Genus Phonotimpus Gertsch & Davis, 1940

Type species: Phonotimpus separatus Gertsch & Davis, 1940 .

Diagnosis. Phonotimpus differs from all other phrurolithids by the following combination of characters: posterior eye row recurved, posteromedian eyes smaller than posterolateral eyes and closer to posterolateral eyes than each other (Figs 65, 69), both sexes with a dorsal abdominal scutum (Figs 66, 70). Males have palpal femur with a retrolateral excavation and a prolateral patch of spinules distally (Figs 13, 14), with dorsal and retrolateral tibial apophyses (not joined at base) (Figs 3, 4), palpal bulb with an embolar basal process and membranous conductor clumped with the embolus (Figs 9, 12, and fig. 3B in Chamé-Vázquez et al. 2018).

Description. A detailed generic description must await treatment of other undescribed species.

Natural history. Phonotimpus specimens are found in the soil litter from tropical forests, secondary vegetation (Chamé-Vázquez et al. 2018), or in caves (see below). The predatory behavior and some aspects of reproductive behavior and natural enemies are known only for P. pennimani Chamé-Vázquez, Ibarra-Núñez & Jiménez, 2018 and P. talquian Chamé-Vázquez, Ibarra-Núñez & Jiménez, 2018 (Angulo-Ordoñes et al. 2019; Chamé-Vázquez 2020).