CENTROTHELINAE, 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 : 169

CENTROTHELINAE , NEW SUBFAMILY

TYPE GENUS: Centrothele L. Koch.

DIAGNOSIS: Centrothelines share with lamponines a deep groove extending along the median margin of the endites (fig. 396) but lack the odd endite shape of lamponines. Females are easy to recognize, because of their anterior abdominal scutum (usually restricted to the anterior surface of the abdomen) and especially the row of three highly modified, greatly enlarged cylindrical gland spigots found on the posterior portion of each posterior median spinneret (figs. 410, 411); those spigots are easily visible under light microscopy. Males (like females) lack the anteriorly expanded ventral pedicel sclerite of lamponines; their ventral pedicel sclerite is anteriorly truncated, broadly meeting the posterior margin of the sternum, or even fusing with it.

DISTRIBUTION: Australia (including Tasmania), New Guinea, and New Caledonia.

INCLUDED GENERA: Centrothele L. Koch , Prionosternum Dunn , Asadipus Simon , and the new genera Centrina , Centrocalia , Centsymplia , Queenvic , Bigenditia , Graycassis , Notsodipus , and Longepi .

KEY TO GENERA OF CENTROTHELINAE

1. Posterior margin of sternum fused to ventral pedicel sclerite.................... 2

– Posterior margin of sternum separated from anterior margin of pedicel by narrow sliver of unsclerotized cuticle............. 3

2. Males with large projections at anterolateral corners of endites and large projections on either side of cheliceral fang base; female epigynal atria heavily rebordered posteriorly (figs. 528, 532); Australia................................ Bigenditia

– Males without projections on endites and chelicerae; female epigynal atria not heavily rebordered posteriorly (figs. 500, 504); New Caledonia.......... Centrocalia

3. Males............................. 4

– Females.......................... 12

4. Embolus with apophysis at base (as in figs. 397, 414)........................ 5

– Embolus without apophysis........... 6

5. Embolus relatively long, narrow (as in fig. 414).................... Centrothele

– Embolus relatively short, wide (as in fig. 454).......................... Centrina

6. Most of embolus hidden, in ventral view, be­ hind greatly enlarged terminal apophysis situated prolaterally on palpal bulb (as in figs. 714, 730).............. Longepi

– Palp otherwise...................... 7

7. Embolus conspicuously recurved at anterior end of palpal bulb and again before its tip (as in figs. 582, 650)............... 8

– Embolus not recurved twice........... 9

8. Retrolateral tibial apophysis deeply incised (as in figs. 583, 627)......... Asadipus

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis not incised (as in figs. 651, 663)............ Notsodipus

9. Median apophysis greatly enlarged, highly modified (as in figs. 542, 566), retrolateral tibial apophysis lobed, ledge­shaped (as in figs. 543, 567)............ Graycassis

– Median apophysis and retrolateral tibial apophysis otherwise............... 10

10. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively short (figs. 471, 535, 539).... Prionosternum

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively long (as in figs. 507, 511).............. 11

11. Median apophysis relatively large (as in figs. 510, 514)................. Queenvic

– Median apophysis very small (fig. 506)........................... Centsymplia

12. Epigynum triangular, with ducts restricted to posterior portion of epigynum (figs. 508, 509)................... Centsymplia

– Epigynum not as in figures 508, 509... 13

13. Epigynum with paired anterior hoods (figs. 536, 540) and bipartite spermathecae (figs. 537, 541)............. Prionosternum

– Epigynum otherwise................ 14

14. Epigynum with pair of lateral pockets and medially situated, recurved ducts (figs. 512, 516, 520, 524)............. Queenvic

– Epigynum otherwise................ 15

15. Epigynum internally with pair of blind ducts (as in figs. 653, 716).............. 16

– Epigynum without blind ducts........ 17

16. Epigynum with elaborate anterior margin and anteriorly recurved ducts (as in figs. 714, 715)...................... Longepi

– Epigynum otherwise, usually with anterior atrium and posteriorly coiled ducts (as in figs. 652, 653)............ Notsodipus

17. Epigynum a flattened plate, with highly looping ducts visible through cuticle (as in figs. 588, 596, 628).............. Asadipus

– Epigynum otherwise................ 18

18. Epigynum internally with largely parallel median and lateral ducts (as in figs. 429, 445)........................ Centrothele

– Epigynum otherwise................ 19

19. Posterior epigynal ducts forming a y­shaped