Myrmele Prószyński, 2016,

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2016, Delimitation and description of 19 new genera, a subgenus and a species of Salticidae (Araneae) of the world, Ecologica Montenegrina 7, pp. 4-32 : 14-16

Gen. Myrmele Prószyński, 2016 gen. n.

Figures 2J , 3I

Synonym: Myrmarachne electrica group of species Wanless, 1978.

Type species. Myrmarachne peckhami Wanless, 1978 .

Documentation studied. Comparative diagnostic drawings of 4 species in Prószyński (2016a) and original literature.

Etymology. Name combines words " Myrmarachne " and " electrica ", grammar gender assumed feminine.

Diagnosis. Female. Anterior part of "pipes-like" sclerotized spermathecae resembling these in Myrmavola by single loop of anterior detour of "pipes", but differs strikingly by strange, double spiral structures, in membranous parts attached to the proximal ends of spermathecae (but located in posterior epigyne!), being presumably modified copulatory ducts ( Fig. 2J ).

Male. Palps with round bulbus, spermophor without additional thin duct, distal part of embolus filamentous ( Fig. 3I ). Chelicerae in males moderately enlarged, with basal ventral lobe, dorsally flat. Body elongate in various degree and relatively flat, constrictions weakly developed. This diagnosis agrees with Wanless definition of Myrmarachne electrica group of species from Madagascar by "coiled distal seminal ducts and median pouch [pocket]" in females, in males by "filamentous distal embolus".

More diagnostic documentation - see at: http://www.peckhamia.com/salticidae/q24-Myrmel.html and, especially, Wanless (1978: 119, figs 79A-I, 80A-E).

Note on genera relationships. Imprecise drawings hamper drawing final conclusion on the relationships of genera Myrmele and Myrmavola . While this paper rearranges the genera of MYRMARACHNINES by the structure of spermathecae and ducts, Wanless (1978: 106) confirms the similarity of females of M. longiventris and M. peckhami , which, incidentally, he has found in the same vial). Further research may necessitate revival of Bizonella .

Remarks. " Myrmarachne" eumenes (Simon, 1900) is standing out with body shape, with enormous long pedicel and the constriction of carapace and abdomen, however the shape of spermathecae fits the definition of Myrmavola - see Wanless (1978 a, Fig. 73), its placement pending further considerations and leave uncertain " Myrmarachne" longiventris ( Simon, 1903) (the latest being the type species of the genus Bizonenella Strand, 1929 (= Bizone Simon, 1903 ), deserving reinstatement).

Distribution. Madagascar.

Composition. The following species are transferred from genus Myrmarachne MacLeay, 1839 : Myrmele andringitra ( Wanless,1978) comb. n., M. eugenei ( Wanless, 1978) comb. n., M. electrica (Peckham & Peckham, 1892) comb. n., M. peckhami (Roewer, 1951) comb. n.

Figures

Figure 2. Diversity of internal structures of epigyne in MYRMARACHNINES: A – Myrmarachne tristis, B – C – M. ramosa compared with its alleged synonym M. melanocephala, D – Myrmanu nubilis, E – Myrmapeni chickeringi, F – Myrmagua guaranitica, G – Myrmaplata plataleoides, H – Myrmavola galianoae, I – Myrmapana panamensis, J – Myrmele peckhami. Sources: A, G, H – J. Prószyński, ©Annales zoologici, 2003, 51, 3: 109, Fig. 452; 1992, 44, 9: 85- 186, Figs 87; 2001, 51 (4): 520-521, Figs 10; B – J. Prószyński,©Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society, 2003, 12: 301, Fig. 29; C –Edwards & Benjamin, Zootaxa 2009, 2309: 10, Fig. 5C; D, J – F.R. Wanless, Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Zoology series) 33: 111, Fig. 72B; 119, Fig. 80D; 143, Fig. 70; Reproduced with the permission of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London; E, F – M. E. Galiano, Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, Entomologia, Buenos Aires, 3: 143, Figs. 65; 136, Fig. 66

Figure 3. The diversity of palps in MYRMARACHNINES: A – Myrmarachne tristis, B – M. ramosa, C – Myrmapana panamensis, D – Myrmage gedongensis, E – Myrmapeni penicillata, F –Toxeus maxillosus, G – Myrmavola galianoae, H – Myrmaplata plataleoides, I - Myrmele peckhami, J – Myrmatheca alticephalon, K – Myrmavola yamasakii – palp, tibia dorsally and male chelicera. Sources: A, G – Prószyński, ©Annales zoologici, 2003, 51, 3: 109, Figs 449-450; 520-521, Figs. 7 – 8; B, D, H – J. Prószyński, ©Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society, 2003, 12 (7): 301, 22-23; 308, Figs 49-513; 299, Figs 4-5; 117, Figs 49-50; C, E – M. E. Galiano, ©Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias naturales Bernardino Rivadavia, Entomologia, Buenos Aires 3: 143, Figs 69-70; 117, Figs. 49- 50; 136, Figs 46-47; I - F.R. Wanless, ©Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Zoology series) 33(1): 119, Fig. 80A. Reproduced with the permission of the Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London..