Zyngoonops Benoit

Fannes, Wouter, 2013, The Goblin Spider Genus Zyngoonops (Araneae, Oonopidae), With Notes On Related Taxa, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (379), pp. 1-117 : 7-9

Zyngoonops Benoit

Zyngoonops Benoit, 1977: 246 (type species by monotypy Zyngoonops clandestinus Benoit ).

DIAGNOSIS: Zyngoonops can be distinguished from all other oonopid genera by the following combination of features: dorsal and ventral scuta heavily sclerotized (figs. 37A, B, 103D); eyes relatively small (figs. 3B, 32A, 50E); sternum with two posterior prongs (figs. 3C–F, 33F, 34A, B, 102C); pedicel tube with a ventral lip (figs. 5D–F, 28B, 68E, F); postepigastric scutum with a prominent epigastric scape (figs. 7B, 22B, 52E).

DESCRIPTION: Total length of males 1.04– 1.59, of females 1.15–1.53. Cephalothorax: Carapace yellow-orange, oval in dorsal view; pars cephalica usually moderately elevated, surface of elevated portion smooth, lower part of lateral surfaces with shallow microsculpture; thorax without depressions, without radiating rows of pits; posterolateral surface without spikes, posterolateral edge without pits; lateral margin straight, rebordered (e.g., figs. 2A–C, 65B–D, 104A–D, G, H); males with extended anterolateral corners (figs. 24A, 32B). Clypeus high, ALE separat- ed from edge of carapace by their radius or more, median projection absent, setae present. Eyes: two ( Z. clandestinus , Z. moffetti ) or six (other species), small; ALE oval. Sternum longer than wide, yellow-orange, fused to carapace, median concavity absent, surface smooth, without pits, no clearly defined radial furrows, sickle-shaped structures ab- sent, distance between coxae approximately equal, extensions of precoxal triangles present, without posterior hump, setae abundant, without hair tufts (figs. 65F, 103C); posterior margin with a pair of sclerotized prongs (e.g., figs. 3C–F, 33F, 34A, B, 102C); anterior margin protruding, in males with transverse band (e.g., figs. 25A, 32C, 66A). Males with a pair of pleural flaps (e.g., figs. 19A, 33E, 104F). Infracoxal grooves present, often with small pores (figs. 21C, 27A, B); coxal insertions I, II, and III each with two clusters of small openings. A row of 3–6 small openings on each side of the pedicel (e.g., figs. 2F, 3A, 74B, C). Chelicerae yellow-orange, straight, anterior face unmodified; at least in some species a small cheliceral tooth on promargin (fig. 45F); a short, apically pointed seta on inner surface of chelicera (figs. 4B, C, 11D); promargin flanked by double row of setae (inner and outer row), each row with about five setae, setae of inner row with small cuticular teeth on shaft, outer row consisting of smooth setae; between double row and fang base a long plumose hair; anterior face of paturon with sparse setae (figs. 4A, 11A, 24F); posterior surface of paturon with 2–3 short spines and a row of three long, medially directed setae (fig. 11B); fangs without toothlike projections, shape normal, without prominent basal process, tip unmodified. Labium: in males heavily sclerotized, much wider than long (figs. 25C, 104F); in females not heavily sclerotized, shape as in figures 4D, 74E. Male endites: enlarged, median margin short, posteromedian part bulging (e.g., figs. 19A, 57C); ventral surface heavily sclerotized except for diagonal band (figs. 103B, 104F); median surface with a pocket (e.g., fig. 20B–D) and two groups of setae (anterior and posterior group; fig. 58C); anterior edge of pocket continues into median projection (e.g., figs. 20D, 58D); median projection varying from very short ( Z. redii ; fig. 19C, F) to extremely long ( Z. rockoxi ; fig. 31A–C, E, F). Female endites: same as sternum in sclerotization, unmodified, with serrula present in single row (figs. 4E, F, 41E, F). Female palp without spines; femur twice as long as patella; patella as long as tibia, without prolateral row of ridges; tibia with three dorsal trichobothria, structure as on legs (fig. 5C); tarsus not expanded, twice as long as tibia (figs. 5A, B, 11F, G); tarsal organ with two receptors (fig. 6E). Pedicel with one dorsal and one ventral sclerite; dorsal sclerite flat, posteriorly drawn out into a point, not fused to prosoma, without special modifications (figs. 3D, 10D); ventral sclerite U-shaped, covering ventral and lateral sides of pedicel, anteriorly fused to prosoma, without special modifications. Abdomen: Ovoid, without long posterior extension, rounded posteriorly, interscutal membrane rows of small sclerotized platelets absent (figs. 102A, D, E, 103D). Booklung covers ovoid, anterolateral edge unmodified, not covered with white, matted setae. Posterior spiracles not connected by groove (fig. 28C). Pedicel tube short, not ribbed, without triangular extensions, without fringe of setae; with ventral lip (figs. 5D–F, 28B, 68E, F), outer surface of lip covered by transverse, regularly spaced ridges (figs. 5E, 68F); scutopedicel region without ridges or denticles, plumose hairs absent, matted setae on anterior ventral abdomen in pedicel area absent. Two groups of small, rounded tubercles above pedicel tube (figs. 27D, 28A, 68D). DS strongly sclerotized, yelloworange, without color pattern, middle surface smooth, sides smooth, anterior half without projecting denticles; in females short ( Z. clandestinus , Z. moffetti , Z. walcotti ) or long (other species). ES strongly sclerotized, yellow-orange, surrounding pedicel, not protruding, small lateral sclerites absent. PES strongly sclerotized, yellow-orange; in females short ( Z. clandestinus , Z. moffetti , Z. walcotti ) or long (other species). Often a pair of dark smooth regions mesad of anterior spiracles (fig. 28C, D); these regions are presumably muscle attachment marks. Lateral apodemes directed posteriorly (figs. 77A, B, 103D). Spinneret scutum present, incomplete ring, with fringe of needlelike setae (fig. 21F). Anal scutum present, usually weakly sclerotized. Supraanal scutum absent. Dense patch of setae anterior to spinnerets absent. Interscutal membrane with setae. Colulus small, sporting two setae (fig. 21F). ALS two segmented, with one major ampullate gland spigot and two piriform gland spigots (fig. 52B); PMS single segmented, with single spigot in males (fig. 49A), four spigots in females (fig. 52C); PLS two segmented, with two or three spigots in males (fig. 49B), six in females (figs. 7D, 52D). Legs: Yellow-orange, without color pattern, without spines; femur IV not thickened, same size as femora I–III, patella plus tibia I shorter than carapace. Tibiae III and IV with a group of specialized setae on ventral apex. Tarsal claws examined in detail in Z. chambersi (figs. 48C–E, 51B– D): superior claws I–II with 3–4 large, proximally situated teeth on lateral surfaces, about 10 small, distally situated teeth on median surfaces; superior claws III–IV with 2–4 large, proximally situated teeth on lateral surfaces, about 3 small, distally situated teeth on median surfaces; inferior claw absent. Trichobothria examined with SEM; each leg with four dorsal trichobothria: one on proximal tibia, two on distal tibia, one on distal metatarsus; hairs plumose, bothrium with ridges, aperture internal texture gratelike. Tarsal organ exposed, receptors as in figure 6A–D. Genitalia: Male epigastric region with sperm pore small, elliptical, wider than long, situated behind posterior spiracles (figs. 40D, 69C); a pair of additional orifices mesad of posterior spiracles (figs. 40D, 69C, D). Male palp not strongly sclerotized, proximal segments yellow, cymbium yellow or white; right and left palps symmetrical; trochanter unmodified; femur two or more times as long as trochanter, about twice as long as patella, attaching to patella basally; patella not enlarged, without prolateral row of ridges, setae unmodified; tibia about as long as patella, with three dorsal trichobothria; cymbium fused with bulb, but seam still visible distally, extending slightly beyond distal tip of bulb, with distal patch of setae, tarsal organ with two receptors; bulb white, elongated, shorter than cymbium; embolus tube shaped, its tip bent upward at an angle of almost 90 ° (figs. 29, 35C–F, 40E, F, 69E, F, 70, 71); no conductor or other accessory structures. Some specimens with a low ridge on the embolus (fig. 41A, B). Female genitalia consisting of an epigastric scape (figs. 7B, 22B, 52E), a genital duct and two uterine sclerites. Anterior uterine sclerite T-shaped (fig. 53B–D). Posterior uterine sclerite platelike; anterior surface with a slitlike opening distally (figs. 44A, B, 63A– C, 77C–E); sometimes a small, round opening more proximally (figs. 44C, 53F). Genital duct narrow, ascending along posterior uterine sclerite (figs. 23B, 55, 63E, F, 64); distal part usually highly coiled (figs. 23E, 43D, E). Most species with a genital pouch that covers the posterior part of the duct (figs. 7E, 43B, 55). Copulatory opening usually situated in ventral wall of pouch (figs. 55, 56).

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the D.R.C. and the Central African Republic.

KEY TO SPECIES

1. Males (those of Z. clandestinus , Z. moffetti , and Z. walcotti unknown)........... 2

– Females........................ 8

2. Median projections extremely long, ending near posterodorsal tip of carapace (figs. 31, 103A)...................... rockoxi

– Median projections not extending beyond anterior margin of endites........... 3

3. Carapace posterodorsal part reclining (figs. 45B, 100D)...................... 4

– Carapace posterodorsal part not reclining... 5

4. P2 with anterolateral extension (figs. 46E, F, 47C, 48A, B).............. chambersi

– P2 without anterolateral extension (fig. 39A– D)...................... beatriceae

5. Median projections very short (figs. 19B, C, 20); P2 absent.................. redii

– Median projections longer; P2 present... 6

6. Median projections relatively long, robust (fig. 25B, E); P2 elongated (figs. 25B, E, 26A)..................... goedaerti

– Median projections shorter, more slender (figs. 57D, 66D, F); P2 platelike (figs. 57F, 58B, 67A, C).................... 7

7. Median projections short, thornlike (fig. 57D, E)................... swammerdami

– Median projections longer, needlelike (fig. 66D, F)..................... marki

8. DS short, covering 1/3 or less of abdomen (figs. 8B, 14B, 102D); PES short (figs. 8E, 102E).......................... 9

– DS long, covering nearly full length of abdomen (figs. 30B, 37B); PES long, most of ventral abdomen covered (figs. 21D, 30D, 42C)........................... 11

9. Six eyes (fig. 15D)............. walcotti

– Two eyes (figs. 3B, 10B)............ 10

10. Epigastric scape relatively elongated, narrowed at tip (figs. 1F, 7B, 105A) clandestinus

– Epigastric scape relatively short, not narrowed at tip (figs. 8G, 13B, 105B)........ moffetti

11. Epigastric scape very long, reaching posterior margin of PES (figs. 36C, 103F)... rockoxi

(circle) and Z. moffetti (square).

– Epigastric scape not reaching posterior margin of PES...................... 12

12. Epigastric scape 0.3 times as long as PES or shorter (figs. 21D, 61C, 75B)......... 13

– Epigastric scape 0.5 times as long as PES or longer (figs. 30D, 42C, 51E).......... 15

13. Epigastric scape tongue shaped (fig. 75E)........................ marki

– Epigastric scape not tongue shaped..... 14

14. Epigastric scape with posteriorly a shallow groove (fig. 22B)................ redii

– Epigastric scape without a groove (fig. 61D)................. swammerdami

15. Epigastric scape triangular (figs. 30F, 105G)..................... goedaerti

– Epigastric scape not triangular (figs. 42E, 52E)........................... 16

16. Posterior half of scape much broader than anterior half (figs. 42E, 105E)... beatriceae

– Posterior half of scape not much broader than anterior half (figs. 52E, 105D).... chambersi