GRYNE SIMON, 1879

Gryne Simon, 1879: 194 .

Type-species by monotypy: Gryne paraensis Simon, 1879 .

Etymology: Gryne was the name of an Amazon loved by Apollo.

Diagnosis: Median-sized cosmetids with long and unarmed straight legs (Fe IV three times DS length in major forms of males, Fig. 54C), dorsal scutum beta-type with short coda and narrow cephalothorax (Fig. 54D– G). Reticular pattern in dorsal scutum more marked in laterals of cephalothorax and abdomen (Figs 50A, 52A, 54A). Area I with a pair of small tubercles and area III with a pair of high acuminate spines (spines lower in G. dimorpha, Fig. 50B). Pedipalpus sexually monomorphic, tibia without expansion opposed to the slender tarsus forming a chela in males. Major forms of males with long tibia IV (as long as femur), and metatarsus short and triquetrous (Fig. 50E–H). Ventral plate of the penis sub-rectangular, narrower at the tip (except for G. marginalis) (Figs 55A, 51A). Three distal curved MS-C and two basal straight MS-A (Fig. 54A–C).

Included species: Gryne marginalis (Perty, 1833), G. orensis (Sørensen, 1879), G. marmorata (Roewer, 1915) comb. nov., G. dimorpha Mello-Leitão, 1928, G. leprosa Sørensen, 1932 and Gryne coccinelloides (Mello-Leitão, 1935) .

Combined distribution (Fig. 48). Semi-arid diagonal of South America, northern half of Brazilian Atlantic forest and lower Amazon basin.

Remarks: The remarkable non-homoplastic synapomorphy of Gryne refers to the morphology of leg IV, having a sexual dimorphic metatarsus, in the males being thicker at basal portion (Figs 2F, G, 57C). Modifications in this segment of leg IV also occur in an unrelated member of Paecilaema from Venezuela: Paecilaema trisegmentatum González- Sponga, 1992. The condition of this species, however, is different, having a unique ‘fusiform subdistal area’ (González-Sponga, 1992: 396) indicating a putative autapomorphic condition.

A large quantity of material of Gryne from regions of Brazil was deposited in arachnological collection of Museu Nacional before the fire that destroyed it (Kury et al., 2018). A great percentage of the lots were examined and identified by us as belonging to Gryne . Nonetheless, inter and intraspecific variations were not known or properly illustrated to make possible the identification to species level. Here, we present their distributional data in Fig. 48.

Species G. coccinelloides and G. marmorata are not included in the taxonomic key because detailed examination of specimens was not possible, preventing the confection of diagnoses as well. Future research with fresh material from type localities is needed for unveiling the identity and validity of both species. For the same reason, a diagnosis section is lacking for those species.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF GRYNE

Comment: Excluding G. coccinelloides and G. marmorata (see remarks on the genus Gryne above).

1. Reticulate pattern of DS spots on lateral margins of carapace and abdomen (Fig. 54) ................................ 2 1’. Reticulate pattern of DS spots invading mesotergum (Fig. 52A) ..............................................................3

2. Reticulate pattern restricted to laterals of chevron, invading scutal sulcus and going gently to the lateral margin of carapace (Fig. 50A); spines of area III low (Fig. 50B); VP of penis not elongate and apical border narrower than base (Fig. 50A–C) .................................................................................................. G. dimorpha 2’. Reticulate pattern restricted to lateral margin of carapace and abdomen, not invading scutal sulcus (Fig. 54); spines of area III low (Fig. 54B); VP of penis elongate and with apical margin wider than base (Fig. 55A) ................................................................................................................................. G. marginalis

3. Reticulate pattern uniformly occupying abdomen (Fig. 52A) .......................................................... G. leprosa 3’. Reticulate pattern clearly marked in the region of the omega stripe and scutal sulcus of abdomen, but not occupying areas of mesotergum (Fig. 57A) ............................................................................ G. orensis