Longepi, 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 : 291-293

Longepi , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Longepi boyd , new species.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males are most easily recognized by the enlarged terminal apophysis situated anteriorly on the prolateral edge of the palpal bulb and obscuring, in ventral view, the distal portion of the embolus (as in figs. 714, 738). Females have a long epigynum, reaching almost to the pedicel, with a complex anterior hood (as in figs. 716, 740) and (like those of Notsodipus ) a pair of blind ducts (as in figs. 717, 741).

DESCRIPTION: Medium size spiders, total length of males 2.8–4.1, of females 3.3–5.3. Carapace brownish orange, pars thoracica coated with anastomosing rows of large tubercles, pars cephalica with long, dark, thin setae; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, deep. Eight eyes in two rows, anterior medians smallest, circular, dark, laterals sub­ equal in size, oval, light, posterior medians largest, irregularly oval, flattened, light; from above, anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior row straight, from front, both rows slightly procurved; anterior medians separat­ ed by more than their radius, slightly closer to anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by less than their radius, much farther from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by almost their diameter; median ocular quadrangle wider in back than in front, longer than wide in front. Chelicerae, sternum, and mouthparts light brownish orange; chilum wide, triangular (sometimes reduced in size or even fused to anterior edge of carapace, resulting in median prolongation), accompanied by second, longitudinal posterior chilum (extremely narrow sclerite separating bases of chelicerae posteriorly); chelicerae with distinct lateral boss, 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 to near midline; promargin with three teeth, median one largest, proximal one smallest; retromargin with two large, narrowly separated teeth. Labium elongate, triangular, only gradually narrowed anteriorly, posterior margin truncate, anterior margin medially invaginated, surface slightly depressed medially. Endites obliquely depressed, with sharply demarcated, 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 not elevated, with flat lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with triangular extensions to and between coxae; surface smooth, without distinct elevations or tubercles. One epimeric sclerite on each side, above each coxa, not reaching sternal triangles, not fused to carapace but fused to pedicel. Pedicel consisting of large, diamondshaped sclerite bearing wide anterior margin meeting posterior tip of sternum at transverse line.

Anterior edge of abdomen of male with complete sclerotic ring formed by strong epigastric scutum plus strong dorsal abdominal scutum covering entire front edge of abdomen, reaching to about three­fourths of abdominal length, females with dorsal scutum represented only by small transverse plate above pedicel, restricted to lower half of anterior surface of abdomen; cuticle with 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 pair of long setae; posterior spiracle transverse, inconspicuous. Anterior lateral spinnerets tubular, separated by about 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, those of females with two greatly widened cylindrical gland spigots.

Leg spination reduced; typical leg spination pattern (only surfaces with spines list­ ed): tibiae: III v0­0­2; IV v1p­1p­2, r0­0­1. Most leg surfaces with long setae; males with all coxae dorsally tuberculate; anterior coxae with slightly protuberant posterolateral corners, widened at about half their length; trochanters unnotched; anterior tarsi with divid­ ed scopulae, composed of laterally directed setae; posterior metatarsi with thick, distal preening brushes; posterior tarsi with weak scopulae; tarsi with two dentate claws, claw tufts composed of lateral pads of short, closely appressed setae; trichobothria present on distal segments. Female palpal tibia and tarsus with long, thin spines; female palpal tarsus with long, basally dentate claw.

Male palp with elaborate, often bifid retrolateral tibial apophysis; cymbial surface excavated opposite tibial apophysis; tegulum often almost obscured, in ventral view, by large terminal apophysis, but with distinct excavation on retrolateral surface; median apophysis large, usually completely hidden (in ventral view) behind terminal apophysis; embolus originating posteriorly, long, looping behind terminal apophysis to prolateral side of bulb, accompanied distally by recessed conductor; embolar base without apophysis. Epigynum very long, reaching almost to pedicel, with T­shaped anterior hood and posterior atrium; spermathecae accompanied by anteromedian and anterolateral ducts.

KEY TO SPECIES OF LONGEPI

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

– Females (those of L. durin unknown)... 9

2. Retrolateral tibial apophysis relatively small (figs. 677, 759)................... 3

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis larger (as in figs. 715, 735)........................ 4

3. Terminal apophysis relatively small (fig. 676)............................. durin

– Terminal apophysis relatively large (fig. 738)......................... canungra

4. Retrolateral tibial apophysis with small, basal hook (figs. 715, 719)............... 5

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis bifid (figs. 723, 727, 731, 735).................... 6

5. Retrolateral tibial apophysis very long (fig. 715)......................... boyd

– Retrolateral tibial apophysis shorter (fig. 719)............................. tarra

6. Dorsal prong of retrolateral tibial apophysis longer than ventral prong (fig. 727)................................. cobon

– Dorsal prong of retrolateral tibial apophysis shorter than ventral prong (figs. 723, 731, 735)............................ 7

7. Terminal apophysis relatively large (fig. 730)............................ bondi

– Terminal apophysis relatively small (figs. 722, 734)........................ 8

8. Tip of terminal apophysis long, sharp (fig. 722)....................... barmah

– Tip of terminal apophysis shorter, more rounded (fig. 734).......... woodman

9. Epigynum with distinct atrium (figs. 716, 720, 724)....................... 10

– Epigynum without distinct atrium (figs. 728, 732, 736, 740)................... 12

10. Anterior epigynal hood very wide (fig. 716)............................. boyd

– Anterior epigynal hood narrower (figs. 720, 724)........................... 11

11. Epigynal hood widest anteriorly (fig. 720)............................... tarra

– Epigynal hood widest at middle (fig. 724)............................. barmah

12. Epigynal hood with pair of anterolaterally directed lobes (figs. 728, 732)........ 13

– Epigynal hood otherwise (figs. 736, 740).. ............................... 14

13. Epigynal hood relatively wide posteriorly (fig. 728).................... cobon

– Epigynal hood relatively narrow posteriorly (fig. 732).................... bondi

14. Epigynal hood relatively wide (fig. 736)............................ woodman

– Epigynal hood relatively narrow (fig. 740)......................... canungra