Neato, PLATNICK, 2002

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Neato , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Neato walli , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is an arbitrary combination of letters considered masculine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: The extremely wide embolus of males (figs. 93, 97) is diagnostic; the female epigyna resemble those of Oreo but the spermathecae are more highly crenulated (fig. 96) and (except in N. beerwah ) are flanked by a pair of lateral margins (fig. 100).

DESCRIPTION: Small spiders, total length of males 2.9–4.8, of females 3.2–5.4. Carapace glabrous, without tubercles, with sparsely scattered, short, recumbent, dark setae and longer, erect setae on clypeus; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, not expand­ ed anteriorly. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians largest, circular, dark, posterior medians smallest, irregularly rectangular, flattened, laterals subequal in size, oval; from above, anterior row almost straight, posterior row slightly procurved, from front, both rows procurved; anterior medians separated by about their radius, about as far from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by much more than their diameter, separated by about their diameter from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by about their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front and than long. Chelicerae porrect, anterior surface with few scattered, strong setae; chilum unipartite, triangular, fused to clypeus, accompanied by second, elongated, posterior chilum (extremely narrow, Ishaped sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of short setae originating in line along base of fang plus two long, thick seta originating near base of fang, extending far from base before bending toward midline; promargin and retromargin of fang furrow toothless. Labium wide, very short, extending only about onethird length of endites, bipartite, posterior portion short, flat, anterior portion steeply inclined; posterolateral corners heavily sclerotized, anterior margin invaginated at middle. Endites with very weak oblique depression, without median groove, serrula present (fig. 150), apex bearing narrow patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum flat, with weak lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with slight extensions between coxae I–III; surface smooth, with few long setae. One weakly sclerotized epimeric scler­ ite on each side, with heavily sclerotized triangles above coxae I–III but not extending between them, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two narrow dorsal sclerites and weak, inverted v­shaped ventral sclerite, reaching almost to posterior tip of sternum.

Abdomen without dorsal scutum; cuticle with weak, recumbent setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, that of males with posteriorly produced margin at middle, with very narrow spiracles at sides, without postepigastric sclerites; colulus represented by setae; posterior spiracle wide, anterior of colular setae. Six spinnerets (figs. 47–52), anterior laterals small, widely separated at base, with two articles; posterior medians of males triangular, of females bipartite, posterior portion with four or five large cylindrical gland spigots; posterior laterals with two articles, those of females with at least one large cylindrical gland spigot.

Leg formula 4123; leg spination greatly reduced, typical leg spination pattern (only surface bearing spines listed): tibiae III, IV v0­0­2 (spines weak on IV); metatarsi III, IV v0­0­2; most surfaces with normal, long setae; coxae and trochanters without dorsal tubercles; anterior coxae without protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters unnotch­ ed, relatively long; metatarsi and tarsi I, II with weak, undivided scopulae; posterior metatarsi without distal preening brushes; tarsi with two basally dentate claws, weak claw tufts composed of few, narrow setae; tarsi I–IV of both sexes sometimes with cuticular cracks at about two­thirds of their length, cracking occupying more of segment on tarsi III, IV; trichobothria present, in two rows on tarsi and tibiae, single row on metatarsi. Female palpal tibia with weak dorsal spines; female palpal tarsus with thick dentate claw and ventral brush of long, stiff setae.

Male palp with elaborate retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface excavated at base, opposite tibial apophysis; tegulum rounded, with prolaterally situated, unusually wide embolus, medially situated, elaborate conductor, without median apophysis. External epigynum with heavily margined atrium; spermathecae compact, highly crenulate, with elongate lateral extensions.

95. Epigynum, ventral view. 96. Same, dorsal view.