Neospintharus, EXLINE, 1950

Agnarsson, Ingi, 2004, Morphological phylogeny of cobweb spiders and their relatives (Araneae, Araneoidea, Theridiidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (4), pp. 447-626 : 479

NEOSPINTHARUS EXLINE, 1950

Neospintharus Exline, 1950 , type Neospintharus parvus Exline, 1950 by original designation and monotypy (type specimen lost).

Neospintharus is removed from synonymy of Argyrodes , contra Levi & Levi (1962: 24). N. parvus and all species attributed to the ‘ A. trigonum group’ of Exline & Levi (1962) and Zhu (1998) are explicitly transferred to Neospintharus and the following new combinations established: N. baboquivari ( Exline & Levi, 1962) , N. bicornis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1880), N. concisus ( Exline & Levi, 1962) , N. furcatus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1894), N. obscurus (Keyserling, 1884) , N. fur (Bösenberg & Strand, 1906) , N. nipponicus (Kumada, 1990) , N. rioensis ( Exline & Levi, 1962) , N. syriacus (O. P.- Cambridge, 1872), N. triangularis (Taczanowski, 1873) , N. trigonum (Hentz, 1850) .

Diagnosis: Neospintharus here differs (based on N. trigonum ) from other argyrodines by the following putative synapomorphies: conductor entire (64, Fig. 56C ), embolus not ridged (90, Fig. 56A–C ), clypeal projection elongate ( Fig. 56E ), modified setae on clypeal as well as ocular projections ( Fig. 30D ), details of male cephalic modifications, AME in clypeal groove ( Fig. 30D ), retention of only a single triplet spigot (an AG, Fig. 57C ), and details of male palp, including a ‘teapot-shaped’ embolus, and a distally broad TTA . At least elongate clypeal projection, modified clypeal and ocular setae, and other details of cephalic modifications appear uniform in Neosphintharus (see e.g. Exline & Levi, 1962; Zhu, 1998). Entire conductor, lack of embolic ridges, single triplet spigot, and characteristic palpal organs were confirmed in other Neosphintharus examined in detail: N. concisus and N. furcatus . The presence of a single triplet spigot should be verified with SEM as spigots can be overlooked in light microscopy.

Figures

Figure 30. Argyrodinae male prosoma modifications. A, Argyrodes elevatus. B, Faiditus cf. chickeringi. C, Rhomphaea metaltissima. D, Neospintharus trigonum. Scale bars: 100 mm.

Figure 56. Neospintharus trigonum, male. A–D, palp. A, mesial. B, ventral. C, ectal. D, tibia, with two retrolateral (vertical arrows, 18-1) and one prolateral (horizontal arrow, 19-1) trichobothria. E, anterior part of the modified prosoma (130- 133). F, epiandrous gland spigots. G, SPR (lower arrows) and setal proprioreceptors (upper arrows). Scale bars: A–E, G, 100 Mm; F, 20 Mm.

Figure 57. Neospintharus trigonum. A, prosomal stridulatory ridges. B, ditto, female; note broadened pair of slit sensilla on either side of PE (141-1) and extensive field of SN. C, female left spinning field; note absence of FL (arrow, 212-1). D, female palpal tarsus; note sparsely dentate claw (178-1). E, dorsal view of abdominal humps, also present in Faiditus (142-0). F, female fourth tarsus; note elongated and elevated central claw (horizontal arrow, 200-1) and the presence of at least a few serrated bristles (vertical arrows). Scale bars: A, B, E, 100 Mm; C, 50 Mm; D, F, 20 Mm.