Selenops isopodus, Mello-Leitao, 1941

Crews, Sarah C., Galvis, William, Torres, Richard A., Gutiérrez-Estrada, Miguel A., Sarmiento, Jessica & Esposito, Lauren A., 2021, The flattie spiders of the Selenops isopodus species group (Araneae: Selenopidae) with a review of Selenops records from Colombia, Zootaxa 4964 (1), pp. 61-82 : 64

Selenops isopodus group

The species of the group can be distinguished from other selenopids by their genitalia. The epigyne is characterized by a large median field, and the endogyne consists of long, broad copulatory ducts that posteriorly curve dorsally to the secondary spermathecae, continuing to the primary spermathecae ( Figs 19, 22–23, 25, 28–29 ). Additionally, females have a robust posterodorsal fold which covers most of the primary spermathecae ( Figs 19, 22–23, 25, 28–29 ). The shape of the median field and of the epigynal pockets can vary within species ( Figs 24, 27 ), but there are discrete differences between species. In the male, the cymbium is angular, the RTA has a long, tapering dorsal branch, the tegulum is large, with the embolus arising from it at a somewhat inconspicuous location after the tegulum narrows, the embolus is broad, flat, and slightly twisted, and the spermophor folds inward from the tegulum into the hematodocha ( Figs 30–37 ).

Figures

FIGURES 18–29. Genitalia of females from the Selenops isopodus species group. 18–20, 23 S. arikok (EME sel_068) from Arikok National Park, Aruba (18 epigyne, 19 endogyne, 20 epigyne) with colors corresponding to parts of the genitalia mentioned in the text for comparison among taxa of the S. isopodus group: orange = COs, pink = MF, yellow = EP, 23 endogyne with colors corresponding to parts of the genitalia mentioned in the text for comparison among taxa of the S. isopodus group, arrows indicate path from CDs to spermathecae and FDs, showing how the CDs fold under themselves in the dorsal direction, teal=CDs, blue-violet=SS, red=PS, yellow=FDs, green= PF; 21–22 S. curazao (CASENT 9067826; ABC_062) from Dos Pos, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles (21 epigyne, 22 endogyne); 24–25 S. isopodus (ICN-Ar-12894) from Albania, La Guajira, Colombia (24 epigyne, 25 endogyne); 27–28 S. isopodus (ICN-Ar-1735) from Barichara, Santander, Colombia (27 epigyne, 28 endogyne); 26, 29 S. bullerengue sp. nov. (ICN-Ar-12898) from Finca de Ovi, Hacienda El Huerto, Turbaco, Bolívar, Colombia (26 epigyne, 29 endogyne).

FIGURES 30–40. Palps from males of the Selenops isopodus species group. 30–33, 39 Palp of S. isopodus (ICN-Ar-12895) from Albania, La Guajira, Colombia (30, 32 ventral, 31, 33 retrolateral, 39 dorsal) with colors corresponding to the parts of the palps mentioned in the text for comparison among taxa of the S. isopodus group: green = vRTA, orange = dRTA, pink = T, where tegulum narrows basally, the pink becomes brighter, indicating the inconspicuous origin of the E, purple = C, yellow = MA, arrow indicates extended tegulum with lack of retrolateral indentation; 34–35, 38 Palp of S. curazao (CASENT 9058453) from Girouette Plantation, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles (34 ventral, 35 retrolateral, 38 dorsal); 36–37, 40 S. bullerengue sp. nov. (ICN-Ar-12899) from Finca de Ovi, Hacienda El Huerto, Turbaco, Bolívar, Colombia (36 ventral, 37 retrolateral, 40 dorsal).