The systematics and taxonomy of the tropical Asian jumping spiders of the tribe Baviini is reviewed, with a molecular phylogenetic study (UCE sequence capture, traditional Sanger sequencing) guiding a reclassification of the group’s genera. The well-studied members of the group are placed into six genera:BaviaSimon, 1877,IndopadillaCaleb & Sankaran, 2019,PadillothoraxSimon, 1901,PiranthusThorell, 1895,StagetillusSimon, 1885, and one new genus,MaripanthusMaddison,gen. nov.The identity ofPadillothoraxis clarified, andBavirectaKanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018 synonymized with it.HyctiotaStrand, 1911 is synonymized withStagetillus. The molecular phylogeny divides the baviines into three clades, thePiranthusclade with a long embolus (Piranthus,Maripanthus), the genusPadillothoraxwith a flat body and short embolus, and theBaviaclade with a higher body and (usually) short embolus (remaining genera). In general, morphological synapomorphies support or extend the molecularly delimited groups. Eighteen new species are described:Bavia nessagyna,Indopadilla bamilin,I. kodagura,I. nesinor,I. redunca,I. redynis,I. sabivia,I. vimedaba,Maripanthus draconis(type species ofMaripanthus),M. jubatus,M. reinholdae,Padillothorax badut,P. mulu,Piranthus api,P. bakau,P. kohi,P. mandai, andStagetillus irri, allsp. nov., with taxonomic authority W. Maddison. The distinctions between baviines and the astioidNungiaŻabka, 1985 are reviewed, leading to four species being moved intoNungiafromBaviaand other genera. Fifteen new combinations are established:Bavia maurerae(Freudenschuss & Seiter, 2016),Indopadilla annamita(Simon, 1903),I. kahariana(Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2013),I. sonsorol(Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997),I. suhartoi(Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2013),Maripanthus menghaiensis(Cao & Li, 2016),M. smedleyi(Reimoser, 1929),Nungia hatamensis(Thorell, 1881),N. modesta(Keyserling, 1883),N. papakula(Strand, 1911),N. xiaolonghaensis(Cao & Li, 2016),Padillothorax casteti(Simon, 1900),P. exilis(Cao & Li, 2016),P. flavopunctus(Kanesharatnam & Benjamin, 2018),Stagetillus banda(Strand, 1911), allcomb. nov.One combination is restored,Bavia capistrata(C. L. Koch, 1846). Five of these new or restored combinations correct previous errors of placing species in genera that have superficially similar palps but extremely different body forms, in fact belonging in distantly related tribes, emphasizing that the general shape of male palps should be used with caution in determining relationships. A little-studied genus,PadillothorusPrószyński, 2018, is tentatively assigned to the Baviini.LigdusThorell, 1895 is assigned to the Ballini.
