Venomius, Rossi & Castanheira & Baptista & Framenau, 2023
|
publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/evolsyst.7.110022 |
|
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AD14BFA1-E6E7-4801-A37E-F32D90DAD9D1 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/484F0327-4F9B-4743-8C32-9001EC24761E |
|
taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:484F0327-4F9B-4743-8C32-9001EC24761E |
|
treatment provided by |
|
|
scientific name |
Venomius |
| status |
gen. nov. |
Venomius gen. nov.
Type species.
Venomius tomhardyi sp. nov.; by monotypy.
Etymology.
The new genus Venomius is named after the Marvel Comics’ character “Venom”, created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane, whose full first appearance was in "The Amazing Spider-Man #300" (published in May 1988), after an alien symbiote bonded with the character Eddie Brock. This genus-group name is a reference to the head of the character Venom, with conspicuous black spots, that resembles the abdomen of our species, specifically the male holotype (Fig. 1A View Figure 1 ). The gender of the genus-group name Venomius is masculine.
Diagnosis.
Somatically, specimens of Venomius gen. nov. resemble those of Phonognatha due to the similar abdomen shape and colouration of both genera (elongate cylindrical with dark brown to black markings dorsally on paler area) (Figs 1A, B View Figure 1 , 3A, B View Figure 3 vs Kallal and Hormiga 2018, e.g., figs 12A, 13A, 17A, 20A). However, the genital morphology of Venomius gen. nov. is quite different from Phonognatha . Males do not have the genital synapomorphies of Phonognatha (i.e., the elongate conductor in which the embolus lies or the lack of a median apophysis; Kallal and Hormiga 2018, p. 1079) nor do females (epigyne without scape and lobed spermathecae). Similarly, the genital morphology is very different to that of Deliochus Simon, 1894 and Artiphex Kallal & Hormiga, 2022, the other representatives of the Phonognathinae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kallal et al. 2020)/ Phonognathidae Simon, 1894 (sensu Kuntner et al. 2023) in Australia.
Within an Australian context, an elongate cylindrical abdomen is also present in Leviana , but genital morphology is also very different in this genus. The male pedipalp in Leviana has a median apophysis with a basal arch over the radix that carries an internal spur, a proposed synapomorphy of this genus (Framenau and Kunter 2022; p. 107). In contrast, Venomius gen. nov. do not have such an arch or spur (Figs 1C View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 ). Female epigynes of Leviana have an elongated thin scape (although it is often broken off), but the scape is short and broad in Venomius gen. nov. covering the epigyne atrium (Fig. 3C View Figure 3 ).
We here identify the following characters to diagnose Venomius gen. nov.: the male pedipalp has two strong macrosetae on the tibia; a finger-like, long paracymbium (Figs 1E View Figure 1 , 2B View Figure 2 ); a stipes carrying two prominent processes, a median keel and a basal round protrusion (Figs 1C View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 ). The female epigyne is wholly covered by the scape, very broad basally with lateral lobes and a short median process (Figs 3C View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 ).
Description.
Medium-sized orb-weaving spiders, with males (ca. TL 5.5-6.4) smaller than females (ca. TL 9.1-11.7). Carapace considerably longer than wide, pear-shaped; colour from orange-brown in males to black in females, cephalic area darker in males (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 3A View Figure 3 ). Fovea transverse (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 3A View Figure 3 ). Row of posterior eyes slightly recurved, lateral eyes almost touching; anterior median eyes slightly protruding from the carapace in both sexes (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 3A View Figure 3 ). Sternum longer than wide, from orange-brown to black (Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 3B View Figure 3 ). Labium wider than long, with anterior pale edge (Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 3B View Figure 3 ). Maxillae with pale antero-mesal section (Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 3B View Figure 3 ). Chelicerae fangs with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth of similar size. Leg formula I> II> IV> III. Abdomen elongate cylindrical, anteriorly somewhat narrower, without humeral or other humps; three pairs of conspicuous black sigillae (median pair somewhat larger), abdomen otherwise without specialised setae, condyles or other specific structures; dorsally with pale yellow background (coated by three large longitudinal black streaks in males) that expands to a large black patch posteriorly in both sexes (Figs 1A View Figure 1 , 3A View Figure 3 ). Venter brown to black with a pair of two pale spots centrally (Figs 1B View Figure 1 , 3B View Figure 3 ). Male pedipalp patella with a single macroseta (Fig. 1D View Figure 1 ; only setal socket present basally, macroseta broken off in holotype); tibia with prominent ventral edge and two strong and elongated macrosetae (Figs 1C, E View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 ); tegulum heavily sclerotized, with rounded lobe at its basal dorsal portion (Figs 1C, D View Figure 1 , 2B View Figure 2 ); paracymbium finger-like, very conspicuous (Figs 1C-E View Figure 1 , 2B-D View Figure 2 ); median apophysis strongly sclerotised, canoe-shaped, with a narrow rounded base, a constricted middle portion and a broad concave tip (Figs 1C, D View Figure 1 , 2A, B View Figure 2 ); radix thin and curved (Figs 1C View Figure 1 , 2A View Figure 2 ); stipes with central flattened keel and concave and basal round protrusion (Figs 1C View Figure 1 , 2A, B View Figure 2 ); terminal apophysis flattened with its distal portion elongated, curved dorsally and with truncated tip that covers the base of conductor as a hood (Figs 1C, D View Figure 1 , 2A-D View Figure 2 ); conductor prominent, U-shaped, centrally concave and projected retrolaterally, bearing a rounded protrusion medially connected to an elongate basal lobe, and with scale-like structures covering most of its external margin (Figs 1C, D View Figure 1 , 2A, B, D View Figure 2 ); embolus complex, basally broad, tapering apically with a central, elongate L-shaped keel, with uncapped tip that fits the elongate basal lobe of the conductor (Figs 1C View Figure 1 , 2A, B, D View Figure 2 ). Female epigyne wider than long, scape broad, covering the atrium with narrow projecting lateral borders curving into a short and rounded median lobe that overreaches the epigyne border (Figs 3C-E View Figure 3 , 4A View Figure 4 ); posterior plate triangular tapering to a round prominence (Fig. 3E View Figure 3 ); internal genitalia formed by two pairs of ovoid spermathecae, copulatory ducts thick and curved, located laterally (Fig. 4A, B View Figure 4 ).
Distribution.
Specimens of Venomius gen. nov. have so far been found in northern Tasmania, Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and south-western Western Australia (Fig. 5 View Figure 5 ).
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.