The only genus of the Entelegynae. - Members of only very few genera - all are members of the Haplogynae - survived up to now, probably Orchestina (Oonopidae), Leclercera (Psilodercidae) and Scytodes (Scytodidae). - CIBELLATE genera: (a) Araneomorpha: ca. 25 % in the Cretaceous but only ca. 10 % in the Eocene Baltic amber forest; (b) Araneoidea: > 50 % in the Cretaceous but only ca. 7 % in the Eocene (in which ecribellate members of the RTA-clade dominate). A strong removal of cribellate genera exist during more than 100 million of years. - Ca. 140 Mesozoic SPIDER SPECIES are known. No Mesozoic species survived up to now or is known to survive up to the Eocene (e.g. to the Baltic amber forest). Erroneous, dubious and incorrect determinations and conclusions are discussed; reports of several spider (sub)families like Araneidae, Deinopidae, Linyphiidae, Mecysmaucheniinae (sub Mecysmaucheniidae) and Tetragnathidae have to be deleted from the list of Mesozoic spiders. - Considerable results of this study regard the phylogeny and evolution of spiders. Some ideas on the - mainly palaeozoic and mesozoic - early evolution of spiders including a chronocladogram, the classification of spiders and hypothetic extinct taxa as well as a list of the main innovations in the long evolution of spiders are treated. A TWICE ORIGIN OF THE CRIBELLUM is accepted. The possibele existence of two „BIG BANGS OF SPIDER RADIATION” is discussed which probably happened (1) just after the mass extinction events during the Triassic: the „Triassic explosion of the Cribellates” (Haplogynae and Entelegynae part (a): Oecobioidea and Araneoidea including the deinopoid branch), and (2) the „Plaeocene explosion” (after the KT-events) of members of the Entelegynae part (b), the RTA-clade. The origin and diversification of orb-weaving Araneoidea is found much older than the origin of the not orb-weaving families like Linyphiidae and Theridiidae. This find indicate that the araneoid kinds of irregular capture webs derived from the orb web but not the reverse. Results of moleculargenetic studies are not compatible with proofs of fossil taxa. - Taxonomy: Transfers: The Cretaceous taxon Archaemecys arcantiensis SAUPE & SELDEN 2009 (from France) is transfered from the family Mecysmaucheniidae to the Archaeidae: Archaeinae (n. relat.). The genus Filiauchenius WUNDERLICH 2008 - including its type species paucidentatus - may be a member of Lacunauchenius WUNDERLICH 2008 (quest. n. syn. and n. comb.). The genus Hypertheridiosoma WUNDERLICH 2012 is transferred from the Theridiosomatidae to the Praeterleptonetidae (n. relat.) which may be polyphyletic. - Certain family diagnoses (e. g. of the Oecobiidae, Spatiatoridae, Theridiosomatidae and Uloboridae) have strongly to be modified if the extinct (Mesozoic) taxa are included. - A new spider classification is proposed (p. 46): The extinct taxon (order) Uraraneida SELDEN et al. 1991 is regarded as a suborder of the order Araneae (n. stat.), based mainly on the existence of an opisthosomal spinning apparatus, and as sister taxon of the suborder called Araneida. Araneomorpha SMITH 1902 is regarded as sister taxon to the Mygalomorpha. As Microorders of the suborder Araneomorpha are regarded the „Basal Haplogynae” n. taxon and the Cleistospermiata n. taxon. With some hesitation I regard the branch Hypochilomorpha MARX 1888 in a wide sense, including the nominal superfamilies Austrochiloidea and Hypochiloidea. As related branches are regarded the Entelegynae ROEWER 1961 which is restored, see fig. G, and first the Dipneumonomorphae PETRUNKEVITCH 1933 (= Apneumonomorphae PETRUNKEVITCH 1933 and Araneoclada PLATNICK 1977) (n. syn.). - Described for the first time are furthermore (all in Mid Cretaceous Burmite): A single family: Fossilcalcaridae (Mygalomorpha), 4 subfamilies: Longissipalpinae and Pedipalparaneinae of the Mongolarachnidae, Vetiatorinae of the Spatiatoridae and Retrooecobiinae of the Oecobiidae; 35 genera and 66 species of 17 families: Dipluridae, Eopsilodercidae, Fossilcalcaridae, Hersiliidae, Lagonomegopidae, Mongolarachnidae, Oecobiidae, Pholcochyroceridae, Plumorsolidae, Praeterleptonetidae, Psilodercidae, Salticoididae, Segestriidae, Spatiatoridae, Tetrablemmidae, Theridiidae and Uloboridae. A Cretaceous member - probably Leptonetoidea or Oecobioidea or Pholcoidea - indet. in stone from Liaoning (China) is described but not named. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]