A revision of the spider genus Cyrtophora (Araneidae)

The genus Cyrtophora is mainly tropical and occurs in both the New and Old World, but its greatest diversity occurs in the south Pacific Islands. The genus contains 19 species, two from the New World. Species of this genus are characterized by: (1) male palp with median apophysis, paracymbium, and stipes armed with teeth, (2) female epigynum with diagnostic cup-shaped structures, (3) females lack aggregate-flagelliform spigot complex on posterior lateral spinnerets, (4) piriform spinning field J-shaped on anterior lateral spinnerets, (5) sternum shield-shaped with sides scalloped, (6) endites square, (7) labium wider than long with apex bluntly pointed, (8) Legs stout with leg formula: I-II-IV-III, (9) posterior eye row straight or recurved, (10) MOQ wider in front than in rear, and (11) webs lack sticky silk, and are in the form of a tent or dome.; Species distributions are updated and appear on distribution maps. New synonyms are presented along with the first description of the male of Cyrtophora unicolor. Two new species are described from females and one new species from males and females. A total of 2859 specimens from 32 institutions was examined. Three new species are described along with the male of C. unicolor for the first time.; The spinneret spigot morphology for females of 18 of the 19 species, along with those of Argiope aurantia, Cyclosa conica, Mangora maculata, and Mecynogea lemniscata are presented for the first time. Male spinneret spigot morphology for Cyrtophora moluccensis and Mecynogea lemniscata are also presented. Spinneret spigot morphology unit Cyrtophora and Mecynogea together.; A phylogenetic analysis showing the placement of Cyrtophora within the araneids is given. Cyrtophora and Mecynogea are sister taxa. Cyrtophorinae appears to be close to the Argiopinae, but more work is needed in this area.; Discriminant Functions Analysis indicates that species can be separated by somatic characters, but it is easier to use the genitalia. Most specimens do not form discrete species clusters using Principal Component Analysis.