Centrina, 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 : 187-189

Centrina , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Centrina keira , new species.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of Centrothele and Centrocalia in having an apophysis at the base of the embolus, but have the apophysis more distally directed and the embolus wider than in those of Centrothele . Females lack the parallel median and lateral epigynal ducts of Centrothele . Both sexes, unlike those of Centrocalia , do not have the posterior margin of the sternum fused to the pedicel.

DESCRIPTION: Medium to large spiders, total length of males 5.4–8.5, of females 4.9– 12.8. Carapace brown, pars cephalica lightest, pars thoracica with rows of dark maculations radiating from thoracic groove, coat­ ed with long, dark setae; thoracic groove long, longitudinal. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians largest, circular, dark, laterals subequal in size, oval, light, posterior medians smallest, irregularly oval, flattened, light; from above, anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior row slightly procurved, from front, anterior row slightly procurved, posterior row strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by more than their radius, closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by more than their diameter, farther from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by less than their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in front than in back, wider in front than long. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts brown; chilum wide, triangular, setose, accompanied by second, dumbbell­shaped, posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct, orange lateral boss, anterior surface with depressed, relatively unsclerotized oval area near promargin; promargin with two rows of long setae originating in line along base of fang, seta closest to fang bent near base at almost 908 angle, extending behind other promarginal setae to near midline; promargin with three teeth, median one largest, proximal one smallest; retromargin with two large, widely separated teeth. Labium elongate, base narrowed at about one­third of labial length, posterior margin truncate, anterior margin medially invaginated, surface not depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcated, deep, wide groove along margin near labium, groove wider anteriorly than posteriorly; serrula long, with single row of teeth. Sternum not elevated, with flat, rebordered lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with triangular extensions to and between coxae; surface not tuberculate, with slight elevations opposite, and depressions between, coxae. One epimeric sclerite on each side, above each coxa, reaching sternal triangles only by narrow strips of weakly sclerotized cuticle (strongest strip between coxae II and III), not fused to carapace. Pedicel consisting of small, diamond­shaped sclerite bearing short dorsal and ventral triangular ledges; anteroventral edge of sclerite reaching posterior tip of sternum.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with complete sclerotic ring formed by strong epigastric scutum plus weaker dorsal abdominal scutum covering entire front edge of abdomen, reaching to almost half of abdominal length, females with dorsal scutum represented only by small semicircular plate above pedicel, restricted to lower half of anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with long, erect and recumbent setae; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; sclerites separated by membranous lobe, anterior rim of sclerites fitting under epigastric scutum; colulus represented only by setae on slight sclerotization; tiny transverse sclerite, well removed from spinnerets, marking position of small posterior spiracle. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by more than their diameter, 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 of males large, tubular, of females with anteriorly expanded tips, bases occupied by three enormously widened cylindrical gland spigots; posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented.

Leg spination reduced only on anterior legs; typical leg spination pattern (only surfaces with spines listed): femora I, II d1­0­0, p0­0­1; III d1­0­0, p0­0­1, r0­0­1, IV d1­0­ 0, r0­0­1; tibiae III, IV p1­1­1, v2­2­2, r1­1­ 1; metatarsi III, IV p1­1­1, v2­2­1p, r1­1­1. Most leg surfaces with both short and long setae; males with all coxae and trochanters dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters slightly notched; anterior metatarsi and tarsi with divided scopulae, composed of laterally directed setae; posterior metatarsi with thick, dark, distal preening brushes; tarsi III, IV with entire scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of closely appressed se­ tae; trichobothria in two rows on metatarsi and tarsi. Female palpal femur, patella, tibia, and tarsus with spines; female palpal tarsus with long, basally dentate claw.

Male palp with short, strong retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface excavated opposite tibial apophysis, produced into distinct lobe on ventral side of tibial apophysis; tegulum expanded ventrally, bearing large median apophysis opposing large terminal apophysis; embolus originating prolaterally, short, wide, accompanied distally by long, partially membranous conductor; embolar base bearing distinct, distally­directed apophysis. Epigynum with anterior hood and deep atrium; spermathecae accompanied laterally by two large, translucent ducts.

KEY TO SPECIES OF CENTRINA

1. Males (those of C. whian unknown).... 2

– Females.......................... 11

2. Median apophysis relatively small (figs. 486, 490)............................ 3

– Median apophysis relatively large (as in figs. 454, 458)........................ 4

3. Retrolateral tibial apophysis greatly widened at base (fig. 487)............ macedon

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis not greatly widened at base (fig. 491)........... lewis

4. Embolar apophysis relatively short, wide (figs. 466, 482, 494)............... 5

– Embolar apophysis relatively long, narrow (figs. 454, 458, 462, 474, 478)....... 7

5. Median apophysis with subdistal projection (fig. 494).................... enfield

– Median apophysis without subdistal projection (figs. 466, 482)................ 6

6. Median apophysis relatively wide (fig. 466).......................... blundells

– Median apophysis relatively narrow (fig. 482)......................... sherbrook

7. Tip of median apophysis greatly narrowed, elongated (fig. 478)............ bondi

– Tip of median apophysis not narrowed, elongated........................... 8

8. Median apophysis and embolar apophysis relatively short (fig. 474).......... sawpit

– Median apophysis and embolar apophysis longer........................... 9

9. Retrolateral tibial apophysis incised at tip (figs. 455, 463).................. 10

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis not incised at tip (fig. 459)................... dorrigo

10. Median apophysis relatively narrow (fig. 454)............................. keira – Median apophysis relatively wide (fig. 462)............................. kota

11. Epigynum with rounded atrium (figs. 472, 480, 488)....................... 12

– Epigynal atrium otherwise........... 14

12. Epigynal ducts relatively wide (fig. 488)............................. macedon

– Epigynal ducts relatively narrow (figs. 473, 481)........................... 13

13. Epigynal ducts situated medially (fig. 473).............................. whian

– Epigynal ducts situated laterally (fig. 481).............................. bondi

14. Epigynal atrium a broad triangle (figs. 460, 468, 476)....................... 15

– Epigynal atrium otherwise........... 17

15. Epigynal midpiece relatively narrow (fig. 460)....................... dorrigo

– Epigynal midpiece relatively wide (figs. 468, 476)........................... 16

16. Epigynal midpiece relatively long (fig. 468).......................... blundells

– Epigynal midpiece relatively short (fig. 476)............................ sawpit

17. Epigynum relatively short, wide (figs. 456, 492)........................... 18

– Epigynum relatively long, narrow (figs. 464, 484, 496)....................... 19

18. Epigynal hood relatively narrow (fig. 456)................................ keira

– Epigynal hood relatively wide (fig. 492)................................ lewis

19. Epigynum with anterior hood (figs. 464, 484) ............................... 20

– Epigynum without anterior hood (fig. 496).............................. enfield

20. Epigynum an inverted triangle (fig. 464)................................ kota

– Epigynum with hood far removed from remainder of structure (fig. 484)................................ sherbrook