Lamponella, PLATNICK, 2000

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2000, A Relimitation And Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spider Family Lamponidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (245), pp. 1-328 : 151-154

Lamponella , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Lamponella ainslie , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is an arbitrary combination of letters, considered feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this genus can easily be recognized by their deeply punctate sternum (figs. 325, 350) combined with a female palpal tarsus that is shortened, basally thickened, and has a dorsal scopula (fig. 349) or a male palp that retains a median apophysis (as in fig. 364). Other unusual features are the absence of a chilum, the anteriorly narrowed and medially invaginated labium, the presence of four unfused, triangular, epimeric sclerites above the left and right coxae, and the spineless female palpal tibia and tarsus.

DESCRIPTION: Small spiders, total length of males 2.2–3.6, of females 3.4–5.2. Carapace orange to red, tuberculate, with scattered non­feathery setae originating from bases of slight tubercles, tubercles protruding from lateral margin; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, very shallow, almost obsolete. Eight eyes in two rows, posterior medians largest, other eyes subequal in size; anterior medians circular, dark, laterals oval, light, posterior medians irregularly oval, flattened (fig. 344); from above, anterior eye row slightly procurved, posterior row strongly procurved, from front, both rows strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by at least their radius, by their radius or less from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by less than their radius, separated by almost their radius from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by almost their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in front than in back, slightly longer than wide. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts light orange to red; chilum absent, posterior chilum present as extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly (fig. 348); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of short setae originating in line along base of fang plus one long, thick seta originating closest to fang, immediately bent at 908 angle, extending to median line (fig. 345); promargin with about five tiny teeth on common carina, retromargin without teeth (fig. 346); cheliceral gland openings in almost unsclerotized, slight depression situated posteroproximally of teeth (fig. 347). Labium narrow, medially invaginated anteriorly, truncated posteriorly, distinctly depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcated, deep groove along margin near labium (in ventral view, much of groove obscured by folded groove margin, fig. 351); serrula long, with single row of long teeth. Sternum slightly elevated, not expanded anteriorly to sides beyond posterolateral corner of endites, with extensions to and between coxae; surface deeply punctate (fig. 350). Four triangular epimeric sclerites on each side, between pairs of palpal and leg coxae, not reaching sternal triangles, not fused to carapace or to each other. Pedicel composed of two small, flat dorsal sclerites and rounded sclerite covering venter and sides, rounded sclerite with median longitudinal keel prolonged anteriorly into distinct protrusion extending toward sternum.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with dorsal abdominal scutum reaching to at least one­third of abdominal length, not fused to epigastric scutum, females without dorsal scutum; cuticle with scattered short, nonfeathery setae; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; anterior edge of oval sclerites often fitting under epigastric scutum; colulus represented by setae, apparently situated just behind tracheal spiracle. Anterior lateral spinnerets short, tubular, almost contiguous at base, separated by almost their diameter at tip, with two thick major ampullate gland spigots (median one larger than lateral) plus small, unmodified piriform gland spigots (figs. 354, 355), cuticle representing distal, second spinneret segment restricted to semicircle surrounding major ampullate gland spigots (piriform gland spigots surrounded only by soft cuticle); posterior median spinnerets small, tubular, without anteriorly expanded tips, females with three spigot types (one with extremely long shaft, one with shorter shaft and narrow base, one with shorter shaft and wide base), third type lacking in males and thus presumably serving cylindrical glands (figs. 356, 357); posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented, with spigots as on posterior medians (figs. 358, 359).

Legs spineless, with scattered non­feathery setae; in males, all coxae and posterior trochanters dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters unnotched; anterior metatarsi and tarsi without distinct scopulae; posterior metatarsi with thick, distal preening brushes; posterior tarsi with long setae but without distinct scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of closely appressed setae; trichobothria present on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi, in single row, bases ridged (fig. 353); tarsal organ long, opening situated distally (fig. 352). Female palpal tibia and tarsus spineless; female palpal tarsus shortened, basally thickened, with short claw and dorsodistal scopula (fig. 349).

Male palp with retrolateral tibial apophysis often reduced to low lobe (figs. 361, 365, 369); embolus elongate, prolaterally situated, broadly fused basally to tegulum or free, accompanied by small, hooked median apophysis as well as membranous conductor (figs. 360, 364, 368). Epigynum variable in shape, without plug of solidified secretions.

KEY TO SPECIES OF LAMPONELLA

1. Males (those of L. kroombit unknown).. 2

– Females (those of L. wombat unknown)... ............................... 10

2. Retrolateral tibial apophysis distinct (as in fig. 361)............................ 3

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis obsolete (fig. 365)....................... beaury

3. Median apophysis relatively small (figs. 360, 376)............................ 4

– Median apophysis relatively large (figs. 368, 372, 380, 384, 388, 392)............ 5

4. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively short (fig. 361).................... ainslie

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively long (fig. 377)................... wombat

5. Median apophysis relatively short (figs. 368, 380)............................ 6

– Median apophysis relatively long (figs. 372, 384, 388, 392).................... 7

6. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively long (fig. 381)................. brookfield

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively short (fig. 369)................. kanangra

7. Median apophysis sinuous (fig. 388)................................. kimba

– Median apophysis not sinuous......... 8

8. Retrolateral tibial apophysis rounded (fig. 385)..................... homevale

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis triangular (figs. 373, 393)........................ 9

9. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively wide (fig. 393)................... taroom

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively narrow (fig. 373)................. wyandotte

10. Spermathecae widely separated (figs. 366, 367)....................... beaury

– Spermathecae approximate (as in figs. 361, 362)........................... 11

11. Anterior portion of spermathecae relatively long (figs. 375, 379, 387, 395)...... 12

– Anterior portion of spermathecae relatively short (figs. 363, 371, 383, 391)...... 15

12. Median portion of spermathecae bulging (fig. 395)....................... taroom

– Median portion of spermathecae not bulging (figs. 375, 379. 387).............. 13

13. Epigynal atrium oval (fig. 378).. kroombit

– Epigynal atrium triangular or heart­shaped (figs. 374, 386).................. 14

14. Anterior portion of spermathecae pointed posteriorly (fig. 387)........ homevale

– Anterior portion of spermathecae rounded posteriorly (fig. 375)........ wyandotte

15. Anterior portion of spermathecae pea­shaped (figs. 363, 391).................. 16

– Anterior portion of spermathecae rounded (figs. 373, 383).................. 17

16. Outline of spermathecae producing diamondshaped pattern within epigynal midpiece (fig. 362).................... ainslie

– Outline of spermathecae not producing diamond­shaped pattern (fig. 390)... kimba

17. Anterior portion of spermathecae relatively narrow (fig. 383)........... brookfield

– Anterior portion of spermathecae relatively wide (fig. 371)............. kanangra