Biological challenges to conclusions from molecular phylogenies: behaviour strongly favours orb web monophyly, contradicting molecular analyses

Abstract This first-ever extensive review of the construction behaviour orb webs, webs secondarily derived from orbs, and non-orbs shows that evidence favouring monophyly over convergent evolution orbs is stronger than previously appreciated. The two major orb-weaving groups, Uloboridae Araneoidea, share 31 traits, 20 which are likely to be both have feasible alternatives, making convergence an unlikely explanation. Convergence in lineages seems unlikely, five different lineages, as proposed some recent molecular studies phylogeny, even less credible. A further set seven shared responses design experimentally constrained spaces also supports monophyly. Finally, a ‘control’ case confirmed on similar ‘pseudo-orbs’ taxonomically distant group this argument, it low frequency behavioural similarities. I argue omission data web represents failure analytic techniques, not data, increases risk mistakes. In general, phylogenetic aim understand particular phenotypes can benefit including careful study themselves.