A revision of the ant-like sac spider genus Apochinomma Pavesi 1881 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region Author Haddad, Charles Richard text Journal of Natural History 2013 2013-07-16 47 39 - 40 2493 2529 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2013.791933 journal article 10.1080/00222933.2013.791933 1464-5262 5197805 Apochinomma Pavesi, 1881 Apochinomma Pavesi, 1881: 545 ; Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué, 1997: 128 ; Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 326 ; type species: Apochinomma formicaeformis Pavesi, 1881 , by original designation. Diagnosis Apochinomma species can be recognized by the elongate cephalothorax, which is usually more than twice as long as it is wide, sometimes with a median constriction; the small and widely spaced posterior eyes in a strongly recurved row, usually separated from each other by double the PME diameter or more; and the fusion of the intercoxal sclerites with the pleural bars between coxae II and III, and III and IV, and the absence of such a fusion between coxae I and II. Based on the arrangement of the posterior eyes and the heavy abdominal sclerotization, Apochinomma may be most closely related to Aetius , Serendib and Sphecotypus . Description Small to medium-sized spiders, 4.95–13.60 mm in length; carapace orange-brown to black, with black mottling and striae ( Figures 2A–J , 3A–I ); carapace surface finely to coarsely granulate, covered in short straight and feathery setae, with several long curved setae on clypeus and eye region ( Figures 4A–E ); elongate oval, eye region broad, tapering posteriorly to pedicel, usually broadest at coxa II; fovea distinct, narrow and short, rarely absent. AER procurved or straight, AME approximately four-thirds of the ALE diameter; AME separated by approximately three-quarters their diameter, separated from ALE by approximately half the AME diameter; PER strongly recurved, PME slightly larger or smaller than PLE; PME usually closer to each other than to PLE; MOQ broader posteriorly than anteriorly. Chilum split, triangular, tapering distally, strongly sclerotized; cheliceral promargin with two or three teeth, retromargin with two teeth; scrappy seta absent; curved setae on cheliceral promargin finely plumose in males ( Figure 4F ) and pectinate in females ( Figure 4G ); endites straight laterally with distinct serrula comprising sharp, ventrally curved denticles ( Figure 4H ), with dense maxillar hair tuft on mesal margins; labium slightly trapezoid, wider than long. Sternum longer than broad, elongate shield-shaped, slightly narrowed anteriorly ( Figure 4I ); precoxal triangles present; intercoxal sclerites present between all coxal pairs; pleural bars fused to intercoxal sclerites between coxae II and III, and III and IV, isolated and not fused to intercoxal sclerites between coxae I and II. Leg formula 4123; legs with short spines, all segments except tarsi usually covered in feathery and straight setae ( Figures 5A–F , 6A–D ); retrocoxal window absent on coxa I; femora with several erect ventral setae ( Figure 5F ); patellar indentation narrow, broad at proximal end ( Figure 6A, B ); tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with several erect dorsal and lateral trichobothria with sunken basal plate ( Figure 5D, E ); all metatarsi and tarsi, including female palpal tarsi, with several tiny pores ( Figure 6C–E ), possibly involved in the release of pheromone-like molecules during contact with model ants; metatarsi scopulate distally ( Figure 6D ), tarsi weakly scopulate along their entire length ( Figure 6F ); tarsal organ not examined; paired tarsal claws short, situated laterally, with very dense claw tufts in between ( Figure 6F ); metatarsi III and IV without terminal preening brush or comb. Abdomen pear-shaped, or elongate with a median constriction, anteriorly with petiolate elongation ( Figures 2A–J , 3A–I , 7A, B ); dorsal scutum strongly sclerotized; in males nearly covering entire dorsum, fused to petiole, epigastric sclerite and post-epigastric sclerites; in females covering one-third to seven-eighths of the abdomen length, clearly separate from petiole, epigastric sclerite and post-epigastric sclerites ( Figure 3A–I ); two pairs of weakly sclerotized dorsal sigilla present; epigastric region strongly sclerotized, venter with post-epigastric sclerites; ventral sclerite present in males, absent in all females except for A. tuberculata sp. nov. ; inframamillary sclerite present, distinct, fused to ventral sclerite in A. tuberculata sp. nov. ; dorsum and venter densely covered in feathery and fine straight setae ( Figure 7A– D ). Spinnerets (only observed with scanning electron microscope in A. formicaeforme ): ALS of male ( Figure 8A ) with one major ampullate gland spigot, one nubbin and many piriform gland spigots; PMS of male ( Figure 8B ) with one large minor ampullate gland spigot, one nubbin, one tartipore and several large aciniform gland spigots; PLS of male ( Figure 8C ) with only aciniform gland spigots distinguishable; ALS of female ( Figure 8D ) with two major ampullate gland spigots and many piriform gland spigots; PMS of female ( Figure 8E ) with three large cylindrical gland spigots, one small minor ampullate gland spigot and several aciniform gland spigots; PLS of female ( Figure 8F ) with two large cylindrical gland spigots and several aciniform gland spigots. Male palpal segments without apophyses; cymbium with spines prolaterally and ventrally, without distinct modified dorsal setae; embolus short and slightly thickened in males of the A. formicaeforme species group ( Figures 7E , 9A–C ), less than one-quarter the length of the tegulum; embolus with broad base and long fine distal section in males of the A. decepta species group ( Figure 9D, E ), more than half the length of the tegulum; width of base and length and curvature of distal coil variable ( Figure 9A–E ). Female epigyne with oblique or comma-shaped sclerotized epigynal ridges, covering or leading to lateral copulatory openings ( Figure 7F ); copulatory ducts in the A. formicaeforme species group directed medially and obliquely before entering ST II (e.g. Figure 10D ); copulatory ducts in the A. decepta species group (only known for A. decepta sp. nov. ) initially directed anteriorly, with multiple loops medially before entering ST II ( Figure 14D, E ); ST II usually oval, connected broadly to posterior ST I that are either narrow or broad, longitudinal or diverging. Figure 2. Digital microscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of species in the Apochinomma formicaeforme species group (A–F) and the A. decepta species group (G–J). (A, B) A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 ; (C, D) A. malkini sp. nov. ; (E) A. parva sp. nov. ; (F) A. tuberculata sp. nov. ; (G, H) A. decepta sp. nov. ; (I) A. elongata sp. nov. ; (J) Apochinomma sp. A , C, E, G, I: males; B, D, F, H: females; J: subadult female. Scale bars: 2.0 mm. Figure 3. Digital microscope photographs of the lateral habitus of species in the Apochinomma formicaeforme species group (A–E) and the A. decepta species group (F–I). (A, B) Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 ; (C, D) A. malkini sp. nov. ; (E) A. parva sp. nov. ; (F, G) A. decepta sp. nov. ; (H) A. elongata sp. nov. ; (I) Apochinomma sp. A , C, E, F, H: males; B, D, G: females; I: subadult female. Scale bars: 2.0 mm. Figure 4. Scanning electron micrographs of Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 male (A, C, F, H, I) and female (B, D, E, G). (A, B) eye region, anterior view; (C, D) carapace surface, feathery and straight setae; (E) clypeal setae; (F, G) cheliceral promarginal bent setae, anterior view (F) and dorsal view (G); (H) serrula; (I) sternum. Figure 5. Scanning electron micrographs of Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 female, (A) femur IV, prolateral and prolateral ventral distal spines; (B) patella I, feathery and straight setae; (C) tibia IV, feathery and straight setae; (D) metatarsus IV, dorsal spines and trichobothrium; (E) tarsus I, dorsal trichobothriae; (F) femur I (left) and II (right), arrows indicating erect ventral setae. Figure 6. Scanning electron micrographs of Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 male (A, B) and female (C–F). (A) patella II, patellar indentation (PI); (B) same, detail of lyriform organ at proximal end of PI; (C) retrolateral surface of palpal tarsus and (D) distal end of metatarsus I, arrows indicating pores; (E) palpal tarsus, detail of pore; (F) tarsus I, claw tuft. Figure 7. Scanning electron micrographs of Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 male (A, C, E) and female (B, D, F). (A, B) anterior of abdomen, ventral view; (C) dorsal abdominal setae; (D) ventral abdominal setae; (E) embolus, retrolateral ventral view; (F) female epigyne, ventral view. Figure 8. Scanning electron micrographs of Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 male (A–C) and female (D–F) spinneret morphology. (A, D) anterior lateral spinneret; (B, E) posterior median spinneret; (C, F) posterior lateral spinneret. Abbreviations: Ac, aciniform gland spigot(s); Cy, cylindrical gland spigot(s); MAmp, major ampullate gland spigot(s); mAmp, minor ampullate gland spigot(s); n, nubbin; Pi, piriform gland spigot(s); Ta, tartipore. Figure 9. Digital microscope photographs of emboli of Apochinomma species in ventral view. (A) A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 ; (B) A. malkini sp. nov. ; (C) A. parva sp. nov. ; (D) A. decepta sp. nov. ; (E) A. elongata sp. nov. Scale bars = 0.1 mm. Key to the Afrotropical species of Apochinomma 1. Males ( of A. tuberculata sp. nov. unknown)............................ 2 Females ( of A. elongata sp. nov. and A. parva sp. nov. unknown)......... 6 2. Carapace in lateral view with slight median depression, abdomen without median constriction ( Figure 3A ); embolus short, less than one-quarter of tegulum length ( A. formicaeforme species group)......................... 3 Carapace in lateral view without median depression, abdomen with slight ( Figure 3F ) to strong median constriction ( Figure 3H ); embolus long, at least half tegulum length ( A. decepta species group)............................ 5 3. Base of embolus broad; distal section of embolus directed retrolaterally ( Figure 9B )............................................ A. malkini sp. nov. Base of embolus narrow; distal section of embolus directed prolaterally ( Figure 9A, C ).......................................................... 4 4. Basal section of embolus nearly straight in ventral view ( Figure 9A ); carapace more than two times longer than broad....... A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 Basal section of embolus distinctly curved in ventral view ( Figure 9C ); carapace approximately 1.83 times longer than broad...... A. parva sp. nov. 5. Embolus longer than tegulum ( Figure 15B )............. A. elongata sp. nov. Embolus approximately half as long as tegulum ( Figure 14A )...................................................................... A. decepta sp. nov. 6. Carapace in lateral view without median depression, abdomen with slight median constriction ( Figure 3G ); entrance ducts of epigyne very long, with several loops before entering anterior spermathecae ( Figure 14D, E )................................................................ A. decepta sp. nov. Carapace in lateral view with slight median depression, abdomen without median constriction ( Figure 3B ); entrance ducts of epigyne short, simple and without loops before entering anterior spermathecae ( A. formicaeforme species group).......................................................... 7 7. Carapace texture coarsely granulate; fovea absent; abdomen with heartshaped ventral sclerite......................................................................................................... A. tuberculata sp. nov. Carapace texture finely granulate; fovea present, short and narrow; abdomen without ventral sclerite, but two paired rows of tiny sclerites usually present between epigastric furrow and spinnerets................................. 8 8. Epigyne with comma-shaped ridges with lateral copulatory openings ( Figure 12C ); copulatory ducts short, directed obliquely before entering anterior spermathecae ( Figure 12D )..................... A. malkini sp. nov. Epigyne with oblique ridges covering copulatory openings ( Figure 10C ); copulatory ducts initially with sharp bend, directed transversely before entering anterior spermathecae ( Figure 10D )................................................................................... A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881