Megalopsalis (Spinicruroides), 2025

Taylor, Christopher K., 2025, Further discussion of relationships within Australasian Neopilionidae (Opiliones: Phalangioidea), with description of two new species and eight new genera, Zootaxa 5631 (1), pp. 52-82 : 65

Megalopsalis (Spinicruroides) new subgenus

Fig. 4b

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Type species: Megalopsalis caeruleomontium Taylor, 2013b .

Other included species (original combinations): Megalopsalis atrocidiana Taylor, 2013b ; Megalopsalis coronata Taylor, 2013b ; Megalopsalis puerilis Taylor, 2013b .

Etymology: Gender masculine, from the historical genus Spinicrus (currently synonymised with Megalopsalis ) and the suffix - oides, ‘resembling’.

Description: Pedipalp patella of both sexes lacking distinct apophysis or hypersetose area; tarsal claw with ventral tooth-row. Penis ( Fig. 4b ) with glans short to medium-length, subtriangular to subrectangular, rapidly narrowing beyond shaft-glans junction to become strongly compressed; bristle groups relatively long; shaft with relatively weak waist behind bristle groups. Spiracle with grate of mid-length, densely reticulate spines with multifurcate endings, and dense patch of lace tubercles in lateral corner ( Taylor 2013b).

Comments: The species of Spinicruroides were left unassigned to species groups by Taylor (2013b). Though externally diverse in appearance, they form a cluster distinguishable from other Megalopsalis species by genital morphology. The sides of the glans converge less strongly than in other subgenera, so the overall shape is a narrower triangle or even rectangular, in contrast to the broader triangle of Intutoportula or Megalopsalis . The glans is also noticeably flatter in lateral view. Spinicruroides species are found in coastward regions of New South Wales and Queensland ( Taylor 2013b).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Penes of representative Australian Enantiobuninae in ventral view, modified from Taylor (2013b).A: Megalopsalis (Intutoportula) porongorupensis; B: M. (Spinicruroides) puerilis; C: M. (Megalopsalis) sublucens; D: Spinicrurellum nigricans.