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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]