Workmania, Dankittipakul & Jocqué & Singtripop, 2012
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/933EDA4C-B811-FEA8-CBC2-FC1AFE0A3F23 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Workmania |
| status |
gen. nov. |
Workmania View in CoL gen. nov.
Type species. Workmania botuliformis View in CoL sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Workmania gen. nov. is a monophyletic sister-group of Mallinella . In both genera males have a sclerotized TA with strongly modified margins. Males of Workmania gen. nov. can be distinguished by the greatly reduced prolateral base of the male conductor ( Figs 6 View FIGURES 4–7. 4–7 , 1400, 1406); females by the presence of a median scape on the epigynal plate (Figs 1392, 1398–1399), in combination with the strongly compact spermathecae (Figs 1393–1397). The insemination duct is indistinct. General appearance of Workmania gen. nov. closely resembles that of Heradion but can be separated by the lack of a dorsal scutum on the opisthosoma and by the shorter legs. The presence of posterior ventral spines (Figs 1389–1390) is a key character shared among members of Mallinella , Heradion , Euryeidon , Workmania gen. nov. and Heliconilla gen. nov., they form a distinct clade within the Zodariinae .
Etymology. The generic name is established in honor of T. Workman, who described the first member of this genus; the gender is feminine.
Affinities. Somatic morphologies of Workmania gen. nov. and Heradion are closely similar, although the carapace is rugous in Workmania gen. nov. instead of being smooth and shiny in Heradion (Figs 1383–1386 cf. 13). The complete absence of a dorsal scutum on the opisthosoma of the male in Workmania gen. nov. is of interest and in clear contrast to Heradion .
Among the similar characters shared by both genera are the bluntly pointed posterior ventral spines; these are large and arranged in a group in front of the spinnerets, whereas in Mallinella they form a single row. In Workmania gen. nov. and Heradion , the anterior margin of the sternum is medially excavated to accommodate the labium, the lateral margin of the sternum is provided with short and blunt extensions fitting into coxal and intercoxal concavities (Figs 1388, 1391). In Mallinella and Heliconilla gen. nov., the anterior margin of the sternum is straight and the extensions on the lateral margin are triangular and usually sharply pointed ( Fig 557 View FIGURES 557–560. 557–560 ). The body color of Workmania gen. nov. and Heradion is remarkable, generally bright orange, and its integument appears very smooth and shiny. The integument of Heliconilla gen. nov. is strongly granulated, covered with numerous hinged setae. In Workmania gen. nov. and Heradion , the posterior metatarsi and tarsi are often distinctly lengthened; the spines on the posterior legs are reduced in number, whereas in Heliconilla gen. nov. and Mallinella the leg segments are lengthened in only a few species-groups of the latter and the spines on the posterior legs are more numerous.
Nevertheless, the genitalic morphology of Workmania gen. nov. bears a very close resemblance to that of Mallinella . In both genera, the bulbus is characterized by a prominent TA. The apex of the beak-shaped conductor is sharply pointed, but the extended dorsal process of the conductor appears to be reduced or absent in Workmania gen. nov. The prolateral extension of the conductor which is well-developed in Mallinella and Heliconilla gen. nov. is greatly reduced and almost indistinct in Workmania gen. nov.
Females hold one of the most important diagnostic features and can be recognized by the presence of a median scape on the epigynal plate. The female internal genitalia are comparatively uniform. In all species there are large, tubular, paired spermathecae. The strongly compact spermathecae of Workmania gen. nov. and some speciesgroups of Mallinella could be either plesiomorphic or apomorphic, depending on whether the state of elongated and convoluted spermathecae in most Mallinella and Heliconilla gen. nov. is a primary or a secondary development. However, Workmania gen. nov. can be easily distinguished by the absence of separate insemination ducts.
Description. Medium-sized to large zodariid spiders. Prosoma elongate-ovoid, widest at level of coxae II, pars cephalica moderately convex, in profile highest between PME and deep, longitudinal fovea, abruptly sloping baclwards; integument from granulated to smooth, sparsely covered with setae on posterior lateral margin, longer ones present on ocular region. Carapace uniform bright orange to dark reddish brown. Chilum represented by a single sclerite, trapezoidal, medially elevated, covered with few setae. Chelicerae with distomesal group of hairs; fangs short and stout; no denticles on cheliceral margins; lateral condyles moderately elevated. Labium triangular, longer than wide, slightly constricted at base, sparsely covered with setae. Gnathocoxae triangular, covered with black anteromesal scopulae. Sternum roughly triangular, slightly elevated posteriorly, anterior margin with median concavity, lateral margin with blunt extensions fitting into coxal and intercoxal concavities; sigilla shallow, situated on posterior margin. All eyes circular, pale; AER slightly procurved, PER strongly procurved; AME largest, less than radius apart, at about 1 to 1.5 diameters from ALE; PME about 1 diameter apart and about twice diameter from PLE. MOQ longer than wide; distinctly wider in front than behind. Leg formula 1423 or 4123. Legs with elongated metatarsi and tarsi, lined with few erect spines, mostly on posterior tibiae and metatarsi; ventrally with thick brush of chisel-shaped setae on distal part of metatarsi, distinctly denser on legs III and IV. Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid. Dorsum of opisthosoma with distinct dorsal pattern, in juveniles with 5–6 pairs of pale round spots, modified in adult: first and second pairs fused to form paired reniform patches; third to fourth pairs represented by elongateoval spots, in some males; fifth pair fused to form transverse band; females usually with reduced reniform patches. Dorsal scutum indistinct, replaced by median longitudinal band on cardiac region. Epiandrum indistinct. PVS moderately long, erect, arranged into a group on sclerotized plate, apex of PVS bluntly pointed in males, thin and hairlike, with sharply pointed apex in females. Spinnerets as usual in the subfamily Zodariinae .
Palp. Tibia with long trichobothrium situated ventrally; apical margin on ventral side elevated but never prominent. RTA short, subtriangular in ventral view, broader at base, gradually tapered towards blunt apex. Cymbium with narrow basal fold occupying 1/3 of its length. TA elongated; apico- and meso-retrolateral folds well-developed, directed mesad; always with slender apico-prolateral process and basal tooth. Tegular spine absent. Conductor elongated, apex sharply pointed, strongly curved backwards; dorsal process of conductor indistinct; prolateral extension of conductor greatly reduced. Embolus broad, bifurcated, deviating at half its length, provided with mesal and lateral rami.
Female. Generally as in males but carapace more elongated, anteriorly slightly wider; dorsal pattern on opisthosoma reduced or absent.
Genitalia. Epigynal plate represented by transverse band, with deep anterior median incision and a median scape. Internal genitalia represented by tubular, very compact spermathecae with broad internal duct. Insemination duct indistinct, possibly part of spermatheca.
Species included. Two species from Malay Peninsula and Sumatra: W. botuliformis sp. nov. and W. juvenca ( Workman, 1896) comb. nov.
Natural history. Species of Workmania gen. nov. live in humid lowland rainforests.
Distribution. Sundaland.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.