Taracidae, SCHÖNHOFER, 2013

SCHÖNHOFER, AXEL L., 2013, Axel L. Schönhofer, Zootaxa 3679 (1), pp. 1-68 : 19-21

Family Taracidae fam. n.

Compr. Crosbycus (tentatively), Hesperonemastoma , Taracus ; type genus Taracus Simon, 1879b .

Diagnosis. Dyspnoi of the superfamily Ischyropsalidoidea with predominantly Nearctic distribution; Crosbycus and one Taracus species in eastern Asia. Palps elongated, slender and segments not markedly inflated (except for species of Hesperonemastoma where males exhibit glandular structures in the palpal femur), set with bottlebrushshaped hairs, tarsus movable to ventral side only. Chelicerae comparatively large to very large, segments elongated, pincer equipped with mainly diaphanous teeth and few coarse teeth, these predominantly in basal third. Glandular field on first cheliceral segment absent. Truncus penis simple and straight, filled for two thirds with a single muscle; muscular tendon short; base of truncus divided into two broad, root-like structures in line with truncus; truncus base partly opening to a wide cavity ( Hesperonemastoma ) but never exposing the muscle like in Sabacon . Glans penis simple and conical, without marked constriction towards truncus, mostly forming a uniformly sclerotised capsule set with uniform spines, tapering into the stylus. Stylus usually simple, relatively short, often bent to the side and sometimes with species-specific modifications (some elaborate, clasper-like mechanisms in Taracus ). Ventral region moderately to strongly sclerotised. Coxae II with coxal apophyses; labium small. Frontal margin of opisthosoma with ( Taracus ) or without a median furrow. One prominent spine-like metapeltidial structures or none.

Crosbycus is here considered to belong to the Taracidae as it partly matches the given diagnosis, especially the similar structure of the penis and the presence of bottlebrush-shaped hairs on slender palps support this placement ( Gruber 2007, Shear 1975). As character reduction in the minute Crosbycus is likely, its placement is tentative and should be verified by molecular evidence. Tomicomerus bryantii , here retained in its curent placement in the genus Sabacon , shows affinities to Taracidae as well, yet material for a comprehensive re-investigation is lacking.

Genus Crosbycus Roewer, 1914 (1 species)

Crosbycus Roewer, 1914: 168 ; type species Nemastoma dasycnemum Crosby, 1911 by monotypy.

Etymology. Gender masculine; in honour of C.R. Crosby, who described the type species.

dasycnemus ( Crosby, 1911) ; loc. typ.: USA, Columbia State, Hinkson Creek. Remarks. The amphi-pacific populations of Crosbycus dasycnemus require investigation for specific distinction.

Nemastoma dasycnemum Crosby, 1911: 20 .

Crosbycus dasycnemus — Roewer 1914: 168.

Crosbycus considered as invalid: Gruber and Martens (1968) investigated most of the types of nominal Crosbycus species or revisited original literature, concluding that most of them belong to Nemastoma or other genera of Nemastomatidae , and thereby excluded Crosbycus from the European fauna. If discernible, names are assigned to distinct taxa in the Nemastomatidae . Non-assignable names are listed here. All three of these “species” were described by Roewer in 1951, one from Pentelikon and likely artificially assigned to this locality. This nominal species had not been considered for description before 1951, although Roewer claimed to have collected at this locality in 1927 and immediately described material from that expedition (see also Helversen & Martens 1972: Ischyropsalis pentelica Roewer 1950 is I. carli ). Shear (2008: 67) assumed that the type locality of Crosbycus goodnighti is incorrect.

Crosbycus goodnighti Roewer, 1951: 151 ;— Gruber & Martens 1968: 138.

Crosbycus goodnightorum — Shear 2008: 67 (incorrect subsequent spelling).

Crosbycus pentelicus Roewer, 1951: 152 ;— Gruber & Martens 1968: 138.

Crosbycus speluncarum Roewer, 1951: 152 ;— Gruber & Martens 1968: 138.

Genus Hesperonemastoma Gruber, 1970 (5 species)

Hesperonemastoma Gruber, 1970: 129 ; type species Nemastoma pallidimaculosa Goodnight & Goodnight, 1945 by subsequent designation ( Gruber 1970: 130).

Etymology. Gender neuter, from Greek “hesperos” (western) combined with “ Nemastoma “, referring to the Western distribution and the similarity to Nemastoma .

kepharti ( Crosby & Bishop, 1924) ; loc. typ.: USA, North Carolina, Buncombe Co., Mt. Pisgah, South Hominy Creek.

Nemastoma kepharti Crosby & Bishop, 1924: 24 .

Hesperonemastoma kepharti — Gruber 1970: 138.

modestum ( Banks, 1894b) ; loc. typ.: USA, California and Washington (indifferent) .

Nemastoma modesta Banks, 1894b: 52 .

Nemastoma modestum — Roewer 1923: 677.

Hesperonemastoma modestum — Gruber 1970: 140.

packardi Roewer, 1914 ; loc. typ.: USA, Utah, E Lake Point, Clinton’s Cave.

Nemastoma troglodytes Packard, 1877: 160 .

Nemastoma packardi Roewer, 1914: 163 (replacement name).

Hesperonemastoma packardi — Gruber 1970: 142; Shear 2010b: 106.

Remarks. Roewer (1914: 163) applied the new name packardi , because he found that Nemastoma troglodytes is preoccupied by Leiobunum troglodytes Wankel, 1861 , a species that Roewer also considered to belong in Nemastoma . While today these two would be placed in different genera, the replacement name is valid, being established before 1961 and in use (ICZN 59.3). Shear (2010b: 107) stated that H. packardi as redescribed by Gruber (1970) may represent a new species.

pallidimaculosum ( Goodnight & Goodnight, 1945) ; loc. typ.: USA, Alabama, Marshall Co., S Oleander, Rock House Cave.

Nemastoma pallidimaculosa Goodnight & Goodnight, 1945: 241 .

Hesperonemastoma pallidimaculosum — Gruber 1970: 134.

smilax Shear, 2010b: 107 ; loc. typ.: USA, West Virginia, Greenbrier Co., McClung’s Cave.

Genus Taracus Simon, 1879b (8 species)

Taracus Simon, 1879b: 74 ; type species Taracus packardi Simon, 1879b by monotypy;— Roewer 1950: 52.

Remarks. Many species descriptions lack explicit type localities and are partly based on juvenile specimens. A revision is overdue and in progress (Shear pers. comm.).

Etymology. Gender masculine; from Greek “Tarakus”, an Egyptian king ( Gruber 2003).

birsteini Ljovuschkin, 1971: 127 ; loc. typ.: Far East Russia, southern Primorsky Krai, Belii Dvorets Cave. Remarks. A redescription was erroneously published under Nipponopsalis coreana (Chemeris 2000: 47) .

gertschi Goodnight & Goodnight, 1942: 1 ; loc. typ.: USA, eastern Oregon.

malkini Goodnight & Goodnight, 1945: 242; loc. typ.: USA, California, Shasta Co., Lassen NP, Manzanita Lake.

nigripes Goodnight & Goodnight, 1943: 647; loc. typ.: USA, Colorado, Mineral Co., Wolf Creek Pass.

packardi Simon, 1879b: 74 ; loc. typ.: USA, Colorado.

pallipes Banks, 1894c: 161; loc. typ.: USA, Washington. Remarks. From 1914: 123 on Roewer states “Olympia” as type locality and added “Mt. Shasta” in 1923: 694, both likely errors. Banks (1894c: 161) mentioned only Washington State as locus typicus, while acknowledging T. Kincaid from Olympia to have sent him the material ( Banks 1894c: 160). The label of the paratype in the Roewer collection (SMF RII/984) may not be reliable and should be checked against Banks’ original label.

silvestrii Roewer, 1929: 10; loc. typ.: USA, Oregon, Josephine Co., Oregon Cave. Remarks. Frequently cited as

1930, the valid publication date is 06.Aug.1929.

spinosus Banks, 1894b ; loc. typ.: USA, California. Remarks. Roewer (1914: 121) states “Southern California ” without having seen material; probably an error.

Taracus spinosa Banks, 1894b: 51 .

Taracus spinosus — Roewer 1914: 121.