Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889

West, Rick C., Nunn, Steven C. & Hogg, Stephen, 2012, A new tarantula genus, Psednocnemis, from West Malaysia (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with cladistic analyses and biogeography of Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889, Zootaxa 3299, pp. 1-43 : 12-13

Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889

Selenocosmiini Simon 1889: 204 (sub Selenocosmiae); Simon 1892: 147 (sub Selenocosmieae); Pocock 1895a: 168 (sub Selenocosmiidae); Raven 1985: 118.

Phlogiini Simon 1892: 144 (sub Phlogieae ). (synonymised by Simon 1903: 953).

Poecilotheriini Simon 1889: 204 (sub Poecilotheriae); Simon 1892: 144 (sub Poecilotherieae); Schmidt 1995:1–2 (subfamilial elevation); Raven 2005: 16; West et al. 2008: 38. Newly replaced into synonymy of Selenocosmiinae .

Chilobrachini trib. nov. West, Nunn & Hogg

Phlogiellini trib. nov. West, Nunn & Hogg

Diagnosis Maxilla with stridulation organ formed by an oval patch of modified setae (often bacillate) on prolateral face ( Figs 8, 9 , 47 , 49a , 50a, 51a, 52a), originating medially (not ventrally from the oral fringe), opposing modified setae (strikers) in multiple rows on the retrolateral cheliceral surface ( Figs 10, 12 , 48 , 50b, 51b, 52b): maxillary lyra reduced or absent in some genera, cheliceral strikers retained, sternal sigilla largely removed from sternal margins ( Fig. 5 ), many labial cuspules (>200, except Poecilotheria >50) ( Fig. 4 ), leg spines only found distally on metatarsi, tibial apophyses on leg I in mature males absent.

Genera included: Chilobrachys Karsch 1891 , Coremiocnemis Simon 1892 , Haplocosmia Schmidt & von Wirth 1996, Lyrognathus Pocock 1895 , Orphnaecus Simon 1892 , Phlogiellus Pocock 1897 , Poecilotheria Simon 1885 , Psednocnemis gen. nov. West, Nunn & Hogg, Selenocosmia Ausserer 1871 , Selenotholus Hogg 1902 and Selenotypus Pocock 1895 .

Remarks: West et al. (2008) considered Poecilotheria as its own subfamily Poecilotherinae, presumably following Schmidt (1995). However, we do not recognize Poecilotherinae as a valid subfamily as it lacks any significant synapomorphies to define it from other subfamilies, particularly from Selenocosmiinae (but only synapomorphies of generic significance). Further, dividing the two groups would leave Selenocosmiinae lacking any synapomorphies, something Schmidt (1995) apparently did not consider. With the two groups synonymized, herein, Selenocosmiinae can again be defined by synapomorphies discovered herein (but subject to further testing through the addition of outgroups), and previously ( Raven 1985). During the course of gathering data for cladistic analyses, the authors noted a distinct lack of labial cuspules in Poecilotheria species compared to all other Selenocosmiinae and have, herein, adjusted the Selenocosmiinae diagnosis to account for this trait. Additionally, the authors consider the presence of multiple rows of cheliceral strikers a serial homologue for Selenocosmiinae (see Character discussion), but only when Poecilotheriini is included.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 13. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 8. Left maxilla, prolateral view. 9. Maxillary lyra, prolateral view. 10. Left chelicera, retrolateral view. 11. Left chelicera, prolateral view. 12. Cheliceral strikers, retrolateral view. 13. Left cheliceral teeth. Scale bar = 10 mm for 10 and 11; 5 mm for 8, 12 and 13; 2 mm for 9. Photos: S. Nunn.

FIGURES 46 – 48. Poecilotheria species. 46. P. metallica Pocock 1899, female, in life, Nallamala Range, Pradesh, India, dorsal view. 47. P. f o r m o s a Pocock 1899, holotype female, NHM 1898.10.10.1 – 2, right maxillae (inverted), prolateral view. 48. P. metallica, female, QM S 88462, left strikers, retrolateral view. Photos: 46 R. West; 47 D. Court; 48 S. Nunn.

FIGURES 49 a – 50 b. 49 a, b. Haplocosmia himalayana (Pocock 1899), holotype female, NHM 1899.8. 19.3. 49 a. Right maxillae (inverted), prolateral view. 49 b. Right chelicerae, prolateral view. 50 a, b. Chilobrachys sericeus (Thorell 1895), syntype male, NHM 1895.9. 21.21. 50 a. Left maxillae, prolateral view. 50 b. Left strikers, retrolateral view. Photos: R. Raven.

FIGURES 2 – 7. Psednocnemis davidgohi sp. nov., holotype female, QM S 88303. 2. Carapace, dorsal view. 3. Eyes, dorsal view. 4. Labium, ventral view. 5. Sternum, labium, maxilla and coxae, ventral view. 6. Spermatheca, ventral view. 7. Abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bar = 10 mm for 2, 5 and 7; 5 mm for 4; 2 mm for 3; 1 mm for 6. Photos: S. Nunn.