Identification key

This key is designed to identify the species groups of Smeringopus . Species within species groups are best identified by comparing diagnostic figures. Note that males and females must be present for this key to work.

1 Male chelicerae with long distal lateral apophyses (Figs. 24–27); epigynum with distinct posterior indentation (Figs. 38–57)....................................................................................... rubrotinctus group

- Male chelicerae with shorter distal apophyses; epigynum without posterior indentation............................. 2

2 Male palpal cymbium with very long slender process near palpal tarsal organ (Figs. 131, 132)........... chogoria group

- Male palpal cymbium without or with much shorter process near palpal tarsal organ (e.g. Figs. 357, 367, 387)........... 3

3 Epigynum without pair of pockets........................................................................ 4

- Epigynum with pair of pockets (e.g. Figs. 459, 542).......................................................... 7

4 Genital bulb with only one process (Fig. 151); cheliceral apophyses in relatively proximal position (Fig. 153)... S. ngangao

- Genital bulb with two or three processes................................................................... 5

5 Male palpal coxa with retrolateral apophysis (arrow in Fig. 379)........................................ S. pallidus

- Male palpal coxa without retrolateral apophysis............................................................ 6

6 Genital bulb with two processes............................................... arambourgi group and S. ndumo

- Genital bulb with three processes (or dorsal process clearly bifid, Figs. 338, 360, 364)... natalensis group (except S. ndumo)

7 Male chelicerae with proximal frontal projections (Figs. 771, 779, 788)............................... roeweri group

- Male chelicerae without proximal frontal projections......................................................... 8

8 Legs without curved hairs............................................................................... 9

- Legs with curved hairs................................................................................ 10

9 Abdomen without dorsal pattern (Figs. 530, 534); procursus without distal pointed apophysis (Figs. 533, 537); cymbium with elongation (Figs. 533, 537)............................................................ cylindrogaster group

- Abdomen with distinct dorsal pattern (Figs. 699, 701, 703); procursus with long distal pointed apophysis (Figs. 706, 708); cymbium without elongation (Figs. 706, 708).................................................. thomensis group

10 Procursus with long and slender distal process (Figs. 402-404); bulb with long pointed dorsal process on embolus (Figs. 405, 406)......................................................................................... S. lesserti

- Procursus with shorter distal process (e.g. Figs. 487, 500, 609); bulb without or with shorter dorsal process on embolus (e.g. Figs. 503, 658, 698).................................................................................. 11

11 Procursus distally strongly bent towards prolateral (e.g., Figs. 484, 510); valve in internal female genitalia medially barely widened and not clearly divided (Figs. 460–474)................................................ hypocrita group

- Procursus distally not or only slightly bent towards prolateral (e.g., Figs. 651, 657, 675); valve in internal female genitalia medially strongly widened and divided (Figs. 593–607)......................................... peregrinus group