Abstract
Morphological and phylogenetic analyses have shown that five species of coelotine spiders that inhabit East China Sea islands, previously classified into the genus Coelotes, are distinct from all the other known genera. Therefore, a new genus, Nesiocoelotes is established to accommodate these species and the classification of the corresponding species is revised. Each species of the new genus is characterized by having two retromarginal teeth on chelicerae, large patellar apophysis on the male palp, epigynal teeth close together, protruding from the center of the anterior margin of the epigyne. Phylogenetic analyses support the monophily of the genus and its early divergence from other coelotine lineages. Geographic variation is observed in specimens collected from the Goto Islands. In addition, the genetic analysis of Coelotes iheyaensis Shimojana 2000, which is known to resemble the genus Griseidraconarius Okumura 2020 in morphological characteristics, was performed. As a result, it became clear that C. iheyaensis inhabiting the Okinawa Islands belongs to the genus Griseidraconarius. Therefore, the systematic position of this species is also revised.
