Austrodomus Lawrence, 1947

Rodrigues, Bruno V. B. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 4799 (1), pp. 1-80 : 7

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4799.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E295AAC9-09C8-48A3-8C5F-402117381B80
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5920081
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03EE8789-3B59-A176-6AEC-FF24AD13F801
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Austrodomus Lawrence, 1947
status

Treatment

Genus Austrodomus Lawrence, 1947 View in CoL View at ENA

Austrodomus Lawrence, 1947: 10 View in CoL (Type species by monotypy, Austrodomus zuluensis Lawrence, 1947 View in CoL ); Cooke, 1964: 264. Katumbea Cooke, 1964: 281 (Type species by monotypy, Katumbea oxoniensis Cooke, 1964 View in CoL ). Syn. nov.

Remarks. Katumbea is a monotypic genus from Tanzania, known only from the female holotype. It is here considered a junior synonym of Austrodomus based on the similarity of the morphology of the female epigyne, including having inverted U-shaped ridges and posterior pocket-like structures, as well as the vulva with similar copulatory ducts and a swollen pouch-like area. In addition, both lack secondary spermathecae, since we did not observe glands that could indicate the presence of this structure. This synonymy was further corroborated by the results of the morphological cladistic analysis carried out by Rodrigues & Rheims (2020), where K. oxoniensis appears nestled within Austrodomus .

Diagnosis. Species of Austrodomus are distinguished from other Prodidominae genera by the male palp having wide embolar base, with large membranous area and hyaline conductor ( Figs 8B View FIGURE 8 , 9B View FIGURE 9 ); female epigyne with two inverted U-shaped ridges and small, posterior, triangular or C-shaped pocket-like structures pointing towards each other ( Figs 7A, D View FIGURE 7 , 8D View FIGURE 8 ); vulva with proximal part of copulatory ducts enlarged, with swollen pouch-like area ( Figs 7B, E View FIGURE 7 , 8E View FIGURE 8 ).

Description. Total length of males 1.66–2.50 and females 2.04–5.34. Carapace and legs yellow, and abdomen grayish ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ). Carapace longer than wide, oval ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ). Fovea absent. Eight eyes; posterior eye row strongly procurved ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ), anterior eye row approximately straight ( Figs 2C View FIGURE 2 , 3C View FIGURE 3 ); PME and PLE irregular; AME dark ( Fig. 2C View FIGURE 2 ); interdistance contiguous of AME–ALE, PME–PLE, ALE–PLE. Chilum absent. Chelicerae large (0.31–0.52), without boss, generally projected anteroventrally ( Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 A–D); retromargin with one reduced tooth ( Fig. 3F View FIGURE 3 ), except A. oxoniensis comb. nov., apparently toothless; fang long, without shaft serrula ( Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 D–F). Endites convergent anteriorly, with few hairs on internal margin, pointed distal margin, serrula absent ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ); labium approximately wider than long ( Fig. 3D View FIGURE 3 ). Sternum longer than wide, anterior margin rounded, rebordered anteriorly and laterally; posterior region strongly protruding between coxae IV with numerous long and erect setae ( Figs 2D View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ); intercoxal extensions absent and precoxal triangles present ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Pedicel with anterior region truncate ( Fig. 2D View FIGURE 2 ). Leg formula 4123. Legs III and IV with spines on femora, tibiae and metatarsi, only A. oxoniensis comb. nov. with one dorsal spine on femur I. Patella I longer than the others, length similar to tibia I. Trichobothria present dorsally on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, arranged in two rows; bothrium with four ridges on proximal plate ( Fig. 4C View FIGURE 4 ). Tarsal organ capsulate, with rounded opening, located dorsally and distally on tarsi. Two smooth claws ( Figs 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ); dense claw tufts of tenent setae inserted in a well-delimited plate ( Figs 4A, B View FIGURE 4 ); tarsus with modified apical ventral setae ( Fig. 4D View FIGURE 4 ); solid claw tuft clasper present. Abdomen oval, longer than wide, without scales ( Figs 2A, B View FIGURE 2 ); dorsum of abdomen without curved setae anteriorly. Six spinnerets; ALS as long as wide, contiguous ( Figs 2E, F View FIGURE 2 ), piriform gland spigots elongated, with associated setae ( Figs 5A, C View FIGURE 5 ), major ampulate gland spigot field on well-defined conical structure ( Fig. 5D View FIGURE 5 ), males and females with two major ampulate gland spigots ( Figs 5A, D View FIGURE 5 ); PLS and PMS short, PLS larger than PMS ( Figs 5B, C View FIGURE 5 ); PMS and PLS with claviform setae ( Fig. 5B View FIGURE 5 ); PLS in males and females apparently with only one minor ampulate gland spigot ( Figs 5B, E View FIGURE 5 ), without aciniform gland spigots and cylindrical gland spigot; PMS in males with apparently two aciniform gland spigots and one minor ampulate gland spigot, females with two aciniform gland spigots and one minor ampulate gland spigot ( Fig. 5F View FIGURE 5 ). Female palp: tarsus truncated, with apical chemosensory patch, without claw ( Figs 4E, F View FIGURE 4 ). Male palp: femur unmodified; tibia short, less than half cymbium length. Two RTAs, vRTA robust and dRTA with wide base, distally pointed; cymbium with apical scopula; bulb ovoid with tegular laminar extension at distal part; sperm duct wide; embolus originating prolaterally at 9 o’clock position; conductor hyaline, originating at 12 o’clock position ( Figs 6 View FIGURE 6 A–D, 8B, C, 9B, C). Epigyne: epigynal plate with paired copulatory openings located medially ( Figs 6E View FIGURE 6 , 7A, D View FIGURE 7 , 8D View FIGURE 8 ). Vulva: copulatory ducts convoluted laterally; secondary spermathecae absent; primary spermathecae conspicuous, rounded, located laterally to copulatory opening, except A. scaber with inconspicuous primary spermathecae; fertilization ducts laterad ( Figs 6F View FIGURE 6 , 7B, E View FIGURE 7 ).