TROGLONETA SIMON 1922

(FIGS 63, 64, 65B–H, 66–68, 128F, 131E, F, 142C: CLADE C192)

Trogloneta Simon, 1922: 200 ( Troglonata, lapsus calami). Simon, 1926: 313. Fage, 1931: 143. Gertsch, 1960a: 12. Levi & Levi, 1962: 64. Brignoli, 1970: 1409. Thaler, 1975: 284. Wunderlich, 1980b: 267. Brignoli, 1983: 380. Wunderlich, 1987: 139–140. Heimer & Nentwig, 1991: 306. Breuss, 2001: 187. Brescovit & Lopardo, 2008: 94–104.

Parogulnius Archer, 1953: 20 . Gertsch, 1960a: 10 (synonymized with Trogloneta). Brignoli, 1970: 1410 (rejected synonymy, transfer to Theridiosomatidae). Coddington, 1986a: 6 (placed in Theridiosomatidae as incertae sedis). Lopardo & Coddington, 2005: 176 (suggested placement within Mysmenidae, no formal taxonomic action).

Type species

Trogloneta granulum Simon 1922 by original designation, type material in MNHN, examined.

Familial placement and composition

Transferred to Symphytognathidae from Theridiidae by Gertsch (1960a), and to Mysmenidae from Symphytognathidae by Forster & Platnick (1977). In the working phylogenetic hypothesis (Fig. 161B), Trogloneta is sister to the clade comprising Maymena plus Mysmenopsinae . Currently, Trogloneta includes nine described species (Platnick, 2014), and it is here represented by two described plus four undescribed species (the latter species have been scored for molecular data only): T. granulum, T. cantareira, Trogloneta sp-Rix-AUST, Trogloneta -MYSM-022- ARG, Trogloneta -MYSM-024- CHILE, and Trogloneta - MYSM-025- CHILE).

Monophyly

Morphological synapomorphies of Trogloneta include: a third additional anterior field on ALS (Figs 64C, 66F); minute colulus (Figs 64D, 67F, 68C); minute AME (Fig. 67G); posterior median eyes separated (Fig. 67H); triangular labium, not swollen (Figs 63I, 66H); uniform coloration on dorsal abdomen, but distinctly lighter ventral abdomen, with whitish extended coloration posteriorly; no abdominal supra-pedicellate nubbins; lateral copulatory ducts–spermathecae junction; two spermstorage compartments per spermatheca (Fig. 128F); accessory glands on vulva (Fig. 64A); female distal ventral sclerotized spot only on femur I; males with all eyes on tubercle (Figs 63G, H, 66A); carapace height dimorphism (i.e. male carapace higher than female, compare Figs 63G and 64E); bifid embolus (Figs 63E, 66E); tegular groove acting as conductor (Figs 63E, 66C); no switchbacks I and II on the spermatic duct (Fig. 131E, F); a flat and blunt primary cymbial conductor with a particular half circle shape (Fig. 63B, C), and particular cymbial shape, flat and tapering (Fig. 63C), with basal paracymbium (Fig. 63A), and with internal cymbial tarsal organ (Fig. 63B, F). Ambiguously optimized synapomorphies for Trogloneta include: anterior reduced booklungs (Fig. 67C); posterior respiratory system, with single median apodemal structure (Fig. 64B); epigynal area elevated ventrally and smooth uniform proximal copulatory ducts of increased diameter (Figs 64A, 128F); males with sclerotized femoral spot on femur I; shorter, but stout and straight setae comprising the tarsal prolateral row on leg I (Figs 65D, 68A); and tegular conductor neither with a proximal groove nor associated with embolus, and with a surface covered with small ridges (Fig. 63A, B, D). Trogloneta is also supported by 160 molecular synapomorphies.

Diagnosis

Trogloneta differs from all other mysmenid genera by the presence of a third additional anterior field on ALS; minute colulus (although it has been described as ‘large’ on the type species T. granulum by Thaler, 1975: but see figs 67F, 68C); minute AME; PME separated; posterior respiratory system with single median apodemal structure; triangular labium; two sperm-storage compartments per spermatheca; males with all eyes on tubercle; a basal paracymbium; a particular cymbial shape, flat and tapering, with a flat and blunt primary cymbial conductor with a particular half-circle shape; tegular conductor neither with a proximal groove nor associated with embolus, and with a surface covered with small ridges; and no switchbacks I and II on the spermatic duct. Although shared with a few other mysmenids, the following combination of features is unique for Trogloneta: distinctly lighter ventral abdomen, with whitish extended coloration posteriorly; carapace height dimorphism (male carapace higher than female); anterior booklungs reduced; females with distal ventral sclerotized spot only on femur I, epigynal area elevated ventrally, accessory glands on vulva, and smooth uniform proximal copulatory ducts of increased diameter; males with sclerotized femoral spot on femur I; shorter, but stout and straight setae comprising the tarsal prolateral row on leg I; bifid embolus; tegular groove acting as conductor; and internal cymbial tarsal organ. The taxonomic history and previous diagnostic features for Trogloneta have recently been reviewed by Brescovit & Lopardo (2008). Their proposed combination of features diagnostic for the genus is in agreement with those proposed in our study.