Uduba species
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https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.13158554 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:74E0D22E-9890-4FF0-80AB-8FCBBA976B2F |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/FB2A5333-1819-FFBA-454E-34F8A939E8BB |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Uduba species |
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Uduba species groups
We have separated species into groups based on unique genitalic morphologies. The groups comprise: Group I, the Epigynal atrium group including 20 species and subdivided into three subgroups: Group I.a, the Uduba dahli group (nine species, Map 13 View MAP ), Group I.b, the Uduba woodae group (six species, Map 14) and Group I.c, the Uduba funerea group (five species, Map 15 View MAP ); Group II, the Epigynum lateral projection group, or Uduba evanescens group (six species,
Map 16), Group III, the Uduba valiha group (three species, Map 17 View MAP ), Group IV, the Uduba rinha group (two species, Map 18), Group V, the Uduba rajery group (two species, Map 19 View MAP ), Group VI, the Uduba danielae group (two species, Map 20) and finally, four species that are relegated to Unclassified species ( Map 21 View MAP ). Whereas we do not present a phylogenetic analysis, we note that these unique genitalic morphologies are not found in other Udubidae , nor have we observed identical morphologies in other members of the OC-Clade. We consider the characters listed below as putative synapomorphies for these groups. It remains for a future phylogenetic analysis to corroborate or refute these hypotheses.
I. Epigynal atrium group. This is a group of 20 species ( Maps 13–15 View MAP View MAP ) in which the female epigynum has a clearly defined median lobe surrounded by depressed atrium ( Figs. 73 B, D View FIGURE , 74 A, C, D View FIGURE , 80 A View FIGURE , 84 A View FIGURE ). The copulatory openings are hidden; in most species they are hidden beneath the margins of the atrium, but at least in Uduba halabe the copulatory openings are hidden beneath the sides of the median lobe. The vulval ducts make two or more spirals. Males of particular genitalic morphologies are associated with females of the Epigynal atrium group, so we feel safe in assigning some species to this group even if those species are known only from males. Among species of the Epigynal atrium group are two subgroups defined by unique male genitalic conformations, plus five species known only from females.
I. a. Uduba dahli subgroup. This group of nine species ( Map 13 View MAP ) in the Epigynal atrium group in which males have the TA3 forming a large screw ( Figs. 29 D, F View FIGURE , 43 A–C View FIGURE , 47 A–C View FIGURE ): the TA2 may be of various forms. Included are the ecribellate Uduba lamba , U. fandroana , U. hainteny , U. kavanaughi , and U. platnicki . The species U. halabe has an entire cribellum ( Fig. 20 A View FIGURE ), and U. salegy , U. dahli Simon 1903 and U. ibonia have a divided cribellum ( Fig. 20 B View FIGURE ).
I. b. Uduba woodae subgroup. This group of six species (Map 14) in the Epigynal atrium group have males in which the TA2 of the palp is strongly sclerotized, often black, and is adjacent to or embracing the TA3 ( Figs. 29 E View FIGURE , 61 A–C View FIGURE , 66 A–C View FIGURE ). Included are two ecribellate species U. andriamihajai and U. balsama , and four species with a divided cribellum: U. schlingeri , U. taralily , U. lehibekokoa and U. woodae ( Fig. 20G View FIGURE ).
I. c. Uduba funerea subgroup. This group of five species ( Map 15 View MAP ) in the Epigynal atrium group are as yet recognized only from female specimens. Included are Uduba funerea Simon, 1906 , which has an entire cribellum and the four ecribellate species U. barbarae , U. lavitra , U. orona and U. milamina . We cannot assert the monophyly of this group.
II. Epigynum lateral projection group ( Uduba evanescens group). This is a group of six species (Map 16) in which females have the lateral lobes of the epigynum projecting ( Figs. 77 A, C, E View FIGURE ), even so far as to form ear-like projections ( Figs. 71 A, E View FIGURE ); associated males have palpal TA2 extending to a point beyond TA1 and TA3 and MA with prolateral notches resembling a “can opener” ( Figs. 29 A, B View FIGURE , 35 B View FIGURE , 54 B View FIGURE , 57 B View FIGURE ). We also refer to this as the Uduba evanescens group, after the first member species to be described in 1901. Cribellate species have a divided cribellum and include Uduba pseudoevanescens and U. rakotofrah (known only from the male, which has the typical TA2 and MA morphology, Fig. 57 B View FIGURE ) and U. volana (known only from the female, which has slender epigynal lateral lobes, Fig. 77 E View FIGURE ). Probably the cribellate U. heliani ( Fig. 72 A View FIGURE ) and the ecribellate U. goodmani ( Fig. 77 A View FIGURE ), which are known from the female only, belong to Uduba evanescens group, as both have weakly developed lateral processes on the epigynum. The new species Uduba pseudoevanescens has a divided cribellum ( Fig. 20 C View FIGURE ) and is known from both sexes: it is amazingly similar to the ecribellate ( Fig. 20 D View FIGURE ) species U. evanescens (Dahl, 1901) , which is also known from male and female.
III. Uduba valiha group. Three species ( Map 17 View MAP ), all with a divided cribellum, have the male with a branched MA ( Fig. 29 H View FIGURE ) and a strong spine on the papal tibia ( Figs. 40 B View FIGURE , 44 A View FIGURE , 64 B, C View FIGURE ), and female with the spermathecal ducts visible through the epigynal cuticle arching far anteriad of the epigynal plate ( Figs. 72 C, E, G View FIGURE ). Details of the TA2, tibial spination, and epigynal shape distinguish the three included species: U. hiragasy , U. fisheri and U. valiha . One species, Uduba valiha ( Fig. 72 G View FIGURE ), has a female that conforms to the Epigynum lateral projection group suggesting a possible relationship between the Uduba valiha and Epigynum lateral projection groups.
IV. Uduba rinha group. This is a group of two closely related species (Map 18) that have a divided cribellum and that are characterized by a trapezoidal MA in the male ( Figs. 29 I View FIGURE , 46 B View FIGURE , 59 B View FIGURE ) and female epigyna with copulatory openings located beneath an anterior, divided hood and spermathecal ducts visible through the epigynal cuticle to form a circular loop cuticle that extends far posterior of the epigynal plate ( Figs. 71 C, G View FIGURE ). Included are the new species Uduba rinha and U. irwini .
V. Uduba rajery group. This is another small group comprising only two new species ( Map 19 View MAP ), in this case only known from unique males, which appear to have a divided cribellum. The genitalia are strikingly distinct: the palpal tibia has thick, swollen VTA ( Figs. 55 A–C View FIGURE , 58 A–C View FIGURE ), and the bulb has the TA2 extending through a tegular notch and a large, triangular MA with apical spikes or lobes ( Figs. 29 G View FIGURE , 56 B, D View FIGURE ). Included are Uduba rakotozafy and U. rajery . The branched MA and elongate TA2 suggest a relationship between the Uduba rajery group and the Uduba valiha group. It is unfortunate that no females of the included species are known.
VI. Uduba danielae group. This is another small group comprising only two new species (Map 20), in this case each only known from a unique female, both of which have a divided cribellum. The epigyna are strikingly similar but the vulval path differs between species. The affinities of this group are obscure, although the spermathecal ducts that are visible through the epigynal cuticle arching anteriad of the epigynal plate ( Figs. 70 A, C View FIGURE ) suggest a relationship to the Uduba valiha group. Included in the Uduba danielae group are the new species Uduba jayjay and U. danielae .
Unclassified species. Finally, we have four species that have no clear morphological affinities to the diagnostic characters of the previously defined species groups ( Map 21 View MAP ). Two new species, each only known from females from a single collecting event, both have a divided cribellum. Uduba sarotra has a vulva that spirals ( Fig. 70 E View FIGURE ) in a manner reminiscent of the Epigynal atrium group but the epigynum of this species lacks a median lobe and atrium ( Fig. 70 D View FIGURE ), though the lateral longitudinal ridge may be homologous to the atrial ridge and the median longitudinal ridge may be homologous to the median lobe. Uduba ida from Analamazaotra is unique ( Figs. 73 C, F View FIGURE ). The spermatheca that make several spirals on a longitudinal path resemble some Ambohima ( Phyxelididae ) and Symphytognathoidea, e.g., Mysmenidae and Theridiosomatidae , but the oval calamistrum and divided cribellum suggest placement of this enigmatic species in Uduba . Uduba lakroa is new species known from four males from a single collection at Mt. Papango. The species appears to have a divided cribellum. The palp morphology is distinctive: the TA2 and TA3 cross, they have a sclerotized lobe beneath TA2 and a pale concavity lateral to the TA3 base ( Figs. 48A– C View FIGURE ). Last, the ecribellate ( Fig. 20 E View FIGURE ) type species of the genus, Uduba madagascariensis ( Vinson, 1863) , is also difficult to relate to other species. The trapezoidal median lobe of the female epigynum is unique, but the vulva spirals in a manner reminiscent of the Epigynal atrium group ( Figs. 68 A–D View FIGURE , 69 A–G View FIGURE , 80 C View FIGURE ). On the male palp ( Figs. 29 C View FIGURE , 51 A–C View FIGURE , 52 B, D, E View FIGURE ) we find that the TA2 and TA3 interact, which is reminiscent of the Uduba woodae group and also of Uduba lakroa .
Predictions from our classification. Some predictions are possible from our classification. We expect that when discovered, females of the unassociated species classified in the Uduba woodae , Uduba funerea and Uduba dahli groups should have an epigynal atrium and a vulva that spirals. The currently unassociated females of U. funerea Simon 1906 and the new species U. barbarae , U. lavitra , U. milamina and U. orona will probably go with males that have small MA and VTA, a short to small TA2 and a TA3 that is a crescent or screw. The females of the new species Uduba volana , U. heliani and U. goodmani will probably be associated with males that have a large, pointed TA2 that extends distally and that have an MA that is complexly branched. Uduba rakotofrah , a new species currently known only from a male, will probably be matched with a female that has a laterally projected epigynum. The new species Uduba rakotozafy and U. rajery will probably be matched with females that have elaborate processes on the epigynum. It is hard to imagine the male of the small, extraordinary new species Uduba ida except to expect that it will have a very long, whip-like embolus.
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