Genus Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995

Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995: 546 . Type species Crassignatha haeneli Wunderlich, 1995 .

Family placement. Conflicting opinions have led to instability in the family placement of Crassignatha . Wunderlich (1995) described Crassignatha as part of the family Synaphridae (which he considered a subfamily of a broadly circumscribed Anapidae). Marusik and Lehtinen (2003) suggested it might belong to Symphytognathidae; Wunderlich (2004: 1081) suggested Anapidae (sensu stricto); Platnick (2008) has cataloged it under Mysmenidae . The systematics and circumscription of symphytognathoid spider families, especially Anapidae and Symphytognathidae, is in need of revision. Nevertheless, we predict that an affinity between Crassignatha and at least some Patu among the Symphytognathidae will be born out, supported in part by similarities in cheliceral armature and the male tibia II clasping spur.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other symphytognathid genera except Patu and Curimagua Forster & Platnick, 1977 by having the chelicerae fused only near the base (Fig. 78A); distinguished from Patu by the sculpturing of the carapace (Fig. 77 E-F; Wunderlich 1995: fig. 15); usually further distinguished from Patu by the abdominal scutum in the male wrapping around the posterior (Fig. 74A; scutum absent in C. haeneli, Wunderlich 2004); from Curimagua by having eyes in three diads (two triads in Curimagua; Forster and Platnick 1977) and one (entire or bifid) or two cheliceral teeth (Figs 78A, 91E; Curimagua is toothless; Forster and Platnick 1977). The poorly known genus Anapogonia Simon, 1905 was not considered for this diagnosis.

Description. Tiny ecribellate araneoid spiders. Total length 0.6-1.3. Six eyes in three doublets (Fig. 82F, 91C). Carapace with fields of tubercles and pores (Figs 77E, F, 91A-D). Head region and clypeus raised in male, clypeus with two vertical clusters of sulci (Fig. 82F). Sternum truncate posteriorly. Chelicerae fused near base, fang furrow absent, usually with a single anterior tooth bearing a small mesal apex (Fig. 78A) except in C. longtou, which has two subequal teeth (Fig. 91E). Labrum weakly sclerotized, without spur (Fig. 78 B-C). Female palp absent. Metatarsus-tarsus joint without synaphrid-like distal constriction (see Lopardo et al. 2007). Tarsal organ near proximal margin, round, on slightly raised base (Fig. 78D). Tibiae with two dorsal rows of trichobothria, metatarsi I and II (plus III in C. longtou) with trichobothrium. Male tibia II with field of 2-4 thick setae on ventral distal part. Abdominal setae long and sparse. Male abdomen usually with scutum laterally and posteriorly; female without scutum, although a sclerotized ring around spinnerets may be present (Fig. 80B). Spinnerets with ventral orientation. Adult male retains flagelliform aggregate triplet (Fig. 85F). Colulus absent (Fig. 85E). Epiandrous gland spigots absent (Fig. 78E).

Male palp: Palpal tibia without trichobothria (Fig. 77C). Cymbium with dorsal tooth near distal margin (Fig. 77B). Tegulum large and bulbous. Plate-like median apophysis on prolateral part of bulb. Membranous apophysis arises from near anterior part of median apophysis (Fig. 82C). Embolus usually thick, rigid, more or less spiral, rarely long and flexible.

Vulva: Epigynum present, usually a short rounded scape (Fig. 79), rarely a transverse bulge (Fig. 91F). Two round spermathecae separated by about their diameter. Copulatory ducts follow a path to near apex of scape (Fig. 76B); fertilization ducts inconspicuous.

Species. Wunderlich (1995) established Crassignatha to accommodate C. haeneli based on a single male specimen from Malaysia. Seven new species are added to the genus: C. pianma, C. yinzhi, C. quanqu, C. yamu, C. ertou, C. gudu, and C. longtou .