Laminion, Sankaran & Caleb & Sebastian, 2020

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2020, A review of the Indian species formerly assigned to the genus Storena Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with the description of a new genus, European Journal of Taxonomy 707, pp. 1-23 : 2-6

Genus Laminion gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AEA4B317-503D-4D43-8603-96A86156AB83

Type species

Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921 .

Diagnosis

Males of Laminion gen. nov. can be separated from all other zodariid genera by the combination of a huge, prominent cymbial flange ( Figs 4A , 8D , arrows 1, 2) and cymbial processes ( Figs 4 D–F, 8D–E, G; CP1, CP2, CP3); females by the presence of three sclerotised plates on the epigynum ( Figs 3D , 6B ; lSP, mSP), in combination with strongly compact, stout spermathecae ( Fig. 6C ). Laminion gen. nov. resembles Hermippus Simon, 1893 , but can be separated by the sclerotised plates of epigynum, cymbial processes of pedipalp and lack of complex and multiple apophyses on pedipalpal tibia (compare Figs 1 A–C, E, 3A–D, 6A–B, 7A, 8A–E, G with Sankaran et al. 2014: figs 1a, c, 2a, 4a, 5a, c, 6b–c, 9b–c, 10a, c, 11a, 13a, 14a, c, 15a, 17a).

Etymology

The genus name refers to the lateral and median sclerotised plates of the female genitalia (Latin ‘ laminam ’ = ‘plate’) ( Figs 3D , 6B ; lSP, mSP), in combination with the terminal ‘- ion ’ taken from Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826 , which is the familiotype. Gender neuter.

Description

SIZE. Medium-sized zodariid spiders.

PROSOMA. Elongate-ovoid ( Figs 1 A–B, 6A, 7A), widest at level of coxa II, domed in lateral view ( Fig. 1C, E ), highest between PME and deep, vertical fovea, abruptly sloping backwards ( Fig. 1C, E ). Carapace uniform dark reddish-brown / orange-brown, with black shades on the margin, covered with fine hairs.

CHILUM. Unipartite, inverted triangular, medially elevated.

CLYPEUS. Very high, covered with fine hairs ( Fig. 1D, F ).

CHELICERAE. Covered with fine hairs dorsally, with disto-mesal group of hairs; cheliceral margins without teeth, but with denticles; lateral condyles prominent, moderately elevated. Fangs short and stout.

LABIUM. Triangular, longer than wide, slightly constricted at base, sparsely covered with setae ( Fig. 2 C– D).

ENDITES. Triangular, covered with thick antero-mesal scopulae ( Fig. 2 C–D).

STERNUM. Roughly triangular, rebordered, granulate, medially elevated, anterior margin with median concavity, lateral margin with blunt or pointed extensions fitting into coxal and intercoxal concavities ( Figs 2 C–D, 7B).

EYES. All eyes circular, pale, AER slightly procurved, PER moderately procurved, AME largest, PME smallest, lateral eyes nearly contiguous ( Fig. 2 A–B), MOQ longer than wide, distinctly wider in front than behind ( Fig. 2 A–B).

LEGS. Covered with fine hairs, with elongated metatarsi and tarsi, femora and patellae with few spines, tibiae and metatarsi with numerous spines, mostly on posterior ones, metatarsi bear brush of distoventral setae distinctly denser on posterior ones, tarsi lined with paired ventral spinules; leg formula 4132.

OPISTHOSOMA. Elongate-ovoid, black, dorsum, laterals and venter with distinct pale stripes and blotches of varying sizes and shapes ( Figs 1 A–B, G, 6A, E, 7A, E). Dorsal scutum present ( Fig. 7A ) or absent

( Figs 1 A–B, 6A). Epiandrum distinct. PVS present ( Fig. 7C ) or absent ( Fig. 2 E–F). Spinnerets with large spigots ( Fig. 2F ).

PEDIPALP. Femur with a disto-ventral depression ( Figs 3 A–B, 8A, arrows). Patella with a dorsal apophysis ( Figs 4I , 8D ; PA). Tibia with a very long prolateral seta ( Figs 3A , 8A ), apical margin on dorso-retrolateral side lamellate and elevated ( Fig. 4D , G–H; LTi). RTA short, broader at base, gradually tapered towards pointed or blunt apex ( Figs 4 D–E, G–H, 8D, G). Cymbium with truncated apex ( Figs 3C , 8B ), with two very long setae at prolateral base ( Fig. 3A ), antero-dorsally decorated with a mat of fine hairs ( Figs 4B , 8 A–C, arrow 2), with huge prominent retrolateral flange along entire length ( Figs 4A , 8D , arrows 1, 2), with retro-basal processes ( Figs 4 D–F, 8D–E, G; CP1, CP2, CP3). Tegulum highly sclerotised, with disto-prolateral apophysis ( Figs 4 B–C, 5B; dpTA). MA stout, with lateral extensions ( Figs 5B, D , 8F ; pMA, rMA). Conductor highly sclerotised, transversely oriented, with prominent retrolateral processes ( Figs 5 B–D, 8F; C, rC1, rC2). Embolus long, filiform, with prominent embolic base, with blunt tip ( Figs 5A , 8B, F , arrow 3; E, EB).

Females generally as in males, but carapace more elongated, anteriorly slightly wider. Palp tarsus spinose, with single claw. Epigynal plate represented by broad, paired lateral and a narrow median plates ( Figs 3D , 6B ; lSP, mSP). Internal genitalia represented by very compact, stout spermathecae with broad internal ducts ( Fig. 6C ). Insemination ducts short ( Fig. 6C ).

Species included

Laminion birenifer ( Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., Laminion arakuensis ( Patel & Reddy, 1989) gen. et comb. nov., Laminion debasrae ( Biswas & Biswas, 1992) gen. et comb. nov. and Laminion gujaratensis ( Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov.

Distribution

Currently known to occur only in India (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal) ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

Fig. 4. Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., ♂, syntype of Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921 (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2), left pedipalp. A. Cymbial retrolateral flange, ventral view. B. Distal part of cymbium and bulb, prolateral view. C. Disto-prolateral tegular apophysis, dorso-prolateral view. D–I. Details of retrolateral tibial apophysis, cymbial processes, lamellate extension of tibia and patellar apophysis. D, F. Retrolateral view. E. Ventral view. G. Prolatero-ventral view. H. Dorso-ventral view. I. Ventral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; CP1 = first cymbial process; CP2 = second cymbial process; CP3 = third cymbial process; dpTA = disto-prolateral tegular apophysis; LTi = lamellate extension of tibia; MA = median apophysis; PA = patellar apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B–I = 0.2 mm. Arrows: 1 indicates cymbial retrolateral flange, 2 indicates dorsal hair mat of cymbium.

Fig. 8. Laminion gujaratensis (Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov., ♂, holotype of Storena gujaratensis Tikader & Patel, 1975. A. Left pedipalp, prolateral view; arrow 1 indicates femoral distoventral depression. B. Same, ventral view. C–D. Same, retrolateral view; arrow 2 indicates cymbial retrolateral flange. E. First cymbial process, dorso-retrolateral view. F. Median apophysis and conductor, retrolateral view; arrow 3 indicates embolic tip. G. Retrolateral tibial apophysis and third cymbial process, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; CP1 = first cymbial process; CP3 = third cymbial process; E = embolus; EB = embolic base; MA = median apophysis; PA = patellar apophysis; pMA = prolateral branch of median apophysis; rC1 = first retrolateral branch of conductor; rC2 = second retrolateral branch of conductor; rMA = retrolateral branch of median apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D–G = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 3. Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., ♂♀, syntypes of Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921 (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2). A. Left pedipalp of male, prolateral view. B. Same, retrolateral view. C. Same, ventral view. D. Epigynum of female, ventral view. Abbreviations: lSP = lateral sclerotised plate; mSP = median sclerotised plate. Scale bars: A–C = 0.5 mm; D = 0.2 mm. Arrows indicate the femoral disto-ventral depression.

Fig. 6. Laminion debasrae (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) gen. et comb. nov., ♀, holotype of Storena debasrae Biswas & Biswas, 1992 (NZC-ZSI-5411/18). A. Female habitus, dorso-lateral view. B. Epigynum of the same, ventral view. C. Vulva of the same, dorsal view. D. Type label. E. Original illustrations of S. debasrae adapted from Biswas & Biswas (1992). Abbreviations: lSP = lateral sclerotised plate; mSP = median sclerotised plate. Scale bars: A = 2 mm; B–C = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 1. Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., ♂♀, syntypes of Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921. A, C–D. ♂ (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2). A. Habitus, dorsal view. C. Prosoma, retrolateral view. D. Same, frontal view. B, E–F. ♀ (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2). B. Habitus, dorsal view. E. Prosoma, prolateral view. F. Same, frontal view. G. Original illustrations of S. birenifer adapted from Gravely (1921). Scale bars: A–B = 2 mm; C–F = 1 mm.

Fig. 2. Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., ♂♀, syntypes of Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921. A, C, E. ♂ (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2). A. Eye group, fronto-dorsal view. C. Endites, labium and sternum, ventral view. E. Spinnerets, ventral view. B, D, F. ♀ (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2). B. Eye group, fronto-dorsal view. D. Endites, labium and sternum, ventral view. F. Spinnerets, ventral view. G. Type label. Scale bars: A–B = 0.5 mm; C–D = 1 mm; E–F = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 7. Laminion gujaratensis (Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov., ♂, holotype of Storena gujaratensis Tikader & Patel, 1975. A. Male habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, ventral view. C. Spinnerets showing PVS, ventral view. D. Type label. E. Original illustrations of S. gujaratensis adapted from Tikader & Patel (1975). Scale bars: A–B = 2 mm; C = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 5. Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., ♂, syntype of Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921 (NZC-ZSI-2914/H2), details of left pedipalp. A. Bulb, prolatero-ventral view. B–D. Details of conductor, median apophysis and disto-prolateral tegular apophysis. B. Ventro-retrolateral view. C. Oblique ventral view. D. Prolateral view. Abbreviations: C = conductor; dpTA = disto-prolateral tegular apophysis; E = embolus; EB = embolic base; MA = median apophysis; pMA = prolateral branch of median apophysis; rC1 = first retrolateral branch of conductor; rC2 = second retrolateral branch of conductor; rMA = retrolateral branch of median apophysis. Scale bars: A, C = 0.5 mm; B, D = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 9. Currently known distributional records of Laminion gen. nov. Ǫ Laminion arakuensis (Patel & Reddy, 1989) gen. et comb. nov. ● Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov. ♦ Laminion debasrae (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) gen. et comb. nov. ■ Laminion gujaratensis (Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov.