Lamponusa, 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 : 145-147

Lamponusa , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Lamponusa gleneagle , new species.

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

DIAGNOSIS: The presence of thick white scales scattered on both the carapace and abdomen, combined with the lack of a divided scopula on the anterior metatarsi and tarsi, will separate members of this genus from all other lamponines.

DESCRIPTION: Small spiders, total length 3.5– 4.7. Carapace dark red, tuberculate, coated with long setae originating from bases of tubercles, tubercles protruding from lateral margin; sides of pars cephalica and pars thor­ acica with scattered thick, white, scales; thoracic groove short, longitudinal. Eight eyes in two rows, eyes small, subequal in size; anterior medians circular, dark, other eyes light, laterals oval, posterior medians irregularly oval, flattened; from above, both eye rows very slightly procurved, from front, both rows strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by almost their diameter, closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by almost their diameter, closer to posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by more than their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front, slightly wider in back than long. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts dark red; chilum small, triangular; second, short, posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly) present; chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, promargin with series of short setae originating in line along base of fang plus one long, thick seta originating closest to fang, immediately bent at 908 angle, extending to median line; promargin with teeth almost obsolete, represented by slight projections on fused ridge, retromargin without teeth; cheliceral gland openings not scanned. Labium truncate anteriorly and posteriorly, distinctly depressed medially; anterior surface not scanned. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcated, deep groove along margin near labium; serrula long, with single row of teeth; anterior surface not scanned. Sternum only slightly elevated, fused to epimeric sclerites so that coxae originate from foramina completely enclosed by sclerotized cuticle; surface smooth, with circular punctations. Epimeric sclerites also completely fused with carapace from level of endites back to rear of coxae II foramina; from there back, sclerites separated from carapace by extremely narrow line of unsclerotized cuticle. Pedicel elongated, composed of two small, flat dorsal sclerites and rounded sclerite covering venter and sides, rounded sclerite without median longitudinal keel or anterior protrusion extending toward sternum.

Anterior edge of abdomen in males with oval dorsal scutum extending to about onefourth of abdominal length; dorsal scutum well separated from epigastric scutum except at anterior edge of abdomen, where both scuta join narrow sclerotized ring around pedicel opening; females with small but distinct, circular, dorsal scutum mostly confined to anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with long dark setae and scattered thick white scales; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; anterior edge of oval sclerites fitting under epigastric scutum; colulus represented by setae; tiny transverse sclerite present, well removed from spinnerets, presumably marking position of small posterior spiracle. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by roughly 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 small, tubular, without anteriorly expanded tips; posterior lateral spinnerets twosegmented, spigots unscanned.

Legs almost spineless, single proventral spine at distal tibia of tibiae III, IV; most surfaces with long, dark setae; anterior coxae with protuberant posterolateral corners; males with coxae tuberculate; trochanters unnotched; anterior metatarsi and tarsi without distinct, divided scopulae; posterior metatarsi with thick, dark, distal preening brushes; posterior tarsi with weak, entire scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of closely appressed setae; trichobothria present on tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi, in 2–3 irregular rows, bases unscanned; tarsal organ unscanned. Female palpal tarsus with few long, thin spines and dentate claw

Male palp with small, sharply pointed retrolateral tibial apophysis, cymbial surface without retrobasal excavation; distal prolateral edge of tibia with rounded, distally protuberant lobe; tegulum not expanded, not extending beyond posterior rim of tarsus; embolus laterally situated, inset into membranous conductor; median apophysis represented only by distinct sclerotization on prolateral side of conductor. Epigynum with rectangular median plate; spermathecae with anterior extensions.