Genus Zoma Saaristo, 1996

Type species.

Zoma zoma Saaristo, 1996, from Seychelles (not examined).

Composition.

Zoma zoma Saaristo, 1996, Z. dibaiyin Miller, Griswold & Yin, 2009, Z. fascia Zhao & Li, 2012, Z. taiwanica (Zhan, Zhu & Tso, 2006).

Remarks.

Females of the genus can be distinguished by the flat and bluntly triangular genital plate with a sclerotized median pit and a pair of smaller, generally less recognizable, lateral pits (Fig. 4J; see also Saaristo 1996). Males of the type species Z. zoma have not yet been described. Therefore, the taxonomic characteristics of Zoma males are poorly defined. Males of three Zoma species, Z. dibaiyin, Z. fascia, and Z. taiwanica have relatively simpler palps with a filiform embolic apophysis emerging beneath from the conductor, while two or more apophyses in Theridiosoma (Fig. 3B, C vs. Fig. 5A, B). Zoma species have wider and straight median apophysis, while curved and sharp tip in Theridiosoma (Fig. 3B-D vs. Fig. 5A-C). Zoma species can be distinguished from congeners by the presence of a transverse whitish silver band on the dorsum abdomen (Saaristo 1996; Miller et al. 2009).