Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839

Prószyński, Jerzy, 2017, Pragmatic classification of the World's Salticidae (Araneae), Ecologica Montenegrina 12, pp. 1-133 : 100-101

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 - type species of the genus and its synonyms

Five synonymy of this species were suggested by Edwards & Benjamin [2009: 2309: 5] based on body shape and color pattern of old and damaged specimens, on false assumption that there are no more similar looking species in tropical Asia. That assumption is falsified by their own misidentification of two different species from Sri Lanka, documented by drawings of epigyne (op. cit. f. 5A and B). Another proof of their overestimation of importance of body shape is an attempt to synonymize M. melanocephala with M. ramosa , disregarding striking differences in spermathecae of these species ( Figs 45C 9 and 45C 10 in the present paper), numerous other cases of such peculiar blindness are shown in the file http://www.peckhamia.com/salticidae/Myrmarachninae_clas.html. It is unfortunate that they failed to document the very neotype specimen they have designating, merging its description with summary description of M. contracta and M. providens , documented only by useless photographs of their damaged bodies (op. cit. f. 1A-H). Other synonyms should be dismissed as insufficiently documented. Therefore:

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 (in part) = Myrmarachne albicrurata Badcock, 1918

(a synonym of M. ramosa , by Edmunds & Prószyński (2003: 301, f. 8-29) not of M.

melanocephala),

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 (in part) = Myrmarachne contracta (Karsch, 1880)

(reinstated because of insufficient documentation by useless photographs, see Benjamin & Edwards

2009: 6, f. 1D-H1, species inquirenda),

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 (in part) = Myrmarachne lateralis Badcock, 1918 :

310, f. 9b (a synonym of M. ramosa , by Edwards & Prószyński (2003: 301 , f. 8-29) not M.

melanocephala, an independent separate species – see below), Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 (in part) = Myrmarachne providens Simon, 1901a: 500 (reinstated because of insufficient documentation by useless photographs, see Benjamin & Edwards 2009: 6, f. 1A-C, species inquirenda),

Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 (in part) = Myrmarachne ramosa Badcock, 1918 (reinstated as misinterpretation of type specimen, see documentation of incompatible spermathecae of these species: Figs 45C 9 and 45C 10 ) (Benjamin & Edwards (2009: 5, 7 wrote that “…the type of M. ramosa has been compared with the neotype of M. melanocephala (by GBE) and found to be a junior synonym …” and commented that “the type species has been recently well illustrated” [by Edmunds & Prószyński (2003: 301, f. 8-29). Readers who care to compare Figs 45C 9 and 45C 10 are invited to draw their own conclusions!).

Other synonyms:

Myrmavola globosa (Wanless, 1978) = Toxeus globosus (Wanless, 1978) comb. n., (self-correction of the typing error, documentation - compare Figs 45D 1-6 , 46H with 46I).

Group of genera LIGONIPEINES Prószyński, 2016 Figures 45 E-H, 46P-S Database contains 4 recognizable genera, 6 species

Type genus Ligonipes Karsch, 1878 , of which type species is Ligonipes illustris Karsch, 1878 .

Documentation studied. Survey of diagnostic drawings in Prószyński (2016a) and in original literature.

Figures

Figure 1A. Convenient and most reliable morphological diagnostic characters in Salticidae. A, C, E, I-L - Psenuc sp., D - Psenuc courti Żabka, 1993, F - Afraflacilla reiskindi (Prószyński, 1992), G - Afraflacilla philippinensis (Prószyński, 1992), H - Psenuc vesporum (Proszynski 1992), A-D. Genitalic charaters: A-B - palp in standard position, C - epigyne, external view, D - internal structure of epigyne: note copulatory openings, ducts, spermathecae (with pheromone exuding pore, developed here duct like, pockets), E-H - morphological characters of this particular genus, E – lateral subocular row of stridulatory bristles on tubercles, F - modified leg I, G - variation in shape and spination of tibia I, left and right in the same specimens, upper male, lower - female, H - male and female variation in tibia I in another species, I-K - body shape and color pattern in male, L - the same in female.

Figure 2. Graphic index to groups of genera of Salticidae discussed in this paper, with miniaturized drawings of their main diagnostic characters.

Figure 3. Graphic index to groups of genera of Salticidae discussed in this paper, with miniaturized drawings of their main diagnostic characters (continuation).

Figure 9. Color pattern and body shape of representatives of informal group of genera NOTICIINES. A - Chinattus sp. Maddison 2015 [ID not confirmed by genitals!], B - Holoplatys planissima (L. Koch, 1879), C - Mopsolodes australensis Żabka, 1991, D - Ocrisiona leucocomis (L. Koch, 1879), E - Mopsus mormon Karsch, 1878, F - Orienticius vulpes (Grube, 1861), G - Urogelides daviesae Żabka, 2009, H - Sandalodes bipenicillatus (Keyserling, 1882), I - Ananeon howardensis Richardson 2013.

Figure 10. Diagnostic characters of representatives of informal group of genera COLONINES. A-B - Colonus sylvanus (Hentz, 1846), C - Colonus pallidus (C. L. Koch, 1846), D - Cotinusa distincta (Peckham & Peckham, 1888), DD - misidentified " Cotinusa" (compare embolus - Fig. 7R), E - Gedea flavogularis Simon, 1902, F - Kalcerrytus excultus (Simon, 1902), G - Marma baeri Simon, 1902, H-I - Metacyrba taeniola (Hentz, 1846), J - Paramaevia poultoni Peckham & Peckham, 1901, K - Platycryptus undatus (De Geer, 1778).