Identification key to East African pholcid genera

1. Eight eyes (AME present) …………………………………………………………………………2

– Six eyes (AME absent) ………………………………………………………………………………11

2. Carapace with median indentation …………………………………………………………………3

– Carapace domed, without median indentation ………………………………………………………6

3. Abdomen cylindrical (Fig. 3), not elevated posteriorly …………………………… Smeringopus

– Abdomen globular or slightly elongated and elevated above spinnerets (Figs 28, 30) …………4

4. Legs with many small black marks on femora and tibiae (Figs 28, 30); male femora 1 with row of ventral spines ………………………………………………………………………… Crossopriza

– Legs without small black marks (only few dark rings); male femora 1 without spines …5

5. Procursus with prominent distal spine, female carapace with posterior median cone acting against frontal plate on abdomen …………………………… Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874)

– Procursus short, without distal spine; female carapace without posterior cone ……………………… ………………………………………………………………… Artema atlanta Walckenaer, 1837

6. Abdomen globular; short legs (leg 1 <3x body length) …………………………………… Ninetis

– Abdomen oval or elongated; long legs (leg 1>5x body length) …………………………………7

7. Abdomen drawn into cone dorso-posteriorly (fig. 29 in Huber 2011) …………… Pehrforsskalia

– Abdomen rounded posteriorly ………………………………………………………………………8

8. Abdomen oval ………………………………………………………………………………………9

– Abdomen cylindrical or worm-shaped (Figs 2, 4) ………………………………………………10

9. Procursus with long hinged dorsal process, epigynum weakly sclerotized, internal U-shaped structure visible through cuticle frontally (figs 83-89 in Huber 2011) … Micropholcus fauroti (Simon, 1887)

– Procursus widely curved, without long dorsal process (figs 204-205 in Huber 2003b); female unknown ………………………………………………………………… Quamtana kitahurira Huber, 2003

10.Male chelicerae with pair of lateral unsclerotized projections in distal position; tip of male palpal trochanter apophysis serrated (e.g., figs 301-303 in Huber 2011); epigynum weakly sclerotized ………………………………………………………………………………………… Leptopholcus

– Male chelicerae with pair of lateral unsclerotized projections in proximal position or absent; tip of male palpal trochanter apophysis not serrated (e.g., figs 1163-1165 in Huber 2011); epigynum strongly sclerotized ………………………………………………………………………… Pholcus

11.Eyes close together on turret, in male with frontal hairy pocket; male chelicerae with pair of small frontal apophyses, without proximal lateral projections (figs 2-4 in Huber 1996) ………………………………………………………………… Modisimus culicinus (Simon, 1893)

– Eyes not on turret; male chelicerae with proximal lateral projections ……………………………12

12.Sternum with unique pattern of dark lines radiating from behind labium; male palpal tibia globular, much larger than femur (figs 8, 33 in Huber 2007) ………………………… Anansus

– Sternum pattern different; male palpal tibia not globular, usually not much larger than femur ……… ………… ……………… …………… …………… ……………… ………… …… 1 3

13.Procursus attachment to tarsus distal rather than proximal; anterior and posterior epigynal sclerite with one pair of pockets each (figs 62-66 in Huber 2007) ………… Spermophorides

– Procursus attachment to tarsus rather proximal; posterior epigynal sclerite without pair of pockets …14

14.Prolateral attachment of bulb to tarsus; proximal bulbal sclerite strongly developed (Figs 107, 112); epigynum with pair of external pockets, never with scape …………………………………………15

– Dorsal attachment of bulb to tarsus (e.g., Figs 75, 87, 97); proximal bulbal sclerite absent or poorly developed and hidden; epigynum without pair of pockets, often with scape …………16

15.Male frontal cheliceral apophyses small (Fig. 113), close together; corresponding female pockets (poorly visible in dissecting microscope) also close together …… Quamtana (except Q. kitahurira)

– Male frontal cheliceral apophyses large (Fig. 109), wide apart; corresponding female pockets (poorly visible in dissecting microscope) also wide apart ………… Spermophora kyambura sp. nov.

16.Procursus without ventral flap (e.g. Figs 76, 82) ……………………………………… Buitinga

– Procursus with ventral flap (e.g. Figs 88, 93, 98, 103) … Spermophora (except S. kyambura sp. nov.)