Oonopoides Bryant, 1940

Platnick, Norman I. & Berniker, Lily, 2013, The goblin spider genus Oonopoides in North and Central America (Araneae, Oonopidae), American Museum Novitates 2013 (3788), pp. 1-38 : 4-7

Oonopoides Bryant

Oonopoides Bryant, 1940: 265 (type species by original designation Oonopoides maxillaris Bryant ).

DIAGNOSIS: Males resemble those of Wanops Chamberlin and Ivie and Noonops Platnick and Berniker in having the palpal bulb fully fused to the cymbium, but differ from those of Wanops in having the embolus originating subterminally on the bulb and from those of Noonops in having a hyaline conductor, bearing numerous tiny projections, attached to the embolus (figs. 51–53). Females have highly three-dimensional internal genitalia, typically involving distinct posterior ducts (figs. 90, 125).

DESCRIPTION: Total length of males 1.3–2.0, of females 1.3–2.7. Carapace, sternum, mouthparts, abdominal scuta, legs yellow, without any pattern, abdomen soft portions white, without pattern. Cephalothorax: Carapace elongated hexagonal in dorsal view, anteriorly narrowed to between 0.5 and 0.75 times its maximum width, pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view, anterolateral corners with slightly sclerotized triangular projections, pars thoracica with angular posterolateral corners, without depressions or radiating rows of pits, posterolateral edge without pits, posterior margin not bulging below posterior rim, posterolateral surface without spikes; surface of elevated portion of pars cephalica smooth, at least sometimes with distinct platelets (figs. 12, 54), sides smooth; fovea absent, lateral margin straight, rebordered (figs. 13, 55), without denticles; plumose setae near posterior margin of pars thoracica absent; marginal, nonmarginal pars cephalica, pars thoracica setae light, needlelike, scattered. Clypeus margin slightly rebordered, curved downward in front view, vertical in lateral view, low, ALE separated from edge of carapace by less than their radius (figs. 14, 56), median projection absent; setae light, needlelike. Chilum divided. Eyes six, well developed, ALE largest, oval, PME squared, PLE oval; posterior eye row recurved from above, straight or procurved from front; ALE separated by at least their radius; ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide (figs. 15, 57), not fused to carapace, surface smooth, without pits or microsculpture, median concavity, hair tufts absent, radial furrows between coxae I–II, II–III, III–IV wrinkled, radial furrow opposite coxae III absent, sickle-shaped structures absent, anterior margin unmodified, posterior margin not extending posteriorly of coxae IV, without posterior hump, anterior corner unmodified, lateral margin without infracoxal grooves, distance between coxae approximately equal, extensions of precoxal triangles absent, lateral margins unmodified; setae sparse, light, needlelike, densest laterally, originating from surface. Chelicerae straight, anterior face unmodified (figs. 16, 58); without teeth on promargin or retromargin (figs. 17, 59); fangs without toothlike projections, directed medially, shape normal, without prominent basal process, tip unmodified; setae light, needlelike, densest medially; paturon inner margin with scattered setae, distal region, posterior surface unmodified, promargin with row of flattened setae, inner margin unmodified, laminate groove absent. Labium triangular, fused to sternum at sides (figs. 18, 60), anterior margin indented at middle, same as sternum in sclerotization; with six or more setae on anterior margin, subdistal portion with unmodified setae. Endites same as sternum in sclerotization, serrula usually absent in males (fig. 20), present in females as single row of teeth (figs. 61, 62), anterior portion of males with at least one protuberant ledge (fig. 19), posteromedian part unmodified. Labrum with rounded basal lobe (figs. 21, 63). Female palp without claw or spines (figs. 64, 65); tibia with three trichobothria (fig. 66), patella without prolateral row of ridges, tarsus unmodified. Abdomen: Cylindrical, without long posterior extension, rounded posteriorly, interscutal membrane without rows of small sclerotized platelets. Booklung covers large, ovoid, without setae, anterolateral edge unmodified; posterior spiracles connected by groove (figs. 27, 67). Pedicel tube short, unmodified, scutopedicel region unmodified, abdomen not extending anterior of pedicel; plumose hairs, matted setae on anterior ventral abdomen in pedicel area, cuticular outgrowths near pedicel all absent. Dorsal scutum absent. Epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, not surrounding pedicel, not protruding, small lateral sclerites absent, without lateral joints in females. Postepigastric scutum present in females, present or absent in males, when present, weakly sclerotized, yellow, short, only around epigastric furrow, not fused to epigastric scutum, anterior margin unmodified, without posteriorly directed lateral apodemes. Spinneret scutum, supraanal scutum both absent. Abdominal setae light, needlelike, epigastric area setae not basally thickened; dense patch of setae anterior to spinnerets absent. Colulus present, bearing two setae (figs. 22, 68). Spinnerets relatively long (figs. 87, 88); anterior lateral spinnerets (scanned only in O. endicus ) bisegmented, basal segment with oblique membranous strip (figs. 23, 69), both sexes with one major ampullate gland spigot and three piriform gland spigots (figs. 24, 70), posterior median unisegmented, both sexes with single terminal spigot (figs. 25, 71), posterior lateral bisegmented, both sexes with single terminal spigot (figs. 26, 72). Legs: Femur IV not thickened, same size as femora I–III, patella plus tibia I shorter than carapace, tibia I unmodified; tibia IV specialized hairs on ventral apex, ventral scopula, metatarsi I, II mesoapical comb, metatarsi III, IV weak ventral scopula all absent. Leg spines present on tibiae, metatarsi III, IV, sometimes also on femora III, IV, spines longer than segment width but sometimes little wider than other setae and thus difficult to differentiate under light microscopy. Tarsi without inferior claw. Superior claws scanned only in O. endicus , males with 5–7 teeth largely in single row, but most distal tooth displaced slightly toward inner side of claw (figs. 28–35), females similar but with additional inner row of distally situated, tiny, closely spaced teeth (figs. 73–80). Trichobothrial base with rectangular opening (figs. 36, 81). Tarsal organs with three receptors on legs I, II (figs. 37, 38, 82, 83), two receptors on legs III, IV, palps (figs. 39–41, 84–86), distalmost receptor often slightly to deeply bifid. Genitalia: Male epigastric region with sperm pore not visible; furrow without Ω-shaped insertions, without specialized setae. Male palp of normal size, not strongly sclerotized, right and left palps mirror images of each other, proximal segments, cymbium, bulb yellow; embolus light, prolateral excavation absent; trochanter normal size, unmodified; femur normal size, two or more times as long as trochanter, without posteriorly rounded lateral dilation, attaching to patella basally; patella shorter than femur, not enlarged, without prolateral row of ridges, setae unmodified; tibia with three trichobothria (fig. 48); cymbium ovoid in dorsal view, completely fused with bulb, no seam visible, not extending beyond distal tip of bulb, plumose setae, stout setae, distal patch of setae all absent; bulb longer than cymbium, stout, distinctly narrower at middle than at proximal or distal ends (figs. 49, 50); embolus accompanied by hyaline conductor (figs. 45, 46) bearing numerous tiny projections (figs. 51, 52), usually with basal projection (figs. 46, 52), sometimes preceded proximally by dorsal lobe (figs. 165, 167). Female genitalia with distinct anterior receptaculum situated on stalk; posterior receptaculum highly three-dimensional, often containing large ducts (figs. 89–92).

DISTRIBUTION: Circum-Caribbean.

UNIDENTIFIABLE SPECIES: The holotype and paratypes of Oonops zeteki Chickering (1951) , described from Isla Barro Colorado, Panama, were thought by Chickering to be adult females, as were three specimens later collected at Summit Gardens, Panama (see Chickering, 1970: 494). They are actually juveniles with leg spination indicating that they probably belong to Costarina Platnick and Dupérré (2011) ; apparently Chickering was unaware that juveniles of hard-bodied gamasomorphine groups lack the abdominal scuta found in adults. The name is here placed as a nomen dubium, as multiple species of Costarina occur at the type locality, and these juveniles cannot be identified at the species level.

KEY TO NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF OONOPOIDES

1. Males (those of O. chicanna unknown).........................................................................................2

– Females (those of O. catemaco unknown).....................................................................................8 2. Basal projection on embolus long, extending almost to tip of embolus (figs. 45, 46, 51, 52) ............................................................................................................................................... endicus

– Basal projection on embolus much shorter...................................................................................3

3. Embolus gently arched (figs. 97, 108)............................................................................................4 – Embolus more strongly bent (figs. 119, 130, 141, 152)...............................................................5

4. Tiny projections on hyaline conductor extending almost to base of embolus (fig. 100). iviei

– Tiny projections restricted to tip of conductor (fig. 111)................................................ secretus

5. Basal, straight portion of embolus relatively short (figs. 121, 132)...........................................6

– Basal, straight portion of embolus longer (figs. 143, 154)..........................................................7

6. Basal embolar projection triangular, widened proximally (figs. 121, 123)................ catemaco

– Basal embolar projection narrow throughout its length (figs. 132, 134)....................... zullinii

7. Basal portion of embolus relatively long, narrow (figs. 141, 143)................................ mitchelli

– Basal portion of embolus relatively short, wide (figs. 152, 154).................................. kaplanae

8. Posterior receptaculum greatly elongated, oval (figs. 89, 90).......................................... endicus

– Posterior receptaculum shorter........................................................................................................9

9. Tip of anterior receptaculum rounded (figs. 113, 114)................................................... secretus

– Tip of anterior receptaculum not rounded..................................................................................10

10. Posterior receptaculum about as long as wide (figs. 146, 147).................................... mitchelli

– Posterior receptaculum wider than long.....................................................................................11

11.Anterior receptaculum narrow throughout its length (figs. 102, 103)................................ iviei

– Anterior receptaculum widened anteriorly.................................................................................12

12.Anterior receptaculum gradually widened anteriorly (figs. 124, 125)........................ chicanna

– Anterior receptaculum abruptly widened anteriorly (figs. 136, 158).....................................13

13.Tip of anterior receptaculum squared (figs. 135, 136)...................................................... zullinii

– Tip of anterior receptaculum wide, oval (figs. 157, 158).............................................. kaplanae