Phricotelus, SIMON, 1895

Lopardo, Lara & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2015, Out of the twilight zone: phylogeny and evolutionary morphology of the orb-weaving spider family Mysmenidae, with a focus on spinneret spigot morphology in symphytognathoids (Araneae, Araneoidea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (3), pp. 527-786 : 631

GENUS PHRICOTELUS SIMON, 1895

( FIGS 135C , 144B )

Phricotelus Simon, 1895a: 919 .

Type species by original designation and monotypy: Phricotelus stelliger Simon, 1895a: 919 (type specimen examined);

Levi, 1972: 534 (transferred from Theridiosomatidae to Symphytognathidae ); Brignoli, 1980: 731, 1981: 14 (provisional transfer to Mysmenidae ).

Familial placement: Araneoidea incertae sedis. Alternative equally parsimonious placements of Phricotelus imply various relationships to Synaphridae , Anapidae , or Symphytognathidae ; therefore, its placement becomes unresolved in the strict consensus cladogram. In the resulting three MPTs, Phricotelus is placed as the most basal species of Anapidae , Anapidae + Symphytognathidae , or Synaphridae . Although much of the morphology for P. stelliger needs to be properly scored, the type species of this genus, only known by females, was not placed within or closely related to Mysmenidae . Furthermore, its placement within symphytognathoids also remains uncertain. Morphologically, Phricotelus has none of the synapomorphic features that diagnose Mysmenidae , and thus its placement in a different family was expected. Although females have long scape, no epigynal plate ( Fig. 135C ), no pore-bearing depression on lateral edges of the carapace, and a narrow posterior respiratory spiracle located in front of the spinnerets, the species differs from Mysmenidae in the absence of femoral spots, two pairs of spermathecae, and abdomen extremely projected posteriorly (see Figs 135C , 144B ; further morphological details not observed).

Figures

Figure 135. Cleared genitalia: A, Iardinis mussardi (Symphytognathidae) male holotype, right palp, inverted, prolateral view; B, same, retrolateral view, same scale as in panel A; C, Phricotelus stelliger (symphytognathoid) female type, cleared epigynum, ventral view. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 144. Composite images of Mysmenidae species and outgroups. A, MYSM-023-MAD (Mysmeninae, Mysmenidae), male, lateral view. B, Phricotelus stelliger (Araneoidea), female, type, lateral view. C, Iardinis mussardi (Symphytognathidae), male holotype, dorsal view. D–F, Leucauge venusta (Tetragnathidae); D, male, lateral view; E, female, lateral view; F, female, dorsal view. G–J, Linyphia triangularis (Linyphiidae); G, male, lateral view; H, male, ventral view; I, female, dorsal view; J, female, lateral view. K, Elanapis aisen (Anapidae), male, ventral view; L, Mysmena (= Tamasesia) rotunda, female, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–C, K, 0.5 mm; D–J, 1 mm.