Tisentnops Platnick, 1994

Brescovit, Antonio D. & Sanchez-Ruiz, Alexander, 2016, Descriptions of two new genera of the spider family Caponiidae (Arachnida, Araneae) and an update of Tisentnops and Taintnops from Brazil and Chile, ZooKeys 622, pp. 47-84 : 48-49

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Caponiidae

Tisentnops Platnick, 1994

Tisentnops Platnick, 1994b: 9 (Type species by original designation Caponina leopoldi Zapfe).

Note.

Platnick (1994b: 9) reported that the holotype of Tisentnops leopoldi (Zapfe) was in the Museo de Historia Natural de Santiago de Chile, and this specimen, probably a female, was extremely deteriorated. The type was examined by the first author during a recent trip to Chile. Now, with specimens of Tisentnops mineiro sp. n. and Tisentnops onix sp. n., an emendation is presented to the generic description. The eyes previously used in Platnick (1994b) as diagnostic characters are no longer applicable because some species in this genus lack eyes (Figs 1A, 5E).

Diagnosis.

Members of the genus can be easily separated from all other caponiid genera by the distally widened palpal endites, as in Diploglena , but uniquely modified with a series of setae with elongated sockets in the sub-marginal and anterior margin(Fig. 2 C–E). These elongated sockets may also be present in anterior legs (Fig. 1C, J).

Description.

Described by Platnick (1994b), but new data are included here. Caponiids of moderate-size (Figs 1A; 17A, C–D), eyeless (Figs 1A; 17A), or with two small eyes, near the anterior border of the carapace (Fig. 5E). Carapace broadly oval, anteriorly narrowed to less than half its maximum width, pars cephalica rounded, ocular tubercle not projecting forward; pars thoracica relatively flat, gradually sloping toward laterally and posteriorly, without submarginal elevations opposite the coxal bases or submarginal depressions opposite the coxal interspaces (Fig. 5C); cuticle smooth; clypeus unremarkable (Fig. 5E); thoracic groove obsolete (Figs 1A, 5D). Cheliceral paturon with long, relatively strong bristles; short fang with unmodified base (Fig. 2B); median lamina long with short tooth-shaped tip and a white membranous lobe opposite the tip of the cheliceral fang (Fig. 2 A–B); lateral surface with short stridulatory ridges, pick on prolateral side of palpal femur, next to base of male palp (Fig. 4A, F) and inconspicuous on the female pedipalp (Fig. 2K). Endites convergent, distally widened and extending far beyond the posterior margin of the labium (Fig. 2E, G), not touching at tip, covered by setae with elongated sockets which form a row along the anterior margin (Figs 1B, I; 2 C–E; 5G), serrula absent. Labium almost pentagonal, much longer than wide, fused to sternum (Figs 1B, I; 5G), slightly invaginated at base, covered with a few scattered setae, distal area acuminate (Fig. 2 E–F); labrum short, narrow, with few setae. Sternum longer than wide, covered with scattered large setae, without radial furrows between coxae, not fused to carapace (Fig. 1I); cephalothoracic membranes without epimeric sclerites, but short triangular sclerites extend from sternum between coxae I and II, II and III, and III and IV; shorter triangles extend to coxae II-IV. Leg formula 4123; legs without spines, legs I and II with setae with elongated sockets (Fig. 1C, J); metatarsi and tarsi entire, without sub-segmentation or membranous processes; tarsi with three claws; paired claws with approximately ten teeth on legs I-II, distal teeth largest (Fig. 3D); legs III-IV with paired claws very long, with two small basal teeth, distal teeth largest (Fig. 3E); unpaired claw shorter than paired ones on all legs, without teeth (Fig. 3 D–F). Tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi with long trichobothria in a single row (Figs 3A, 5H), bases with semicircular rim bearing low ridges (Fig. 3C); tarsal organ exposed, with very short longitudinal ridge in proximal end, covered by semicircular long ridges (Fig. 3B); female palpal tarsus moderately elongate, prolateral surface densely covered with setae, retrolateral surface covered by few setae (Fig. 2H, K). Abdomen with only slightly sclerotized epigastric area, with two pairs of respiratory spiracles; posterior spiracles connected by rebordered groove extending farther back at middle than at sides (Fig. 1H). Six spinnerets (Fig. 5I) in typical caponiid arrangement ( Platnick et al. 1991: 56, Sánchez-Ruiz et al. 2010: 96, 140). Male palpal patella and tibia short, unmodified; cymbium ovoid, circular alveolus, prolateral surface densely covered with strong setae; bulb stout and globose; cylindrical embolus, slightly curved with enlarged tip, directed retrolaterally (Figs 1 D–G; 4 A–C, F–H). External female genitalia without scutum, weakly sclerotized (Figs 1H; 5F). Internal female genitalia with an elongate anteromedian membranous receptaculum accompanied by wide, transverse and anteriorly directed sclerotized bars that are coated with a transparent hyaline membrane, and by a V-shaped dorsal fold internally on the posterior plate (Figs 3 G–L, 4D).

Distribution.

Known from Chile and southeastern Brazil.