Ischyropsalididae Simon, 1879a

SCHÖNHOFER, AXEL L., 2013, Axel L. Schönhofer, Zootaxa 3679 (1), pp. 1-68 : 11

Family Ischyropsalididae Simon, 1879a

Ischyropsalidae Simon, 1879a: 265 (compr. Ischyropsalis , Sabacon , Taracus ); type genus Ischyropsalis C.L. Koch, 1839b as inferable from the stem of the family name (ICZN 11.7.1.1);— Roewer 1914: 100 (compr. Ischyropsalis , Sabacon , Taracus , Tomicomerus ), 1923: 680, 1950: 11; Dresco 1970: 1212 (compr. Ischyropsalis , Nipponopsalis , Taracus , Tomicomerus ); Shear 1975: 11; Gruber 1978: 105.

Ischyropsalididae — Martens 1969: 184–186 (compr. Ceratolasma , Nipponopsalis , Ischyropsalis , Sabacon , Taracus ); new composition (compr. Acuclavella , Ceratolasma , Ischyropsalis ).

Diagnosis. Dyspnoi of the superfamily Ischyropsalidoidea with a western Palearctic and western Nearctic distribution. Defined by peculiarities of glans penis morphology, composition of the sternal region, and supported by molecular phylogenetic evidence. Palps without bottlebrush-shaped hairs, distal articles with dense cover of microtrichia, claw rudiment present. Chelicerae of moderate size, enlarged in Ischyropsalis . Except for few cavespecies in Ischyropsalis males with glandular fields on the dorsal cheliceral segment, these partly associated with apophyses. Truncus penis simple, filled up to two thirds with a single muscle; muscular tendon short; base of truncus divided into two short root-like structures.

Glans penis simple and conical, separated into two sclerotised areas: dorsally the continuously sclerotised portion of the truncus and ventrally an isolated sclerotised plate set with uniform spines of variable length; both sclerotised portions gradually tapering into and joined at the long stylus. Stylus simple, long and tapering, either bent at the base ( Ischyropsalis ) or set with indistinct hook-like structures. Ovipositor short and stout, without large papillae, opening cleft of vagina bordered by a seam of microspinules, medium-sized setae on apical part only, arranged into rows and clusters. Frontal margin of opisthosoma without a median furrow. Coxae II to IV with sternal apophyses, labium large. Two or more bump- or spine-like metapeltidial structures present, the median ones largest.