Khamisia Saaristo and van Harten

Platnick, Norman I. & Berniker, Lily, 2015, The Goblin Spider Genus Khamisia and Its Relatives (Araneae, Oonopidae), American Museum Novitates 2015 (3837), pp. 1-68 : 5-7

Khamisia Saaristo and van Harten

Khamisia Saaristo and van Harten, 2006: 135 (type species by original designation K. banisad Saaristo and van Harten ).

DIAGNOSIS: The combined presence of large lateral extensions of the sternum that widely separate coxae II and III (figs. 7, 50, 55) and only two trichobothria on the palpal tibia (figs. 13, 71) separates members of this genus from all other known oonopids. Males have a distinctively short, wide embolus with deep basal ridges and a tiny, prolaterally directed prong (figs. 20, 111, 135); females have tripartite anterior genitalia, with one median and two lateral projections (figs. 59, 100, 123).

DESCRIPTION: Total length of males 0.9–1.3, of females 1.0–1.6. Cephalothorax and appendages yellow, without pattern, abdomen white except for pale yellow ventral scuta, without pattern. Cephalothorax: Carapace elongated hexagonal in dorsal view (figs. 1, 60), pars cephalica flat in lateral view, anteriorly narrowed to 0.49 times its maximum width or less, anterolateral corners with slightly sclerotized triangular projections, pars thoracica with rounded posterolateral corners, without depressions or radiating rows of pits, posterolateral edge without pits, posterior margin not bulging below posterior rim, posterolateral surface without spikes, surface of elevated portion of pars cephalica smooth, sides finely reticulate (figs. 3, 62), fovea absent, lateral margin straight, rebordered, without denticles; plumose setae near posterior margin of pars thoracica absent; marginal, nonmarginal pars cephalica, pars thoracica setae dark, needlelike, scattered. Clypeus margin slightly rebordered (figs. 2, 61), clypeus straight in front view, sloping forward in lateral view, low, ALE separated from edge of carapace by less than their radius, median projection absent; setae dark, needlelike. Chilum absent. Eyes six, well developed, ALE largest, oval, PME squared, PLE oval; posterior eye row recurved from above, procurved from front (fig. 4); ALE separated by roughly their radius, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide, not fused to carapace, median concavity absent, without radial furrows between coxae I-II, II-III, III-IV, radial furrow opposite coxae III absent, surface smooth, without pits, microsculpture absent, sickle-shaped structures absent, anterior margin with continuous transverse groove, posterior margin not extending posteriorly of coxae IV, anterior corner unmodified, lateral margin without infracoxal grooves, distance between coxae II and III much greater than distance between coxae I and II or coxae III and IV (figs. 7, 50, 55, 63), extensions of precoxal triangles absent, lateral margins with rounded extensions between coxae, without posterior hump; setae sparse, dark, needlelike, evenly scattered, originating from surface; hair tufts absent. Chelicerae straight, anterior face unmodified (figs. 5, 64); without teeth on promargin or retromargin; fangs without toothlike projections, directed medially, elongated, without prominent basal process, tip with elongated venom gland opening (figs. 6, 65), setae dark, needlelike, evenly scattered; paturon inner margin with pairs of enlarged setae, distal region abruptly narrowed (fig. 5), posterior surface unmodified, promargin with row of flattened setae, inner margin unmodified, laminate groove absent. Labium triangular, fused to sternum (figs. 8, 66), anterior margin indented at middle (figs. 11, 69), same as sternum in sclerotization; with six or more setae on anterior margin, subdistal portion with unmodified setae. Endites distally not excavated (fig. 51), same as sternum in sclerotization, serrula absent in males (fig. 9), present in females as single row of teeth (figs. 67, 68), anteromedian tip of males with or without single strong, toothlike projection (figs. 10, 103, 141), flattened setae on tip without forklike tines, posteromedian part unmodified. Labrum with flattened, triangular basal projection (figs. 12, 70). Female palp without claw or spines (figs. 72, 73); patella without prolateral row of ridges; tibia with only two trichobothria (fig. 71), tarsus unmodified. Abdomen: Cylindrical, without long posterior extension, but females often with contents shrunken, leaving empty space under cuticle (fig. 56), rounded posteriorly, interscutal membrane rows of small sclerotized platelets absent posteriorly. Book lung covers large, ovoid, without setae, anterolateral edge unmodified. Posterior spiracles connected by groove (figs. 22, 74). Pedicel tube short, unmodified, scutopedicel region unmodified, scutum not extending far dorsal of pedicel, plumose hairs, matted setae on anterior ventral abdomen in pedicel area, cuticular outgrowths near pedicel all absent. Dorsal scutum absent. Epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, not surrounding pedicel, not protruding, small lateral sclerites absent, scutum of females without lateral joints. Postepigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, short, only around epigastric furrow, not fused to epigastric scutum (fig. 57), anterior margin unmodified, without posteriorly directed lateral apodemes. Spinneret scutum absent. Supraanal scutum absent. Abdominal setae dark, needlelike, epigastric area setae not basally thickened. Dense patch of setae anterior to spinnerets absent. Colulus present. Six spinnerets, anterior laterals bisegmented, basal segment apparently without oblique membranous strip (figs. 23, 77), posterior medians unisegmented, posterior laterals bisegmented (figs. 24, 78), spigots scanned only in K. hayer , anterior laterals with one major ampullate gland spigot and at least one piriform gland spigot (figs. 25, 79), posterior medians with one spigot (figs. 26, 80), posterior laterals with one spigot (figs. 27, 81). Legs: Femora without subdistal constriction or subdistal transverse row of setae (figs. 28, 29, 82, 83); femur IV not thickened, same size as femora I–III, patella plus tibia I shorter than carapace, tibia I unmodified, tibia IV specialized hairs on ventral apex, ventral scopula both absent, metatarsi I, II mesoapical comb absent, metatarsi III, IV weak ventral scopula absent. Leg spines absent. Tarsi I to IV without inferior claw. Superior claws with outer row of three or four large, blunt-tipped teeth, inner row with distal series of closely spaced, narrow teeth (figs. 31–38, 84–91). Tarsal organs variable (figs. 39–49, 92–96; see Introduction). Trichobothrial base with rectangular opening (fig. 30). Genitalia: Male epigastric region with sperm pore not visible; furrow without Ω-shaped insertions, without setae. Male palp normal size, not strongly sclerotized, right and left palps mirror images; trochanter normal size, unmodified; femur normal size, two or more times as long as trochanter, without posteriorly rounded lateral dilation, attaching to patella basally; patella shorter than femur, not enlarged, without prolateral row of ridges, setae unmodified; tibia with only two trichobothria (fig. 13); cymbium ovoid in dorsal view, completely fused with bulb, no seam visible (figs. 15–17), not extending beyond distal tip of bulb, plumose setae, stout setae, distal patch of setae all absent (fig. 14); bulb 1–1.5 times as long as cymbium, stout, spherical; embolus light (figs. 52–54), without prolateral excavation, short, wide, with deep basal ridges and tiny, prolaterally directed prong (figs. 18–21). Females with tripartite anterior genitalia consisting of one median and two lateral projections (figs. 58, 59, 75), each projection with distal glands (figs. 75, 76).

DISTRIBUTION: Middle East south to Kenya.