Asadipus Simon

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 : 244-247

Asadipus Simon

Asadipus Simon, 1897a: 186 (type species by original designation Trachelas insolens Simon ).

Aristerus Simon, 1909: 179 (type species by monotypy Aristerus phaleratus Simon ). NEW SYNONYMY.

DIAGNOSIS: Males are easily recognized by their ventrally incised retrolateral tibial apophysis (figs. 583, 627); females have a characteristically flattened epigynum, with heavily curled ducts visible through the cuticle (figs. 584, 588).

DESCRIPTION: Medium to large spiders, total length of males 3.8–7.5, of females 4.8– 9.0. Carapace dark red, coated with large tubercles bearing long, white setae, margins with long, dark setae; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, deep. Eight eyes in two rows, posterior medians largest, other subequal, anterior medians circular, dark, laterals almost circular, light, posterior medians irregularly oval, flattened, light; from above, anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior row slightly procurved, from front, both rows strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by roughly their radius, about as far from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by than radius, much farther from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by about their diameter; median ocular quadrangle slightly wider in back than in front, about as long as wide in back. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts dark orangish red; chilum wide, triangular, short, accompanied by second, I­shaped, posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss outlined by rows of tubercles bearing short, stiff setae, remainder of anterior and lateral surfaces with strong tubercles, anterior surface with depressed, relatively unsclerotized oval area near promargin; promargin with two rows 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 toward midline; promargin with three teeth, median one largest, proximal one smallest; retromargin with four large teeth originating from common base. Labium elongate, base narrowed at about one­fifth of labial length, posterior margin procurved, anterior margin with slight medial invagination, surface not depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcat­ ed, deep groove along margin near labium, groove wider anteriorly than posteriorly; serrula long, with single row of teeth; anterior surface with distinct sieve plate of maxillary gland openings set in oval of unsclerotized cuticle. Sternum slightly elevated, with inclined lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with triangular extensions to and between coxae; surface strongly tuberculate, with distinct elevations opposite, and depressions between, coxae. One epimeric sclerite on each side, above each coxa, reaching sternal triangles only by narrow strips of weakly sclerotized cuticle (strongest strip between coxae II and III), not fused to carapace but partially fused to sclerite surrounding pedicel. Pedicel consisting of large, diamondshaped sclerite narrow anterior margin meeting posterior tip of sternum at slightly procurved line.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with complete sclerotic ring formed by strong epigastric scutum separated from strong dorsal abdominal scutum covering almost entire dorsal surface of abdomen, females with dorsal scutum represented only by small rectangular plate above pedicel, restricted to lower one­third of anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with large tubercles bearing long, 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; tiny transverse sclerite, well removed from spinnerets, marking position of small posterior spiracle. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by more than 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 cy­ lindrical gland spigots; posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented, those of females with two greatly widened cylindrical gland spigots.

Leg spination reduced only on anterior legs; typical leg spination pattern (only surfaces with spines listed): tibiae: III p0­1­1, v2­2­2, r0­1­1; IV p0­1­1, v1p­2­2, r0­1­1; metatarsi III v2­0­0; IV v2­2­0. Most leg surfaces coated with short setae; both sexes with all coxae and trochanters dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters unnotch­ ed; anterior metatarsi and tarsi with divided scopulae, composed of laterally directed setae; posterior metatarsi with thick, dark, distal preening brushes; tarsi III, IV with divid­ ed scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of closely appressed setae; trichobothria present on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi. Female palpal tibia and tarsus with long, thin spines; female palpal tarsus with long, basally dentate claw.

Male palp with strong, excavated retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface excavated opposite tibial apophysis; tegulum occupying retrolateral surface of bulb, bearing largely membranous (sometimes reduced) median apophysis opposing large, bifid terminal apophysis; embolus originating ventrally, long, looping around prolateral and distal sides of bulb, accompanied distally by long, membranous conductor. Epigynum flattened, usually with inconspicuous lateral margins; spermathecae accompanied medially and anteriorly by highly convoluted ducts.

SYNONYMY: In most collections, the generic name Aristerus has been used for these spiders, and the name Asadipus has commonly been applied instead to the species treated below under the name Notsodipus . Although the type species of Asadipus , which is the older name, has never been recollected, the male holotype has the incised retrolateral tibial apophysis characteristic of Aristerus , and that younger name must unfortunately therefore fall into synonymy, despite its substantial (but only informal) usage.

MISPLACED SPECIES: Asadipus lifoui Berland was transferred above to Centrocalia ; Asadipus nitidiceps Simon was transferred above to Prionosternum .

KEY TO SPECIES OF ASADIPUS

1. Males (those of A. barant , A. mountant , and A. areyonga unknown)............. 2

– Females (those of A. insolens and A. palmerston unknown)................... 18

2. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively long, extending at least half length of cymbium (as in figs. 595, 647)............... 3

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively short, extending only about one­third length of cymbium (as in figs. 583, 643)...... 11

3. Retrolateral tibial apophysis extending most of cymbial length (figs. 607, 627)..... 4

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis extending only about half of cymbial length (as in figs. 595, 647)........................ 5

4. Tegulum and palpal bulb relatively wide (fig. 606).................... kunderang

– Tegulum and palpal bulb relatively narrow (fig. 626).............. yundamindra

5. Embolar base relatively narrow (figs. 594, 598)............................ 6

– Embolar base relatively wide (figs. 610, 618, 622, 634, 646).................... 7

6. Basal portion of embolus near tegulum (fig. 594).................... phaleratus

– Basal portion of embolus removed from tegulum (fig. 598)................ barlee

7. Proximal prolateral edge of terminal apophysis overlapping embolus in ventral view (figs. 610, 622, 646)............... 8

– Proximal prolateral edge of terminal apophysis not overlapping embolus (figs. 618, 634)........................... 10

8. Prongs of terminal apophysis forming vshaped structure (fig. 622)..... baranar

– Prongs of terminal apophysis otherwise (figs. 610, 646)........................ 9

9. Prolateral edge of terminal apophysis greatly widened (fig. 610).......... banjiwarn

– Prolateral edge of terminal apophysis moderately widened (fig. 646)....... uphill

10. Tegulum relatively small (fig. 618).. cape

– Tegulum relatively large (fig. 634)............................... longforest

11. Tip of retrolateral apophysis invaginated (figs. 583, 587, 591).............. 12

– Tip of retrolateral tibial apophysis smoothly rounded (as in figs. 603, 643)....... 14

12. Median apophysis relatively small (fig. 586, 590)........................... 13

– Median apophysis relatively large (fig. 582).......................... insolens

13. Median apophysis with distal hook (fig. 586).......................... croydon

– Median apophysis rounded (fig. 590)............................ palmerston

14. Dorsal prong of terminal apophysis short, rounded, heavily sclerotized, visible behind membranous median apophysis (fig. 602)......................... woodleigh

– Dorsal prong of terminal apophysis long, pro­ truding (figs. 614, 630, 638, 642).... 15

15. Dorsal prong of terminal apophysis relatively wide, directed distally (figs. 630, 638)... ............................... 16

– Dorsal prong of terminal apophysis relatively narrow, directed retrolaterally (figs. 614, 642)........................... 17

16. Ventral prong of terminal apophysis relatively narrow (fig. 630).......... humptydoo

– Ventral prong of terminal apophysis relatively wide, extending under embolus (fig. 638)............................ bucks

17. Tegulum relatively long, sperm duct sinuous (fig. 614)..................... auld

– Tegulum relatively short, sperm duct evenly looping (fig. 642)............... julia

18. Epigynum with pair of medially directed pro­ jections (fig. 604).......... woodleigh

– Epigynum without pair of projections.. 19

19. Epigynum with tiny, anteromedian hood (figs. 640, 644, 648)................... 20

– Epigynum without tiny, anteromedian hood ............................... 22

20. Epigynal ducts relatively short, wide (figs. 644, 645)..................... julia

– Epigynal ducts relatively long, narrow (figs. 640, 648)....................... 21

21. Epigynal ducts extending anteriorly of open­ ings (fig. 648)................ uphill

– Epigynal ducts extending only to openings (fig. 640).................... bucks

22. Epigynum with anterior atrium (figs. 568, 580, 616, 624)................... 23

– Epigynum without anterior atrium..... 26

23. Epigynal atrium relatively large (figs. 568, 624)........................... 24

– Epigynal atrium relatively small (figs. 580, 616)........................... 25

24. Epigynal atrium relatively wide (fig. 568).............................. barant

– Epigynal atrium relatively narrow (fig. 624).......................... baranar

25. Epigynal atrium with anteromedian septum (fig. 616)..................... auld

– Epigynal atrium without septum (fig. 580)........................... mountant

26. Epigynum with pair of anterior, anteromedi­ ally directed, triangular or rectangular openings (figs. 584, 600, 620, 628).. 27

– Epigynum without such openings...... 30

27. Epigynum with distinct anterior margin (figs. 584, 620)....................... 28

– Epigynum without distinct anterior margin (figs. 600, 628).................. 29

28. Epigynum relatively long (fig. 584).............................. areyonga

– Epigynum relatively short (fig. 620).. cape

29. Anterior epigynal ducts making two transverse loops (figs. 628, 629)................................ yundamindra

– Anterior epigynal ducts making single transverse loop (figs. 600, 601)...... barlee

30. Epigynum with pair of posterolateral margins (fig. 632)................ humptydoo

– Epigynum without posterolateral margins.. ............................... 31

31. Epigynum with arched anterior margin (figs. 588, 608)....................... 32

– Epigynum without arched anterior margin.. ............................... 33

32. Median epigynal ducts extending as far posteriorly as lateral ducts (figs. 608, 609).......................... kunderang

– Lateral epigynal ducts extending posteriorly of median ducts (figs. 588, 589)................................ croydon

33. Anterior epigynal ducts coiled (figs. 613, 637)........................... 34

– Anterior epigynal ducts not coiled (figs. 596, 597).................... phaleratus

34. Anterior epigynal ducts relatively short (fig. 612)..................... banjiwarn

– Anterior epigynal ducts relatively long (fig. 636)..................... longforest