Borboropactus Simon, 1884

SURESH P. BENJAMIN, 2011, Phylogenetics and comparative morphology of crab spiders (Araneae: Dionycha, Thomisidae), Zootaxa 3080, pp. 1-108 : 11

Genus Borboropactus Simon, 1884

Type species: Borboropactus squalidus Simon, 1884 Fig 20 C

Diagnosis. Borboropactus can be diagnosed by the presence of an epigynal plate or folds ( Figs 18 D, 19C, 20C, D, 21A, B, 23A, B), the unique sensory patch on tarsi ( Figs 24 C–E), canoe-shaped tapetum and straight PER. Further, Borboropactus can be separated from all other thomisids, except for Geraesta and Angaeus Thorell, 1881 , by presence of a rudimentary RTA in males and ET in females. Both Geraesta and Angaeus posses a well developed RTA and sometimes DTA/VTA ( Figs 39 B, 39C, 40E; Tang & Li 2009).

Composition. 15 species, plus the two new species described below; see Platnick (2011) for a listing of all described species.

Distribution. Old World, from Africa to New Guinea.

Figures

FIGURE 18. Borboropactus cinerascens (MHNG). A. male palp (A ventral, B prolateral, C retrolateral); D epigynum, ventral view; E vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.2 mm (D, E), 0.5 mm (A – C).

FIGURE 24. Scanning electron micrographs of Borboropactus nyerere sp. nov. (USNM), female. A, B Chelicera; C – F left leg 1 (C, D dorsal, E, F lateral). Scale bars = 10 µm (D,) 100 µm (A – C, E, F).

FIGURE 39. Geraesta hirta (USNM). A – C male palp (A, C retrolateral, B ventral); D epigynum, ventral view; E vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (D, E), 0.2 mm (A – C).

FIGURE 20. A, B, D Borboropactus bituberculatus. C Borboropactus squalidus (MNHN 5045 / 1572). A – B male palp from Irian Jaya, Waigeo Island (A prolateral, B retrolateral); C, D epigynum, ventral view (MNHN 5460 / 1572). Scale bars = 0.2 mm.