Argistes Simon, 1897

Marusik, Yu. M., 2017, Redescription Of The Type Species Of The Genus Argistes (Aranei, Liocranidae), Vestnik Zoologii 51 (5), pp. 363-368 : 363-364

Argistes Simon, 1897

Argistes Simon, 1897: 143 ; Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 403 .

T y p e s p e c i e s: Argistes velox Simon, 1897 from Sri Lanka.

Notes. Deeleman-Reinhold (2001) indicated that the genus is monotypic, although according to Bonnet (1955) and Platnick (2000) the genus encompasses three species: Simon (1897) transferred Leptodrassus seriatus Karsch, 1892 , known from a female from Sri Lanka to this genus, and later described A. africanus Simon, 1910 from Namibia. Judging from the figures of A. seriatus ( Karsch, 1892: pl. 11, figs 16 & 16 a ) it is most likely misplaced in the genus and not conspecific with A. velox , known from the male only. It is larger in size (4.7 mm vs. 3.5 mm) and has a chevron-pattern on the abdomen which is lacking in A. velox . The Namibian species is known from the female only and similar to A. velox in the eye pattern ( Simon, 1910).

In the genus description, Deeleman-Reinhold (2001) mentioned that the colulus is absent, although it is very distinct in SEM figure ( fig. 16 ).

There are some doubts whether the genus belongs to Liocranidae . The type species has no strong ventral spines on leg I (present in Liocranum L. Koch, 1866 and other liocranids known to me), epigyne is lacking fovea and therefore not divided into two parts like in Liocranum and other genera. Because two species assigned to genus are not properly described and illustrated, males are unknown, their generic position is doubtful so I cannot provide a sufficient diagnosis to the genus.

Figures

Figs 16–23. Somatic characters and copulatory organs of Argistes velox: 16 — innerets of male; 17–18 bulb, ventral and anterior, embolus is broken; 19 — epigyne, dorsal; 20 — right part of epigyne, antero-dorsal; 21 — tibia and cymbium of male palp, retrolateral; 22 — epiandrous region; 23 — male abdomen, ventral. Scale = 0.1 mm if not otherwise indicated. Abbreviations: Ar — accessorial receptacle, Bc — bursa copulatrix, Cd — copulatory duct, Cf — cymbial fold, Cl — colulus, Co — conductor, Ea — epiandrus, Em — embolus, Re — receptacle, Rg — gland of receptacle, Rs — round swelling, Ta — tegular apophysis.