Lamponova, 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 : 140-142

Lamponova , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Lamponova wau , new species.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Members of this genus resemble those of Lampona , Lamponina , and Lamponoides in having a divided scopula on the anterior metatarsi and tarsi, but (like Lamponata ) they differ in having the sternal surface smooth with rounded pits rather than rugose. Males of the genus are unknown, but females can easily be distinguished from all other lamponines by the median epigynal depression separating bipartite spermathecae on long stalks (figs. 323, 324).

DESCRIPTION: Medium­sized spiders, total length 3.5–4.0. Carapace dark red, tuberculate, coated with short setae originating from bases of low tubercles, tubercles slightly protruding from lateral margin; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, almost bipartite (deeper anteriorly than posteriorly). Eight eyes in two rows, posterior medians largest, posterior medians smaller than other subequal eyes; anterior medians circular, dark, other eyes light, laterals oval, posterior medians irregularly oval, flattened; from above, both eye rows slightly procurved, from front, both rows strongly procurved; anterior medians separated by more than their radius, closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by their diameter, closer to posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by their diameter; median ocular quadrangle slightly wider in back than in front, slightly wider than long. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts dark red; chilum small, triangular, accompanied by second, short, posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); 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 three teeth, retromargin with none; 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, with low lateral margins, slightly expanded anteriorly at sides, reaching only to heel at posterolateral corner of endites, with extensions to and between coxae; surface smooth, with circular punctations. Two epimeric sclerites on each side, one opposite palpal endites, one above all coxae, not reaching sternal triangles, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two small, flat dorsal sclerites and rounded sclerite covering venter and sides, rounded sclerite with median longitudinal keel prolonged anteriorly into triangular protrusion extending toward sternum.

Anterior edge of abdomen of female without dorsal scutum; cuticle with long light and dark setae; epigastric scutum accompanied posterolaterally by pair of oval, deeply invaginated sclerites bearing clearly elevated anterior rim; sclerites separated by membranous lobe without extensions; 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 less 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 small, tubular, without anteriorly expanded tips; posterior lateral spinnerets two­segmented, spigots unscanned.

Legs spineless; most surfaces with long, dark setae; anterior coxae with protuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters unnotched; anterior metatarsi and tarsi with di­ vided scopulae, composed of flattened, distally bent setae; 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 tibia and tarsus with few weak spines; tarsus with tiny claw.

Males unknown. Epigynum with bipartite spermathecae on long stalks, separated by median depression.