Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935

Prószyński, Jerzy, Lissner, Jørgen & Schäfer, Michael, 2018, Taxonomic survey of the genera Euophrys, Pseudeuophrys and Talavera, with description of Euochin gen. n. (Araneae: Salticidae) and with proposals of a new research protocol *, Ecologica Montenegrina 18, pp. 26-74 : 70

Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935

(as well as gen. Ballognatha Caporiacco, 1935 and group Ballognatheae (= Ballognathinae)) Figures 22-23

Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935: 215 , pl. 6, f. 1 (Dj).

Material studied. Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935 - type specimen, coll. Museo Civico di Storia Naturale , Milano, Italy.

Comments: Described on single immature specimen, in poor state of preservation, devoid of any significant diagnostic character. Original classification wrong because the only tangible structure - cheliceral dentition ( Fig. 20 A ) is rather "fissidentati" than "pluridentati" type, besides taxonomic significance of bicusp cheliceral tooth lost diagnostic value originally assigned to it by Simon (1901 -1903). The original description (see below, Fig. 31 ) does not contain any clue to eventual placement of the genus, and suggested therein partial similarities with genera Ballus , Euophrys , Pseudicius , Sobasina and Thiodina cannot be taken seriously. Quality of many other diagnostic drawings by di Caporiacco ( Figs 17G 1, I1 , N, O, Q) do not increase confidence in his identifications.

After study of the type specimen I am positive that Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935 is a nomen dubium. Since genus Ballognatha Caporiacco, 1935 was described as monotypic and the group Ballognatheae (= Ballognathine) Caporiacco, 1935 contained single genus anchored on species being nomen dubium, all these names should be considered nomina dubia.

Therefore:

Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935 - nomen dubium,

Ballognatha Caporiacco, 1935 - nomen dubium,

Ballognatheae (= Ballognathine) Caporiacco, 1935 - nomen dubium.

SOURCES: A - Prószyński, unpublished, B - Caporiacco (1935) Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, 13: 214- 215, pl. 6, f. 1.

Figures

Figure 1. New protocol of macrophotographic diagnostic documentation by Arnaud Henrard, here on example of live Euophrys frontalis. It includes three views of both male (A-C) and female (H-I) specimens, two position of palps (F-G) and two views of epigyne (K-L), with some additional views (E, M-N), D - demonstrates disappearance of white setae and hairs in alcohol (compare live specimen at A), J - demonstrates changes of color pattern caused by preservation in alcohol.

Figure 17. Diagnostic characters of "Euophrys" pending reclassification (part II). A1 -- Euophrys altera - syntype male, A2 - syntype female = Icius hamatus, A3 - facsimile of caption of the latter, B - “E." alticola, C - “E." albopatella, D - “E." bifoveolata, E1 -“E." banksi, E -“E." jirica, F -“E." patellaris, G -“E." miranda, G1 -“E." concolorata, H -“E." griswoldi, I1 - “E." megastyla, I - “E." cooki, J - “E." menemerellus, K - “E." newtoni, L - “E." melanoleucus, M - “E." sima, N - “E." testaceozonata, O - “E." vittata, P - “E." valens, Q - "E." alabardata, R - "E." ysobolii.

Figure 20. Diversity of diagnostic characters in Euochin gen. n. A, D - Euochin atrata, B, E - Euochin bulbus, C - Euochin albopalpalis, F-I - Euochin poloi (A-I - palp, epigyne, spermatheca, details of spermatheca).

Figure 22. Diversity of main diagnostic characters in three genera: Euophrys, Talavera and Pseudeuophrys. A - Euophrys spp. spermathecae, B - Talavera spp. spermathecae, C- Pseudeuophrys spp. spermathecae, D - Euophrys spp. palps, E - Talavera spp. palps, F - Pseudeuophrys spp. palps.

Figure 23. Habitus and other diagnostic characters of diversity in males of Pseudeuophrys. A-B - Pseudeuophrys erratica, C-D - Pseudeuophrys obsoleta, E-F - Pseudeuophrys vafra, H Pseudeuophrys lanigera.

Figure 31. Facsimile of description of genus Ballognatha and species Ballognatha typica Caporiacco, 1935. SOURCE: Caporiacco, 1935 Memorie della Società Entomologica Italiana, Genova 13: 214- 215.