Poecilipta Simon, 1897
publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3958.1.1 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A722F37A-A630-4284-B00B-D684C90298E2 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/EE1B87BD-F4AB-FF69-6BFA-FC3283D9B2D4 |
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Plazi |
scientific name |
Poecilipta Simon, 1897 |
status |
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Poecilipta Simon, 1897 View in CoL
Poecilipta Simon, 1897: 172 View in CoL ; Roewer, 1955: 635. Type species by subsequent designation, Poecilipta janthina Simon, 1896 View in CoL .
Diagnosis. Differs from Corinnomma in that, in males, the dorsal scute is not laterally fused to the ventral scute, the tracheal scute is separate from the ventral scute, and the AME are smaller than the PME; also in Corinnomma , the paracymbial spine is present or absent but consistently present and well developed in Poecilipta . Males of Poecilipta differ from those of Castoponera Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 in having a paracymbial spine on the male palp and the anterior face of the male abdomen sloping back not overhanging the carapace. Poecilipta is unusual in the Australian Castianeirinae in having legs I–III noticeably more slender (and shorter) than IV (e.g., Fig. 111b, c View FIGURE 111 ).
Description. Strongly ant-mimicking spiders through slender legs, slender carapace and sometimes constricted abdomen and iridescence and reflective bloom or sheen on carapace and abdomen. Carapace slender, about twice as long as wide, widest in anterior third to half. Margins smooth to distinctly serrate (e.g., Fig. 108d View FIGURE 108 ). Lateral profile of carapace ( Fig. 3a, c–e View FIGURE 3 ): caput slopes downward in smooth arch from fovea, and in long moderately shallow curving line along posterior declivity; highest point at or near anterior edge of fovea; eyes set behind clypeus edge, except in P. jilbadji sp. nov., with caput raised behind eyes. Retrolateral face of small chelicerae smooth. Eight eyes of similar size; from above, front row recurved to straight, back row clearly procurved. Eye group occupies 0.4–0.5 of headwidth ( Fig. 107f View FIGURE 107 ). Cuticle smooth, serrate, punctate and/or with a bloom or iridescent, often sparsely covered with small white scales. Chelicerae small ( Fig. 3a, c–e View FIGURE 3 ) with small fang; dentition 2R, 3P. Females with small fang shield and long serrate bristles. Maxillae rounded rectanguloid with serrula. Labium longer than wide or as long as wide. Sternum trianguloid. Pedicel sclerotised with short to long collar extended anteriorly (e.g., Figs 98b View FIGURE 98 , 108e View FIGURE 108 ). Males with dorsal scute extending for roughly the length of the abdomen, but usually without medial constriction (e.g., Fig. 98a, c–e View FIGURE 98 ). Females with short dorsal scute extending up to 0.4 of length (e.g., Fig. 98d View FIGURE 98 ), often with slight constriction or distinct humps posteriorly. Males and females with strong colour patterns in life (e.g., Fig. 99a–c View FIGURE 99 ) (often masked in ethanol), in abdomen and legs. Males and females with fourth leg longest (e.g., Fig. 99a View FIGURE 99 ), femora II–IV similar width basally and for length (e.g., Fig. 98e View FIGURE 98 ), femur I distinctly wider and deeper than II–IV; femur IV usually distally unmodified but in some (e.g., P. wallacei sp. nov. and P. kohouti species group), distal femora strongly constricted ventrally (e.g., as in Iridonyssus kohouti , Fig. 6d View FIGURE 6 ); femur III also similarly constricted and sometimes more distinct than on IV. Legs slender, tibiae I and II weakly spined. Basic spination. I: fe p1d2; ti v2–2.2.2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe p1d3; ti v2.2–v.2.2.2.2.2; me v2.2. III: fe d2r1; pa d1; ti p2v2.2; me p3r3v2.2.2. IV: fe d2; ti p2r2v2.2; me p3r3v2.2. Palp: fe d2; ti p1. Tibiae I and II with 1– 5 pairs of spines ventrally; metatarsi I and II with 1–2 pairs. Patellae aspinose save for palp and leg III with 1–2 dorsal or prolateral spines. Scopula absent. Claw tufts small, dense. Paired claws dentate. Trochanters weakly notched. RCH present, often difficult to discern on pale coxae. Abdomen: males with full dorsal scute, long rectanguloid ventral scute and scute anterior to tracheal spiracle. Separate epigastric scute extends forward as collar around distal pedicel, not fused to dorsal scute. Females lack ventral scute, epigastric scute continuous to epigyne without paler, less sclerotised paragenital "brackets". Epigyne: in P. janthina and P. kohouti species groups, externally with pair of small widely separated apertures; internally, paired recurved crescentic ridges, leading straight forward to U-shaped fold leading to long dorsal duct with ends enlarged. In P. carnarvon species group, large copulatory fossae with narrow septum, save for P. tinda sp. nov., with only anterior septum; from each fossa, S-shaped copulation duct passes forward, reflexes back then forward, crossing transversely to apical lobe folding dorsally and in long narrow spermathecae with basal sphere. Male palp: tibia with ventral saddle or cylindrical; cymbium with retrolateral extensions, spines, and feathery hairs; paracymbial spine always present, distinct, often on raised process; apical cymbium narrow, straight with groove or highly twisted; bulb simple, pyriform with differing extents of incursion of subtegulum on retrolateral edge; embolus spiralled to varying extents, sometimes with unsclerotised "wing" off subapex.
Remarks. Of all of the castianeirine genera treated by Deeleman-Reinhold (2001), only in Corinnomma is a paracymbial spine present in the type species, Corinnomma severum (Thorell, 1877) ( Fig. 12c View FIGURE 12 ), C. rapax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 , C. thorelli Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 and C. javanum Simon, 1905 ( Fig. 13b View FIGURE 13 , and Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001, figs 469 and 477, respectively). The paracymbial spine has not been reported for African species ( Haddad, 2006a) or other southeast Asian species, so the significance of the character in Corinnomma is unclear.
Species boundaries. The species boundaries herein are formed from combinations of male palpal morphology and scute ornamentation or strong differences in female genitalia. Spiders with similar palpal bulbs and scutes are placed in one species but may be a complex reflected by the different bands of hair on the abdomen (in life) and patterns on legs. Two groups of species can be recognised on these characters alone: those with a straight canoelike cymbium ( P. janthina and P. kohouti groups) and one coil before the embolus tip and those with a twisted cymbium with at least two coils ( P. carnarvon group; not to be confused with the reservoir loops) before the tip. A third group (within the first) is recognised in which the cuticle is iridescent and the embolus is like the first group.
Clearly, a number of species with similar sexual morphology have strongly different abdominal patterns and ornamentation. Equally, otherwise similar species somatically (e.g., P. wallacei sp. nov. and P. gloverae sp. nov.) may have two different carapace profiles ( Fig. 3c, d View FIGURE 3 ).
Distribution and Habitat. Australia and New Caledonia in open forest, heath and desert, where the spiders exhibit comparatively strong visual and behavioural mimicry of ants with which they co-occur.
Species included: Poecilipta carnarvon sp. nov., P. contorqua sp. nov., P. davidi sp. nov., P. elvis sp. nov., Corinnomma formiciforme Rainbow, 1904 , P. kgari sp. nov., P. gloverae sp. nov., P. harveyi sp. nov., P. samueli sp. nov., P. janthina Simon, 1896 , P. jilbadji sp. nov., P. kohouti sp. nov., P. lugubris sp. nov., P. mandjelia sp. nov., P. marengo sp. nov., P. metallica sp. nov., P. micaelae sp. nov., P. qunats sp. nov., P. rawlinsonae sp. nov., P. ruthae sp. nov., Supunna smaragdinea ( Simon, 1909) , P. tinda sp. nov., P. venusta Rainbow, 1904 , P. waldockae sp. nov., P. wallacei sp. nov., P. yambuna sp. nov. and P. zbigniewi sp. nov.
Remarks. Simon (1896) inadvertently described Poecilipta janthina before the genus had been described; hence the date of publication of the genus was when a type species was assigned in Simon (1897a) but the date of publication of the species remains 1896.
Species Groups. Three groups are evident: Poecilipta janthina group, P. kohouti group and P. carnarvon group. Species are treated in the groups.
Key to Poecilipta species
Males (males of P. formiciforme View in CoL sp. nov. and P. tinda View in CoL sp. nov. unknown) 1. Cymbial tip narrow, straight (e.g., Fig. 101a View FIGURE 101 ), embolus tip a simple spiral, narrowing from base (e.g., Fig. 101a View FIGURE 101 ).......... 2
Cymbial tip twisted, groove narrows and widens (e.g., Fig. 116a, c–e View FIGURE 116 ); embolus basally wide, embolic spiral recurves back
(e.g., Fig. 116a, b View FIGURE 116 ) P.carnarvon View in CoL group, part................................................................ 17 2(1). Carapace iridescent ( Fig. 111a–c View FIGURE 111 )........................................................... P. kohouti View in CoL group..3
Carapace cuticle at most with bloom or sheen ( Fig. 98a–d View FIGURE 98 )...................................... P. janthina View in CoL group..5 3(2). Carapace and abdomen the same colour.................................................................... 4
Carapace copper and abdomen green ( Fig. 111b View FIGURE 111 ).................................................... P. metallica View in CoL 4(3). Carapace and abdomen green coloured ( Fig. 111a View FIGURE 111 ).................................................... P. kohouti View in CoL
Carapace and abdomen copper coloured ( Fig. 111c View FIGURE 111 ).................................................... P. ruthae View in CoL 5(2). Embolus base narrows strongly, clearly less than half width of tegulum ( Figs 102a View FIGURE 102 , 103b View FIGURE 103 )............................ 6
Embolus base at least half width of tegulum ( Fig. 110a View FIGURE 110 )...................................................... 12 6 (5). Embolus with apically transverse groove ( Fig. 101b View FIGURE 101 ) or twisted ( Fig. 108c View FIGURE 108 )........................................ 7
Embolus apically spiralled (e.g., Figs 102b View FIGURE 102 , 103b View FIGURE 103 )............................................................ 8 7(6). Embolus tip with apically transverse groove ( Fig. 101b View FIGURE 101 ).................................................. P. kgari View in CoL
Embolus tip narrow, screw-like, with filamentous tip ( Fig. 108c View FIGURE 108 )...................................... P. waldockae View in CoL 8(6). Embolus spiral small with short tip ( Fig. 102b View FIGURE 102 )...................................................... P. gloverae View in CoL
Embolus spiral large, wider ( Figs 100a View FIGURE 100 , 105b View FIGURE 105 )............................................................... 9 9(8). Embolus tip curves uniformly for length ( Fig. 103b View FIGURE 103 ); insertion clearly on prolateral edge ( Fig. 103b View FIGURE 103 ).................. 10
Embolus tip curves quickly near tip or not a simple spiral; insertion just off prolateral edge ( Fig. 100a View FIGURE 100 ).......... P. janthina View in CoL 10(9). Basal spiral of embolus diagonal ( Fig. 104d View FIGURE 104 )............................................................... 11
Basal spiral of embolus clearly transverse, not diagonal ( Fig. 103b View FIGURE 103 )....................................... P. samueli View in CoL 11(10). Last curve of embolus tip very long and slight ( Fig. 109b View FIGURE 109 )............................................. P. wallacei View in CoL
Last curve of embolus tip short ( Fig. 105b View FIGURE 105 ).................................................... P. mandjelia View in CoL , part 12(5). Embolus tip, very long, tube-like ( Fig. 110a, b View FIGURE 110 )...................................................... P. yambuna View in CoL
Embolus tip tapers uniformly to tip ( Figs 105b View FIGURE 105 , 107a View FIGURE 107 )........................................................ 13 13(12). Distal cymbium prolaterally with ventral or lateral spine...................................................... 14
No spines prolaterally on distal cymbium.................................................................. 16 14(13). Last spiral of embolus tip long, curved quickly at tip ( Fig. 107a View FIGURE 107 )......................................... P. venusta View in CoL
Last spiral of embolus tip short, curved continuously to tip ( Fig. 106 a, d View FIGURE 106 )........................................ 15 15(14). Embolus spiral larger ( Fig. 106c View FIGURE 106 ); Australia........................................................... P. qunats View in CoL
Embolus spiral small ( Fig. 105a, b View FIGURE 105 ); New Caledonia............................................. P. mandjelia View in CoL , part 16(13). Distal cymbium a simple narrowing groove ( Fig. 104a View FIGURE 104 )............................................... P. lugubris View in CoL
Distal cymbium prolaterally extends mesally ( Fig. 106a View FIGURE 106 ).............................................. P. marengo View in CoL 17(1). Paracymbial spine on or very close to cymbial base ( Figs 116d View FIGURE 116 , 117e View FIGURE 117 )............................................ 18
Paracymbial spine clearly distal of cymbial base ( Fig. 118c View FIGURE 118 )................................................... 22 18(17). Embolus tip tapers gradually ( Fig. 116d View FIGURE 116 ).................................................................. 19
Embolus tip widely flared ( Fig. 117a, b View FIGURE 117 )........................................................... P. contorqua View in CoL 19(18). Carapace iridescent green or brown ( Fig. 115c View FIGURE 115 )............................................................. 22
Carapace black, brown with or without bloom ( Figs 115b View FIGURE 115 , 124 View FIGURE 124 )................................................ 20 20(19). Carapace brown ( Fig. 115b View FIGURE 115 )...................................................................... P. harveyi View in CoL
Carapace black ( Fig. 124 View FIGURE 124 ); Tasmania ............................................................. P. zbigniewi View in CoL 21(19). Carapace iridescent green ( Fig. 115c View FIGURE 115 ).......................................................... P. smaragdinea View in CoL
Carapace iridescent brown ( Fig. 115d View FIGURE 115 ).......................................................... P. rawlinsonae View in CoL 22(17). Three or four pairs of spines ventrally on tibiae I and II...................................................... 23
Two pairs of spines ventrally on tibiae I and II.............................................................. 25 23(22). Basal embolus broad with several ridges, tip doubly folded ( Fig. 118a–d View FIGURE 118 ); New South Wales .................. P. micaelae View in CoL
Basal embolus a smoothly curving spiral ( Fig. 116a–c View FIGURE 116 ); Western Australia ........................................ 23 24(22). Four pairs of weak spines ventrally on tibiae I...................................................... P. carnarvon View in CoL
Three pairs of strong spines ventrally on tibiae I...................................................... P. jilbadji View in CoL
25(22). Apical spiral of embolus less than half that of lower spiral ( Fig. 119a, b View FIGURE 119 )..................................... P. elvis View in CoL Apical spiral of embolus only a little smaller than that of lower spiral ( Fig. 120a View FIGURE 120 )............................. P. davidi View in CoL
Females (females of P. carnarvon View in CoL sp. nov., P. micaelae View in CoL sp. nov., P. harveyi View in CoL sp. nov., P. samueli View in CoL sp. nov., P. jilbadji View in CoL
sp. nov., P. marengo View in CoL sp. nov., P. rawlinsonae View in CoL sp. nov. and P. waldockae View in CoL sp. nov.) not known
1. Copulatory openings small, several diameters apart (e.g., Fig. 100c View FIGURE 100 )............................................. 2 Copulatory openings large, less than one diameter apart, if separated ( Fig. 123a View FIGURE 123 ).................. P. carnarvon View in CoL group..13
2(1). Carapace iridescent ( Fig. 111a–c View FIGURE 111 )......................................................................... 3 Carapace cuticle at most with bloom or sheen ( Fig. 99a View FIGURE 99 )....................................................... 5
3(2). Carapace and abdomen the same colour (as in Fig. 111a, c View FIGURE 111 )..................................................... 4 Carapace copper and abdomen green (as in Fig. 111b View FIGURE 111 )................................................ P. metallica View in CoL
4 (3). Spermathecae relatively shorter ( Fig. 114d View FIGURE 114 ); carapace and abdomen dark green coloured (as in Fig. 111c View FIGURE 111 ).......... P. ruthae Spermathecae View in CoL relatively longer ( Fig. 112e View FIGURE 112 ); carapace and abdomen light green coloured (as in Fig. 111a View FIGURE 111 )......... P. kohouti View in CoL
5(2). Overall shape of epigyne as wide as long or longer ( Fig. 110d View FIGURE 110 ).................................................. 6 Overall shape of epigyne clearly wider than long ( Fig. 101d View FIGURE 101 )................................................... 9
6(5). At most two pairs of spines on tibia I and II......................................................... P. yambuna At View in CoL least three pairs of spines on tibia I and II................................................................ 7
7(6). Five pairs of spines on tibia I and II, distal two pairs weak............................................. P. janthina Only View in CoL three pairs of spines on tibia I and II.................................................................. 8
8(7). Carapace margin smooth; several long curved fang setae on cheliceral fang mound (as in Iridonyssus kohouti View in CoL , Fig. 4d, e View FIGURE 4 )................................................................................................ P. wallacei View in CoL Carapace margin finely serrate (as in P. waldockae View in CoL , Fig. 108d View FIGURE 108 ); no enlarged fang setae on chelicerae fang mound.................................................................................................... P. venusta View in CoL , part
9(5). Carapace with large feathery scales.................................................................. P. kgari View in CoL Carapace without feathery scales (e.g., Fig. 99a–c View FIGURE 99 ).......................................................... 10
10(9). Carapace margin smooth.................................................................... P. formiciforme View in CoL Carapace margin serrate or rugose (as in P. waldockae View in CoL , Fig. 108d View FIGURE 108 ).............................................. 11
11(10). Copulatory duct forms two hairpin turns to head of spermatheca ( Fig. 107d View FIGURE 107 )...................................... 12 Copulatory duct diagonal to transverse before head of spermatheca ( Fig. 102f View FIGURE 102 ).................................... 17
12(11). Abdomen dorsally with large paired areas centrally ( Fig. 107f View FIGURE 107 ); spermathecae relatively longer ( Fig. 107d View FIGURE 107 )... P. venusta View in CoL , part Abdomen entirely black without large paired spots ( Fig. 3e View FIGURE 3 ); spermathecae relatively shorter ( Fig. 104b View FIGURE 104 )........ P. lugubris View in CoL
13(1). Epigyne consists of two more or less closed circular ridges ( Figs 117g View FIGURE 117 , 120b View FIGURE 120 )..................................... 14 Epigyne with open ridges and complete or incomplete median scape ( Figs 123a View FIGURE 123 , 122d View FIGURE 122 , 125d View FIGURE 125 )........................ 15
14(13). Epigynal ridges complete circles ( Fig. 117g View FIGURE 117 )....................................................... P. contorqua Epigynal View in CoL ridges incomplete circles ( Fig. 120b View FIGURE 120 )........................................................ P. davidi View in CoL
15(13). Epigynal scape converges posteriorly ( Fig. 123a View FIGURE 123 )....................................................... P. tinda Epigynal View in CoL scape parallel and diverges posteriorly ( Figs 122d View FIGURE 122 , 125d View FIGURE 125 )............................................. 16
16 (15). Carapace iridescent green (as in Fig. 115g View FIGURE 115 ); epigynal ridges narrow ovoid ( Fig. 122d View FIGURE 122 )................... P. smaragdinea View in CoL Carapace black, not iridescent ( Fig. 124 View FIGURE 124 ); epigynal ridges circular ( Fig. 125d View FIGURE 125 )............................. P. zbigniewi View in CoL
17(11). Copulatory duct curves entally and then ectally before diagonal portion; accessory lobe absent ( Fig. 102e, f View FIGURE 102 ; Australia).................................................................................................. P. gloverae Copulatory View in CoL duct curves ectally before diagonal portion; accessory lobe present ( Fig. 102e, f View FIGURE 102 ; New Caledonia)... P. mandjelia View in CoL
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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Poecilipta Simon, 1897
Raven, Robert J. 2015 |
Poecilipta
Roewer, C. F. 1955: 635 |