Synemosyna Hentz, 1846

Perger, Robert, Rubio, Gonzalo D. & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, On ant-like Synemosyna Hentz, 1846 spiders from Bolivia, with indirect evidence for polymorphic mimicry complexes (Araneae: Salticidae: Simonellini), European Journal of Taxonomy 748 (1), pp. 67-88 : 71

Genus Synemosyna Hentz, 1846

Synemosyna Hentz, 1846: 367 .

Simonella Peckham & Peckham, 1885: 23 (considered a junior synonym by Galiano 1966: 341).

Type species

Synemosyna formica Hentz, 1846 (by original designation).

Diagnosis (modified from Perger & Rubio 2020a)

Species of Synemosyna can be distinguished from those of Fluda Peckham & Peckham, 1892 and Erica Peckham & Peckham, 1892 by a carapace laterally constricted (continuous in the latter genera) and an epigyne with a single opening (2–3 in the latter genera), and from those of Sympolymnia Perger & Rubio, 2020 by a fusiform abdomen that is longer than the carapace, the carapace with at the most one lateral white patch, and spermathecae small, globular, pear- or kidney-shaped (abdomen ovate, carapace with 2 lateral white patches and spermathecae lung-shaped in Sympolymnia ). Cylistella Simon, 1901 has a rounded, beetle-like habitus without constrictions and is the morphologically most distinct group within this tribe.

Key to adults of Bolivian species of Synemosyna

1. Constriction between cephalic and thoracic parts weakly defined laterally, only slightly narrower than both parts ( Figs 3A, C , 4A, C ) .................................................................................................. 2

– Constriction between cephalic and thoracic parts distinct laterally, considerably narrower than both parts ( Figs 3B , 4B ) ........................................................... S. myrmeciaeformis ( Taczanowski, 1871)

2. Males ................................................................................................................................................. 3

– Females ............................................................................................................................................. 4

3. Tibial apophysis of male palp with obtuse dorsal tooth ............ S. aurantiaca ( Mello-Leitão, 1917)

– Tibial apophysis of male palp bifurcate ( Fig. 5E ) ............................ S. nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993

4. Copulatory ducts entering spermathecae anteriorly, approximately four times longer than spermathecae .............................................................................. S. aurantiaca ( Mello-Leitão, 1917)

– Copulatory ducts enter spermathecae posteriorly, approximately twice the length of spermathecae ( Fig. 5D ) ........................................................................................... S. nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993

Figures

Fig. 3. Dorsal and lateral habitus, males (all CBF). A, D. Synemosyna aurantiaca (Mello-Leitão, 1917). B, E. S. myrmeciaeformis (Taczanowski, 1871). C, F. S. nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 4. Dorsal and lateral habitus, females (all CBF). A, D. Synemosyna aurantiaca (Mello-Leitão, 1917). B, E. S. myrmeciaeformis (Taczanowski, 1871). C, F. S. nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Genitalia of Synemosyna spp. A–B. S. myrmeciaeformis (Taczanowski, 1871). A. Epigyne. B. Spermatheca and copulatory duct. C–F. S. nicaraguaensis Cutler, 1993. C. Epigyne. D. Spermatheca and copulatory duct. E. Palp, retrolateral view. F. Idem, ventral view.