Centrocalia, PLATNICK, 2000

PLATNICK, NORMAN I., 2000, A Relimitation And Revision Of The Australasian Ground Spider Family Lamponidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2000 (245), pp. 1-328 : 201-203

Centrocalia , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Asadipus lifoui Berland.

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is an arbitrary combination of letters, considered feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this genus resemble those of Bigenditia in having the pedicel fused to the posterior rim of the sternum; males differ in lacking expanded endites and having an embolar apophysis (similar to that of Centrothele and Centrina ), females in having relatively smaller epigynal atria.

DESCRIPTION: Medium­sized spiders, total length 4.0–5.7. Carapace brown, pars cephalica darkest, pars thoracica without maculations, all surfaces coated with tubercles bearing white setae; thoracic groove long, longitudinal. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians largest, circular, dark, laterals subequal in size, oval, light, posterior medians subequal to laterals, irregularly oval, flattened, light; from above, anterior eye row almost straight, posterior row slightly procurved, from front, anterior row slightly procurved, posterior row strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by less than their radius, slightly closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by more than their diameter, about as far from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by less than their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in front than in back, wider in front than long. Chelicerae and mouthparts reddish­brown, sternum brown; chilum wide, triangular, with seta­bearing tubercles, accompanied by second, dumbbell­shaped, posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct, shiny lateral boss, anterior surface with depressed, relatively unsclerotized oval area near promargin; promargin with row of long setae originating in line along base of fang, seta closest to fang bent near base at almost 908 angle, extending behind other promarginal setae to near midline; promargin with three teeth, median one largest, proximal one smallest; retromargin with two large, widely separated teeth. Labium elongate, base narrowed at about onefifth of labial length, posterior margin truncate, anterior margin medially invaginated, surface not depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcat­ ed, deep, wide groove along margin near labium, groove wider anteriorly than posteriorly; serrula long, with single row of teeth. Sternum not elevated, with flat, rebordered lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with triangular extensions to and between coxae; surface with seta­bearing tubercles, without elevations or depressions opposite coxae. One continuous epimeric sclerite situated above coxae, fused to sternal triangles, not fused to carapace. Pedicel fused to epimeric sclerite and to posterior margin of sternum, that margin demarcated by distinct ridge.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with complete sclerotic ring formed by strong epigastric scutum plus weaker dorsal abdominal scutum covering entire front edge of abdomen, reaching to almost half of abdominal length, females with dorsal scutum represented by wide semicircular plate above pedicel, restricted to lower half of anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with long, erect and recumbent setae; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; sclerites separated by membranous lobe, anterior rim of sclerites fitting under epigastric scutum; colulus represented only by setae on slight sclerotiza­ tion; tiny transverse sclerite, well removed from spinnerets, marking position of small posterior spiracle. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by almost their diameter, cuticle representing distal, second spinneret segment restricted to semicircle surrounding major ampullate gland spigots (piriform gland spigots surrounded only by soft cuticle); posterior median spinnerets of males large, tubular, of females with anteriorly expanded tips, bases occupied by three enormously widened cylindrical gland spigots; posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented.

Leg spination reduced only on anterior legs; typical leg spination pattern (only surfaces with spines listed): femora I–IV d1­0­ 0; tibiae III, IV p0­0­1, v0­2­2, r0­1­0; metatarsi III, IV p1­0­0, v0­1p­0, r1­0­0. Most leg surfaces with both short and long setae; males with all coxae and trochanters dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters slightly notched; anterior metatarsi and tarsi with entire scopulae, composed laterally of laterally directed setae, medially of distally directed setae; posterior metatarsi with weak, distal preening brushes; tarsi III, IV with entire scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of closely appressed setae; trichobothria in two rows on metatarsi and tarsi. Female palpal femur, patella, tibia, and tarsus with spines; female palpal tarsus with long, basally dentate claw.

Male palp with short, strong retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface excavated opposite tibial apophysis, produced into distinct lobe on ventral side of tibial apophysis; tegulum expanded ventrally, bearing large median apophysis; embolus originating prolaterally, wide, accompanied distally by long, partially membranous conductor; embolar base bearing distinct, distally­directed apophysis. Epigynum with anterior hood and deep atrium (often filled with hardened secretions); spermathecal ducts expanded anteriorly into translucent chambers.

KEY TO SPECIES OF CENTROCALIA

1. Males............................. 2

– Females (those of chazeaui unknown)... 4

2. Embolar apophysis relatively wide (fig. 498)............................. lifoui

– Embolar apophysis narrow (figs. 450, 502) ................................ 3

3. Embolar apophysis relatively short (fig. 450).......................... chazeaui

– Embolar apophysis relatively long (fig. 502)........................... ningua

4. Epigynal atrium relatively long (fig. 500)............................... lifoui

– Epigynal atrium relatively short (fig. 504)............................. ningua