Encyocratella Strand, 1907

Gallon, Richard C., 2005, Encyocratella olivacea Strand, 1907, a senior synonym of Xenodendrophila gabrieli Gallon, 2003 (Araneae: Theraphosidae: Stromatopelminae) with a description of the male, Zootaxa 1003 (1), pp. 45-56 : 46-47

Encyocratella Strand, 1907

Encyocratella Strand 1907a: 556 ; Raven 1985: 152 (syn.). Revalidated.

Xenodendrophila Gallon 2003: 405 . Syn. n.

Type species: Encyocratella olivacea Strand, 1907 by original designation.

Diagnosis: Female and genus diagnosed as Xenodendrophila in Gallon (2003). The presence of leg spines, less developed tarsal and metatarsal scopulae, absence of lateral leg fringes ( Figs. 10–11 ) and a broad, keeled embolus, readily distinguish Encyocratella males from those of Stromatopelma and Heteroscodra , the only other stromatopelmine genera. In males of both Stromatopelma and Heteroscodra the legs are aspinose, have laterally well­developed leg scopulae, distinct lateral leg fringes ( Figs. 12–13 ) and thin, unkeeled emboli. In Encyocratella the ocular tubercle is oval and elevated ( Figs. 14–15 ), whereas in both Stromatopelma and Heteroscodra it is broadly rectangular and weakly elevated ( Figs. 16–17 ).

Figures

FIGURE 10: Encyocratella olivacea, male (NHM). Body length 37 mm. Photo: R. Gallon.

FIGURE 11: Encyocratella olivacea, male showing retrolateral palp fringes (NHM). Photo: R. Gallon.

FIGURE 12: Stromatopelma calceatum, male. Body length 38 mm. Photo: R. Gallon.

FIGURE 13: Heteroscodra maculata, male. Body length 33 mm. Photo: R. Gallon.

FIGURES 14–17: Stromatopelminae ocular tubercles: 14 holotype female Encyocratella olivacea (ZMB 10484); 15 male E. olivacea (NHM); 16 male Stromatopelma calceatum (ZMB 24730 syntype of S. alicapillatum); 17 male Heteroscodra maculata (RGPC). Scale lines = 1 mm. Photos: R. Gallon.