The taxonomy and systematic position of the Eastern Asian wolf spider Lycosa coelestis L. Koch, 1878 are revised using an integrative approach. Our study highlights distinctive morphological and molecular differences that separate this species from the generotypes of Lycosa Sundevall,1833 and Hogna Simon, 1885, to which L. coelestis was previously assigned. Based on these findings, we establish a new monotypic genus, Erranticosa gen. nov., to accommodate this species, namely E. coelestis comb. nov. We also discuss the results of a preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Lycosinae, including Erranticosa gen. nov. Additionally, based on morphological examination of the type material, we reject the synonymy of Lycosa subcoelestis Fox, 1935 with E. coelestis comb. nov., transferring it to Trochosa C.L. Koch, 1847 as a valid full species, and we establish the new combination, i.e., T. subcoelestis (Fox, 1935) comb. nov. At the same time, we synonymize Foxicosa Roewer, 1960 (type species: Lycosa subcoelestis Fox, 1935), previously considered a junior synonym of Lycosa, with Trochosa. Our findings highlight the need for an integrative taxonomic and systematic revision of Asian lycosid taxa, as many may be overlooked or misclassified.
Aranei, Asia, Hogna, integrative systematic, Lycosa
