Dictynomorpha Spassky, 1939

Marusik, Yuri M., Esyunin, Sergei L. & Tuneva, Tatyana K., 2015, A survey of Palaearctic Dictynidae (Araneae). 1. Taxonomic notes on Dictynomorpha Spassky, 1939, Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967 and Lathys Simon, 1884, Zootaxa 3925 (1), pp. 129-144 : 130

Dictynomorpha Spassky, 1939

Dictynomorpha Spassky 1939: 138 .

Dictynomorpha: Lehtinen 1967: 230 , 360.

Type species: D. strandi Spassky, 1939 from Kyrgyzstan, by monotypy.

Comments. The genus was originally described for one species from Kyrgyzstan, Dictynomorpha strandi Spassky, 1939 . Lehtinen (1967) transferred three additional species to Dictynomorpha , without studying the type material of D. strandi and types or comparative specimens of other species placed in the genus. Currently, four species are assigned to this genus: D. bedeshai (Tikader, 1966) , D. marakata (Sherriffs, 1927) (both from India), D. smaragdula ( Simon, 1905) ( Sri Lanka) and D. strandi (Central Asia). The diagnosis of the genus is based mainly on the male palp which has a strongly modified patella and cymbium. Hence, it is unclear why Lehtinen transferred D. bedeshai , a species known only from females into Dictynomorpha . Additionally, the male palp of D. smaragdula differs significantly from the palp of the generotype by having a small ventral process of the patella ( D. strandi has a large dorsal process) and lacks a protruding extension of the cymbium, which is strongly protruding in D. strandi . It appears likely that all species from India and Sri Lanka are misplaced in the genus.

Relationships. Judging from the habitus and male palp, the genus is related to Ajmonia Caporiacco, 1934 , a taxon known from the South Palaearctic. Dictynomorpha is also somewhat similar to the Oriental Anaxibia pictithorax (Kulczyński, 1908) and Neotropical Thallumetus Simon, 1893 because all three of these taxa have modified patella, tibia and cymbia. The male of the type species of Anaxibia Thorell, 1898 is unknown. These four genera have not been revised and can not be compared in any detail with Dictynomorpha . Copulatory organs are relatively well studied only in Oriental Ajmonia ( Marusik & Esyunin 2010) .

Diagnosis. Dictynomorpha can be distinguished by the modified patella, tibia and cymbium of the male palp. Dictynomorpha differs from the related Ajmonia by having the male palpal femur modified with a small knob (unmodified in Ajmonia ), and a strongly developed processes on the patella and cymbium (vs. one process on patella and usually one considerably smaller process/extension of cymbium in Ajmonia ).

Composition. Two species can be considered in the genus: D. strandi and D. daemonis sp. n. Here, we transfer D. smaragdula (cf. Figs 14–15 ) to Ajmonia [ Ajmonia smaragdula ( Simon, 1905) comb. n.], based on the modified cymbium and tibia. We also transfer two other species, Dictynomorpha bedeshai (Tikader, 1966) and D. marakata (Sherriffs, 1927) , to Ajmonia . However, this is a tentative placement because the former species is known only from a female, and the latter has no proper figures but they do not belong in the genus Dicytnomorpha [ Ajmonia bedeshai (Tikader, 1966) comb. n. and Ajmonia marakata (Sherriffs, 1927) comb. n.].

Figures

FIGURES 10 – 15. Dictynomorpha strandi (10 – 13), Ajmonia smaragdula (14 – 15, after Simon (1905 )), male palp (10, 14 retrolateral; 11 – 12 ventral, different aspects; 13, 15 prolateral). Scales = 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Cc—large cavity of De; De—dorso-posterior extension of cymbium; Dl—dorsal lobe of Pp; Fk—ventral knob of femur; La—lower arm of conductor; Pa—prolateral apophysis of tibia; Po—prolateral outgrowth of De; Pp—dorsal process of patella; Ra—retrolateral tibial apophysis; Rp—retrolateral process of cymbium; Rl—retrolateral lobe of Pp; Te—tegulum; Ua—upper arm of conductor.