Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1978

Caleb, John T. D., 2019, The Indian net-casting spider name Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra is a nomen dubium (Araneae: Deinopidae), Zootaxa 4668 (1), pp. 148-150 : 148-149

Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1978 nomen dubium ( Figs 1–11 )

Dinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1978: 157 , figs. 1-5 (Description of female) types at ZSI, Kolkata examined.

Type material. Holotype (1 subadult) and paratypes (3 subadults) from INDIA: Assam, Goalpara district, Jamduar , 19.iii.1957, B.K. Tikader leg.

Remarks. Detailed examination of the types of D. goalparaensis revealed that the species was in fact described based on a series of sub-adult specimens ( Figs 1 , 7–8 ). The specimens were mistaken to be adults probably due to their size and because the authors did not have any other comparative material at the time of description. However, it is clear that no sclerotization or differentiation in morphology is seen in the epigynal region of the holotype ( Fig. 6 ). The fact is further supported by clear evidence from the tissue which was dissected from the epigynal region of the two paratypes and kept in a separate vial. Internal structures like the copulatory ducts, spermathecae or the fertilization ducts are apparently not seen ( Figs 10–11 ). From the above observations it is obvious that the species was established based on sub-adults. This was assumed earlier by Caleb & Mathai (2014) based on the original illustrations of Tikader & Malhotra (see figs 4, 5 in Tikader and Malhotra, 1978) and the same is herewith confirmed.

The species was also reportedly recorded from the state of Gujarat, India ( Yadav et al. 2017) and Karnataka, India ( Nalini & Ravindranatha 2012). It is likely that these records may probably not pertain to D. goalparaensis . The true Indian deinopid diversity is yet unknown and may in fact harbor many undescribed species considering the vast, less explored Indian landscape including biodiversity hotspots such as the western Ghats and Northeast India.

Fresh collections from the type locality are required to answer questions pertaining to the general morphology and genital structure of the mature forms and its phylogenetic relationships. The identity of the species thus remains unresolved and obscure. Deinopis goalparaensis , therefore should be considered a nomen dubium.

Generic placement. To confirm that the studied specimens indeed belong to Deinopis and not Menneus Simon, 1876 the holotype specimen was examined for the somatic morphological characters. The specimen rather fits well with the diagnostic features of the genus Deinopis (sensu Coddington et al. 2012). The carapace is flattened and elongated with narrow anterior cephalic region ( Figs 1, 3 , 7, 8 ); long, triangular sternum with a light median patch ( Fig. 4 ); their PMEs less than a diameter apart and ALEs set on prominent tubercles ( Figs 5 , 9 ). Abdomen long and narrow; without well-defined tubercles ( Figs 1 , 7 ). The females of the genus are usually large with their total body lengths varying from 15–28 mm while the males range from 12–23 mm ( Coddington et al. 2012). The holotype is 12.62 mm, falling short of the minimum size for an adult female but falls within the lower limit for a male. The female and male somatic character states were scored based on Coddington et al. (2012). The data is as follows: first 25 characters 011100?1111???1?1001?00-0 and characters 30–39, 10000???00. The genitalia characters (characters 26–29, 40– 53 in Coddington et al. 2012) could not be scored since none of the examined specimens were adults.

Figures

FIGURES 1–6. Holotype of Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1978. 1, Dorsal view. 2, Ventral view. 3, Carapace, dorsal view. 4, Sternum. 5, Frontal view. 6, Epigynal region, ventral view. Scale bars, (1, 2) 2 mm, (3–6) 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 7–11. Paratypes of Deinopis goalparaensis Tikader & Malhotra, 1978. 7, Habitus, lateral view. 8, Carapace, dorsal view. 9, Frontal view. 10, Dissected epigynum tissue of two paratype females, ventral view. 11, Same, dorsal view. Scale bars, (7) 2 mm, (8) 1 mm, (9–11) 0.5 mm.