taxonID	type	description	language	source
03DA87E7FFEFA340FF75FE9EC9433014.taxon	description	Figs 1 – 6	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFEFA340FF75FE9EC9433014.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype female from INDIA: Maharashtra: Naykal village near Ratnagiri (16 o 59 ’ 24.77 ’’ N, 73 o 18 ’ 43.28 ’’ E), 77 m alt.; G. M. Yazdani leg.; 19 January 1974; repository NZC-ZSI, Kolkata (5013 / 18), examined (only the genitalia. Specimen’s body presumably lost). Paratype female from INDIA: Karnataka: Panambur near Mangalore (12 o 53 ’ 01.98 ’’ N, 74 o 48 ’ 12.11 ’’ E), 11 m alt; B. K. Tikader leg.; 7 February 1964; repository NZC-ZSI, Kolkata (5014 / 18), examined. Justification of the transfer. Tikader (1982) described S. kuljitae based on female specimens collected from Karnataka and Maharashtra. The original genitalic illustrations (Tikader 1982: figs 171 – 172) of this species clearly indicated that it is misplaced within Scopoides. Detailed study of the types of S. kuljitae showed that the genitalia of this species has similarity with that of both Poecilochroa Westring, 1874 and Sergiolus Simon, 1892. But the absence of promarginal cheliceral carina makes this species unfit to Sergiolus. On the other hand, epigyne with a small, single anterior hood and vulvae consisting of spermathecae oriented ventrally to hyaline bursae (Figs 2 – 3) are consistent with the species being a Poecilochroa as illustrated by Platnick and Shadab (1981: figs 8 – 9) for Poecilochroa variana (C. L. Koch, 1839), the type species of the genus. Considering these observations, we propose to transfer S. kuljitae to Poecilochroa. Supplementary description. Female (paratype, Fig. 1): Body length 5.27. Prosoma length 2.10, width 1.60. Opisthosoma length 3.17, width 1.95. Eye diameters: ALE 0.13. AME 0.14. PLE 0.12. PME 0.11. Eye interdistances: AME – ALE 0.03. AME – AME 0.08. AME – PME 0.13. PME – PLE 0.09. PME – PME 0.10. Measurements of legs. I 4.96 [1.53, 0.89, 1.05, 0.96, 0.53], II (right) 4.90 [1.43, 0.83, 1.06, 1.02, 0.56], III 4.85 [1.46, 0.73, 1.02, 1.05, 0.59], IV 6.07 [1.64, 0.91, 1.34, 1.66, 0.52]. Leg formula: 4123. Genitalia (holotype; Figs 2 – 3): Epigyne with clavate atrium bordered anteriorly by thick, smoothly curved hood (Fig. 2). Copulatory openings small, situated postero-medially. Spermathecae small, sclerotized, sac-like, situated dorsally, with small spherical lobes bridged with narrow tubes (Fig. 3). Bursae pyriform, hyaline, diverging anteriorly (Fig. 3). Fertilization ducts narrow, diverging (Fig. 3). Male. Unknown. Remarks. The ZSI collection has two glass bottles for this species. The bottle labeled as ‘ holotype’ (5013 / 18) contains one female with the genitalia intact and a small vial containing dissected female genitalia. The bottle labeled as ‘ paratype’ (no voucher number) contains one juvenile gnaphosid with detached opisthosoma. Since the original description mentions one holotype and one female paratype, and there is an illustration of the internal genitalia, we assume that the dissected out genitalia may be of the holotype female, which may be lost, and the female specimen with genitalia intact may presumably be the paratype of this species.	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFEFA345FF75F9C1C9E434C2.taxon	description	Figs 7 – 16	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFEFA345FF75F9C1C9E434C2.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype female from INDIA: Maharashtra: Pune (formerly Poona): Bhaja Cave near Karla (18 o 43 ’ 42.21 ’’ N, 73 o 28 ’ 53.56 ’’ E), 721 m alt.; B. K. Tikader leg.; 5 November 1963; repository NZC-ZSI, Kolkata (5011 / 18), examined. Two male paratypes with the same data as holotype except collection number, which is 5012 / 18, examined. Justification of the transfer. Tikader (1982) described S. pritiae based on male and female specimens collected from Maharashtra. The original genitalic illustrations (Tikader 1982: figs 176 – 177, 179) of this species clearly showed that it is misplaced within Scopoides. Detailed examination of the types of S. pritiae revealed that it has resemblance with the species of Megamyrmaekion Reuss, 1834 as illustrated in Murphy (2007: figs 362 – 363), in Levy (1999: fig. 31) and in Levy (2009: fig. 32): prosoma with short trapezoid cephalic and nearly circular thoracic parts, arrangement of eyes and vulvae with distinct primary spermathecae with blind paramedian lobes and secondary spermathecae with tubular stalks (Figs 8 – 9, 15 – 16). Moreover the pedipalp of this species (Figs 12 – 13) has structural similarities with the pedipalp of Megamyrmaekion caudatum Reuss, 1834, the type species of the genus, illustrated in Levy (2009; fig. 29). Based on these observations, we consider the decision to transfer S. pritiae to Megamyrmaekion fully justified. Supplemetary description. Male (allotype; Fig. 8). Trochanters notched. Body length 8.64. Prosoma length 4.27, width 2.98. Opisthosoma length 4.37, width 2.88. Eye diameters: ALE 0.17. AME 0.23. PLE 0.18. PME 0.17. Eye interdistances: AME – AME 0.10. AME – PME 0.26. PME – PLE 0.16. PME – PME 0.09. Chelicerae length 1.42. Measurements of pedipalp and legs. Pedipalp (left) 3.92 [1.44, 0.78, 0.61, 1.09], I (right) 11.57 [3.47, 1.95, 2.48, 2.25, 1.42], II 11.01 [3.24, 1.80, 2.46, 2.29, 1.22], III 10.94 [3.06, 1.49, 2.36, 2.52, 1.51], IV — [3.54, 1.75, 2.77, 3.52, --]. Pedipalp (Figs 12 – 14). Retrolateral tibial apophysis short, stout with distal bent, with its tip directed at 2 - o’ clock position (Figs 13 – 14). Bulb sac-like, with slight postero-prolateral bulging (Fig. 12). Median apophysis short, stout, apico-retrolaterally oriented, with distal part lying in close proximity with embolic tip, directed at 10 - o’ clock position (Fig. 12). Embolus short, narrow, apico-prolaterally oriented (Fig. 12). Female (holotype; Figs 7, 9). Body length 8.04. Prosoma length 3.70, width 2.90. Opisthosoma length 4.34, width 2.85. Eye diameters: ALE 0.19. AME 0.20. PLE 0.20. PME 0.16. Eye interdistances: AME – AME 0.06. AME – PME 0.23. PME – PLE 0.15. PME – PME 0.10. Chelicerae length 1.11. Genitalia (Figs 15 – 16). Epigyne roughly squarish, less sclerotized plate, without median depression, with antero-lateral hoods and narrow lateral folds, with W-shaped posterior margin (Fig. 15). Copulatory ducts short, sclerotized. Primary spermathecae sclerotized, confronting each other, with ventro-medially oriented short blind paramedian lobes (Fig. 16). Secondary spermathecae globular, with long tubular stalks attached basally to copulatory ducts. Fertilization ducts moderately large, flat, diverging (Fig. 16). Remarks. The ZSI collection has two glass bottles for this species. First bottle labeled as ‘ holotype’ (5012 / 18) contains one female specimen with detached opisthosoma, left legs II and IV and right legs III – IV. The same bottle has a small glass vial containing the dissected genitalia. Second bottle labeled as ‘ allotype’ (5012 / 18) contains two male specimens, all of which are in fairly good condition. There seems to be inconsistency in the collecting month mentioned in the labels: holotype label mentions ‘ January’, where the allotype label indicates ‘ November’; but in the literature, the collecting month was given as ‘ November’ for both holotype and allotype.	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFEAA347FF75FC80CF9336E6.taxon	description	Figs 17 – 26	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFEAA347FF75FC80CF9336E6.taxon	materials_examined	Type material. Holotype female from INDIA: Chhattisgarh: Bastar: Hatkachora near Jagadalpur (19 o 04 ’ 25.90 ’’ N, 82 o 02 ’ 11.86 ’’ E), 555 m alt.; U. A. Gajbe leg.; 2 January 1984; repository NZC-ZSI, Kolkata (5145 / 18), examined. One allotype male, two males and one subadult female paratype from INDIA: Madhya Pradesh: Tikamgarh: Orchha village (25 o 22 ’ 05.77 ’’ N, 78 o 37 ’ 42.69 ’’ E), 230 m alt; U. A. Gajbe leg.; 28 December 1983; repository NZC-ZSI, Kolkata (5146 / 18), examined. Justification of the transfer. Gajbe (1987) described S. tikaderi based on male and female specimens collected from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The original and subsequent illustrations of the genitalia (Gajbe 1987: figs 3 – 4, 6; Gajbe 2007: figs 105 – 106, 108) of this species clearly indicated that it is misplaced within Scopoides. Detailed study of the types of S. tikaderi (Figs 17 – 18) revealed that this species has resemblance with the features of Megamyrmaekion species as discussed above for Megamyrmaekion pritiae comb. nov. Supplementary description. Male (allotype; Fig. 18). Sternum with intercoxal extensions. Cheliceral promargin with three teeth, retromargin with one. Trochanters notched. Tarsi scopulated. Body length 8.21. Prosoma length 3.93, width 3.02. Opisthosoma length 4.28, width 2.88. Eye diameters: ALE 0.21. AME 0.25. PLE 0.19. PME 0.18. Eye interdistances: AME – AME 0.19. AME – PME 0.30. PME – PLE 0.17. PME – PME 0.11. Chelicerae length 1.30. Measurements of pedipalp and legs. Pedipalp (right) 3.93 [1.36, 0.79, 0.56, 1.22], I 10.72 [3.17, 1.86, 2.27, 2.06, 1.36], II 10.65 [3.19, 1.87, 2.22, 2.03, 1.34], III (right) 10.50 [2.96, 1.62, 2.17, 2.31, 1.44], IV (right) 12.87 [3.38, 1.76, 2.66, 3.62, 1.45]. Leg formula: 4123. Pedipalp (Figs 22 – 24). Retrolateral tibial apophysis long, stout with distal bent, with its tip directed at 1 - o’ clock position (Figs 23 – 24). Bulb sac-like, with slight postero-prolateral bulging (Fig. 22). Median apophysis short, stout, thumb-like, apico-retrolaterally oriented, with distal part lying away from embolic tip, directed at 11 - o’ clock position (Fig. 22). Embolus short, narrow, apically oriented, with chisel-like tip (Fig. 22). Female (holotype; Fig. 17). Body length 7.46. Prosoma length 3.59, width 2.81. Opisthosoma length 3.87, width 2.69. Eye diameters: ALE 0.18. AME 0.22. PLE 0.19. PME 0.16. Eye interdistances: AME – AME 0.15. AME – PME 0.35. PME – PLE 0.14. PME – PME 0.14. Genitalia (Figs 25 – 26). Epigyne with roughly triangular sclerotized plate, with median rectangular depression (Fig. 25). Copulatory openings postero-medially placed, hidden behind the posterior tip of the epigynal plate. Vulvae consist of rod-shaped, sclerotized, obliquely oriented primary spermathecae with short, blind paramedian lobes, with anteriorly oriented globular secondary spermathecae connected posterolaterally to primary spermathecae by short tubular ducts (Fig. 26). Remarks. The ‘ paratype’ vial (5146 / 18) contains two males and one subadult female, instead of three male specimens as mentioned in the original description.	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFE8A348FF75FA24CF5336CA.taxon	description	Figs 27 – 33	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
03DA87E7FFE8A348FF75FA24CF5336CA.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. INDIA: Maharashtra: Ahmednagar, Kopargaon (19 o 53 ’ 30.04 ’’ N, 74 o 28 ’ 44.72 ’’ E), 502 m alt., 1 female, 9 October 1973, M. Babu Rao leg. (NZC-ZSI 5008 / 18); Pune (formerly Poona): NCL Colony (18 o 32 ’ 40.45 ’’ N, 73 o 48 ’ 39.70 ’’ E), 582 m alt; 6 females (S. maitraiae paratype), 20 October 1973, D. B. Bastawde leg. (NZC-ZSI 5009 / 18). Justification of the synonymy of S. maitraiae. Detailed study of the types of S. maitraiae (Figs 27 – 28) revealed that this species has all diagnostic characteristics of D. luridus: the inverted pyriform epigynal plate with antero-laterally thickened rims and small, sclerotized, horizontally oriented primary spermathecae with large, hyaline, inflated balloon-like secondary spermathecae (compare Figs 29 – 31 with Tikader 1982: figs 261 – 262 and Caleb, Karthikeyani & Muthuchelian 2014: fig. 1 e – f). Based on these observations, we consider S. maitraiae a junior synonym of D. luridus. Remarks. One of the seven specimens in the bottle labeled as ‘ paratype’ (NZC-ZSI 5009 / 18) actually belongs to a different gnaphosid genus. We were unable to trace out the allotype males in the collection, which may either be lost or misplaced elsewhere in the collection. There seems to be inconsistency in paratype labeling: one label mentions ‘ two females’, where as another label indicates ‘ seven females’. Justification of the synonymy of S. samarae. Judging from the original genitalic illustrations of S. samarae (Gawande & Bodkhe 2018: figs 5 – 6), it is clear that this species has all diagnostic features of D. luridus as mentioned under the synonymy of S. maitraiae (compare Gawande & Bodkhe 2018: figs 5 – 6 with Tikader 1982: figs 261 – 262 and Caleb, Karthikeyani & Muthuchelian 2014: fig. 1 e – f). The species S. samarae should thus be regarded as a junior synonym of D. luridus.	en	Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D., Sebastian, Pothalil A. (2019): On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: I. Genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae). Zootaxa 4648 (1): 155-164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4648.1.8
