Lamponicta, 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 : 143-144

Lamponicta , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Lamponicta cobon , new species.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Specimens can be separated from those of Lampona , Lamponoides , Lamponata , Lamponova , and Lamponella by having the epimeric sclerites fused with the sternum, from Lamponina by lacking a divided scopula on the anterior metatarsi and tarsi, from Lamponega by having the ster­ num normal rather than greatly elevated, and from Lamponusa by lacking white scales on the carapace. Males lack a retrolateral tibial apophysis (fig. 327), females have two spermathecal bulbs on each side (fig. 329).

DESCRIPTION: Medium to large spiders, total length 6.4–7.7. Carapace dark red, tuberculate, coated with long setae originating from bases of tubercles, tubercles protruding from lateral margin; thoracic groove short, almost obsolete. Eight eyes in two rows, eyes 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 their radius, closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by less than their radius, farther from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by their diameter; median ocular quadrangle slightly wider in front than in back, slightly wider than long. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts dark red; chilum apparently fused to carapace, which is prolonged at midline, 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 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 not fused to carapace. 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 of males with narrow dorsal scutum extending to about one­third of abdominal length, scutum well separated from epigastric scutum, females with small dorsal scutum bear anterior edge of dorsum; cuticle with long dark setae; 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 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; 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.

Male palp without retrolateral tibial apophysis, position of apophysis marked by distinct excavation; cymbial surface without retrobasal excavation; tegulum not expanded, not extending beyond posterior rim of tarsus; embolus laterally situated, only tip protruding beyond tegulum, inset into membranous conductor; median apophysis represented only by distinct sclerotization on prolateral side of conductor; sperm duct greatly narrowed near midline. Epigynum with vshaped median septum, spermathecae each with two bulbous lobes.