Rogmocrypta Simon, 1900

Patoleta, Barbara M., Gardzinska, Joanna & Żabka, Marek, 2017, New species of Rogmocrypta Simon, 1900 from New Caledonia, with remarks on relationships and distribution (Araneae, Salticidae), ZooKeys 697, pp. 73-86 : 73

Genus Rogmocrypta Simon, 1900

Rogmocrypta Simon, 1900: 387; 1901: 389, 445-446; Maddison et al. 2008: 52-55; Maddison 2015: 277.

Type species.

R. elegans ( Simon 1885) = Chalcoscirtus elegans Simon 1885, originally designated by Simon (1900).

Diagnosis.

Differs from related genera by tiny or small body size. Unlike in Lystrocteissa ( Patoleta and Gardzińska 2013, figs 9-15) the habitus is not ant-mimic (Figs 1, 7, 10, 16, 28) and much more compact than in Corambis ( Szűts 2002, figs 1, 10-12). Male palpal embolus is sabre-like (Fig. 5) and shorter than in Penionomus ( Żabka 1988, fig. 114) and in some species of Rhondes ( Patoleta 2016, figs 9-14). Tegulum without lobe (more or less marked in relatives). Seminal duct not meandering, tibial apophysis short (Fig. 6). Unlike in Rhondes ( Patoleta 2016, figs 22-27). Epigyne with no central pocket (Figs 8, 14, 20, 25, 34). Copulatory ducts much shorter than in Penionomus ( Żabka 1988, fig. 118) and not twisted (Figs 9, 15, 21, 27, 36, 43). Accessory glands not distinctive - unlike in Corambis ( Szűts 2002, figs 4, 17) where they are long.

Description.

Cephalothorax medium-high, longer than broad and widest at the level of coxae II; fovea in distinct depression, posterior slope steep, starting behind fovea, eye field wider than long, trapezoid (PLE<ALE). Eyes in three rows, the first row straight. Chelicerae with two promarginal teeth, retromarginal tooth 4-6-cuspidate (Figs 19, 33, 41). Endites slender and divergent, in male with lateral outgrowth (Fig. 3). Labium wider than long. Sternum longer than wide. Abdomen ovoid, longer than wide. Spinnerets short. Legs moderately long and thin. Leg formula: I–IV–II–III. Male palpal organ simple: cymbium unmodified, tegulum longer than wide, ovoid, with no lobes, embolus curved, rather thin, retrolateral tibial apophysis single (Fig. 6). Epigyne copulatory openings located close to each other (Figs 21, 27, 43) or distinctly separated (Figs 9, 15, 36), sometimes strongly sclerotised (Figs 25-27). Copulatory ducts narrow. Spermathecae C-shaped (Figs 9, 15, 36) or semicircular (Figs 21, 27, 43).

Distribution.

According to WSC (2017) three species of Rogmocrypta are listed from New Caledonia ( R. elegans ), Philippines ( R. nigella Simon, 1900) and Singapore ( R. puta Simon, 1900). However, two latter are poorly known, their bioclimatic distributional predictions (Fig. 45) do not match Rogmocrypta -pattern and they probably are not congeneric. Additionally, the five species described here seem to confirm New Caledonia as the diversity and radiation centre.

Biology.

The species treated here are litter dweller in humid forests.

Remarks.

According to recent molecular studies ( Maddison et al. 2008, Maddison 2015), Rogmocrypta belongs to Viciriini tribe within the Australasian Astioida clade and is closely related to other New Caledonian genera such as Trite Simon, 1885, Penionomus Simon, 1903 and Lystrocteissa Simon, 1884. However, the analysis of male genitalia here and in Maddison et al (2008: fig. 3) raises some doubts about congeneric status of R. elegans (we dealt with the type) and cf. Rogmocrypta sp. in Maddison et al. (2008): both show important differences in embolus structure and tegular lobe, which is missing in R. elegans . To clarify the relationships of Rogmocrypta it is necessary to perform molecular tests for all species ever listed in the genus. At this stage any reference to other New Caledonian genera as possible relatives can only be provisional.