Meedo Main

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2002, A Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spiders Of The Families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, And Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2002 (271), pp. 1-1 : 1-

Meedo Main

Meedo Main, 1987: 78 (type species by original designation Meedo houstoni Main ).

DIAGNOSIS: The total absence of leg spines separates members of this genus from all oth­ er known gallieniellids. The tarsi (especially those of leg IV) are distinctively thick and cylindrical.

DESCRIPTION: Medium­sized spiders, total length of males 3.7–6.8, of females 4.2–8.9. Carapace glabrous, without tubercles, with short setae on posterior declivity, longer setae on clypeus; thoracic groove short, deep, wider anteriorly than posteriorly. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians largest, cir­ cular, dark, posterior medians smallest, irregularly rectangular, flattened, laterals subequal in size, oval; from above and in front, both eye rows procurved; anterior medians separated by their radius or less, slightly closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians sepa­ rated by much more than their diameter, separated by about their diameter from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by about their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front, almost as long as wide. Chelicerae vertical or porrect, anterior surface with longitudinal rows of stiff setae; chilum bipartite, consisting of two small, triangular sclerites, accompanied by second, elongated, posterior chilum (extremely narrow, I­shaped sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of short setae originating in line along base of fang plus two long, thick seta originating near base of fang, extending far from base before bending toward midline; promargin and retromargin of fang furrow toothless. Labium wide, very short, extending only about one­third length of endites, bipartite, posterior portion short, flat, anterior portion steeply inclined; posterolateral corners heavily sclerotized, anterior margin invaginated at middle. Endites with very weak oblique depression, without median groove; serrula absent (fig. 149); apex bearing narrow patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum flat, with weak lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, without extensions to or between coxae; surface smooth, with few long setae. One weakly sclerotized epimeric sclerite on each side, not extending between coxae, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of butterfly­shaped dorsal sclerite and weak, inverted v­shaped ventral sclerite, not reaching posterior tip of sternum.

Abdomen without dorsal scutum; cuticle with weak, recumbent setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, that of males with posteriorly produced margin at middle, with very narrow spiracles at sides, without postepigastric sclerites; colulus represented by setae; posterior spiracle wide, anterior of colular setae. Six spinnerets (figs. 41–46), anterior laterals large, separated by less than their diameter at base, with two articles, distal article with two major ampullate gland spigots and numerous small, unmodified piriform gland spigots (Platnick, 1990: fig. 167); posterior medians of males triangular, of females bipartite, anterior portion with one large minor ampullate gland spigot and few tiny aciniform gland spigots, posterior portion with five or more large cylindrical gland spigots (Platnick, 1990: fig. 168); posterior laterals with two articles, those of females with two large cylindrical gland spigots (Platnick, 1990: fig. 169).

Leg formula 4123; legs spineless; most surfaces with extremely short setae; coxae and trochanters without dorsal tubercles; anterior coxae without protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters unnotched, relatively long; metatarsi and tarsi with undivided scopulae composed of short, straight setae; posterior metatarsi with slight distal preening brushes; tarsi with two dentate claws, weak claw tufts composed of narrow setae; at least tarsi III of males (often other tarsi as well, in both sexes) with cuticular cracks at about two­thirds their length; trichobothria present, in two rows on tarsi and tibiae, single row on metatarsi, with bases set in relatively lightly sclerotized cuticle (hence conspicuous under light microscopy). Female palpal tibia and tarsus without spines; tarsus with thick dentate claw and thick ventral scopula.

Male palp with or without retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface slightly flattened at base retrolaterally; tegulum rounded, with prolaterally situated embolus, medially situated conductor, without median apophysis. External epigynum often small, inconspicuous; spermathecae compact, crenulate, fertilization ducts situated at about half of spermathecal length.