Epeirotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894

Epeirotypus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894: 134 .

Type species Epeirotypus brevipes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1894 .

Diagnosis

Males of Epeirotypus can be distinguished from those of other theridiosomatid genera by the long, bulky embolus distally acute (Figs 14E, 16E, 18E; see also Coddington 1986) (in contrast with entire, thin laminated, or distally lobed embolus in the other genera). Females of Epeirotypus can be distinguished from those of other genera by the domed (i.e., elevated ventrally) epigynal plate (Miller et al. 2009: fig. 3b) (absent in other genera except for Naatlo), a vulval bifid sclerotized septum (i.e., see BS in figures) formed by posterior projections extending behind the spermathecae and fusing along the midline (absent in other genera), and the distal section of the copulatory ducts heavily sclerotized in connection with the spermathecae (Figs 5D, 15C–D, 17C–D, 19C–D, 20C–D, 21C–D, 22C–D, 23C–D; see also Coddington 1986) (in contrast with irregular and membranous or completely sclerotized copulatory ducts).

Description

Females of Epeirotypus have massive proximal copulatory ducts (i.e., more than three times diameter of distal region of copulatory ducts) with dorsal patches of gland ducts, and distal copulatory ducts heavily sclerotized (i.e., dark) inserting dorsolaterally posteriorly into spermathecae (Figs 5D–E, 15D, 17D, 19D, 20D, 21D, 22D, 23D). For further genus description details, see Coddington (1986) and Labarque & Griswold (2014).