Filopalpus gen. nov.

Type species: Filopalpus joschmidti sp. nov.

Included species: Five species from Ethiopia described in this paper.

Diagnosis: As given for the subfamily Filopalpinae subfam. nov. Small species from 2.3 to 3.5 mm; showing marked sexual dimorphism in pedipalpal formation; male pedipalp filiform with extremely elongated femur and patella, several times longer than body length, a pedipalpal catching basket is absent; female pedipalp as long as body length or slightly shorter, pedipalpal catching basket formed by equipment of tibia and tarsus with short or medium-sized apophyses with strong seta on top. Body completely wrapped by small polygonal tubercles nearly touching each other, enlarged to single rows of pointed apophyses on the free Abd tergites, such equipment reduced on ventral side. In front of prosoma several pointed apophyses directed forward, a large upward-directed one on Tu oc surpassing prosomal frontal edge. Male genital morphology typical for Assamiidae with eversible prickly funnel on dorso-distal side of truncus.

Etymology: It refers to the extremely slender and elongated pedipalps of males. It is composed of Latin filus for thread, and (pedi) palpus, the arthropod tactile appendage. The gender is masculine.

Distribution: Currently known from several localities in the Bale Mountains, Oromia State, Ethiopia. The five species described here span a wide altitudinal range from about 1700 m a.s.l. up to the afro-alpine zone above 4000 m.

Key to the presently accepted species of Filopalpus gen. nov.

(Males of F. altomontanus sp. nov. and of F. niger sp. nov. are unknown):

1 Male (always with long thread-like pedipalp without conspicuous apophyses and/or setae, pedipalp considerably longer than body length; Figs 1–2, 10, 22, 25, 46)..................................................................... 2

– Female (always with compact pedipalp shorter than body, with ventral armament of strong setae on tibia and tarsus, a “grasping hand”; Figs 7-8, 20, 27, 33, 39-40, 49-50, 57, 60, 63-64)...................................................... 4

2 Pedipalp four times longer than body (Figs 1–2, 10).................................. Filopalpus joschmidti sp. nov.

– Pedipalp less than four times longer than body (Figs 25, 46)................................................... 3

3 Dorsal armament of body with two pairs of strong paramedian tubercles on abdominal areae I and III, with one pair on abdominal areae II and IV (Figs 46–47)................................................. Filopalpus bale sp. nov.

– Dorsal armament of body with one pair of strong paramedian tubercles of abdominal areae I–III (Figs 25–26)........................................................................................ Filopalpus kakaensis sp. nov.

4 Femur of pedipalp rather slender, with few low tubercles ventrally, strong setae on tibia and tarsus positioned only on low apophyses, these as deep as long or apophyses absent (Figs 20, 33, 57, 68)....................................... 5

– Femur of pedipalp slender, no tubercles present, tibia and tarsus with strong setae, positioned on elevated apophyses, longer than deep (Figs 63–64)...................................................... Filopalpus altomontanus sp. nov.

5 Tibia of pedipalp with a single long and strong ventral seta (Figs 20, 68)......................................... 6

– Tibia of pedipalp with two long and strong ventral setae (Figs 33, 57)........................................... 7

6 Femur, patella and tibia of pedipalp stout, tarsus markedly inflated (Fig. 68).................. Filopalpus niger sp. nov.

– Femur, patella and tibia and tarsus of pedipalp slender (Fig. 29)........................ Filopalpus joschmidti sp. nov.

7 Pedipalpal claw as long as tarsus (Fig. 57).............................................. Filopalpus bale sp. nov.

– Pedipalpal claw shorter than tarsus (Fig. 33)........................................ Filopalpus kakaensis sp. nov.