Evolutionary morphology of the hemolymph vascular system of basal araneomorph spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae)

•The circulatory system in representatives of phylogenetically pivotal austrochiloid spider taxa is studied.•The vascular systems are visualized using 3D-reconstruction based on microCT-data.•Based on these data ground pattern features of Austrochiloidea are formulated.•Results are discussed along recent lines of phylogenetic hypotheses.

The superfamily Austrochiloidea (Austrochilidae and Gradungulidae) take a pivotal position in araneomorph spider phylogeny. In this discussion crevice weaver spiders (Filistatidae) are of equal interest. Especially data from these phylogenetically uncertain yet basal off branching groups can enlighten our understanding on the evolution of organ systems. In the course of a survey on the evolutionary morphology of the circulatory system in spiders we therefore investigated the hemolymph vascular system in two austrochiloid and one filistatid species. Additionally some data on a hypochilid and a gradungulid species are included. Using up-to-date morphological methods, the vascular systems in these spiders are visualized three dimensionally.Ground pattern features of the circulatory systems in austrochiloid spiders are presented and the data discussed along recent lines of phylogenetic hypotheses. Special topics highlighted are the intraspecific variability of the origins of some prosomal arteries and the evolutionary correlation of respiratory and circulatory systems in spiders.