Data from: Multilocus species delimitation in a complex of morphologically conserved trapdoor spiders (Mygalomorphae, Antrodiaetidae, Aliatypus)

Species are a fundamental unit for biological studies, yet no uniform
guidelines exist for determining species limits in an objective manner.
Given the large number of species concepts available, defining species can
be both highly subjective and biased. Although morphology has been
commonly used to determine species boundaries, the availability and
prevalence of genetic data has allowed researchers to use such data to
make inferences regarding species limits. Genetic data also have been used
in the detection of cryptic species, where other lines of evidence
(morphology in particular) may underestimate species diversity. In this
study, we investigate species limits in a complex of morphologically
conserved trapdoor spiders (Mygalomorphae, Antrodiaetidae, Aliatypus) from
California. Multiple approaches were used to determine species boundaries
in this highly genetically fragmented group, including both multilocus
discovery and validation approaches (plus a chimeric approach).
Additionally, we introduce a novel tree-based discovery approach using
species trees. Results suggest that this complex includes multiple cryptic
species, with two groupings consistently recovered across analyses. Due to
incongruence across analyses for the remaining samples, we take a
conservative approach and recognize a three species complex, and formally
describe two new species (Aliatypus roxxiae, sp. nov. and Aliatypus
starretti, sp. nov.). This study helps to clarify species limits in a
genetically fragmented group and provides a framework for identifying and
defining the cryptic lineage diversity that prevails in many organismal
groups.