Platnickia Jocqué, 1991

Grismado, Cristian J. & Platnick, Norman I., 2008, Review of the Southern South American Spider Genus Platnickia (Araneae, Zodariidae), American Museum Novitates 3625 (1), pp. 1-20 : 3-4

Platnickia Jocqué

Platnickia Jocque´, 1991: 75 (type species by original designation Drassus elegans Nicolet ).

DIAGNOSIS: As per Jocqué (1991). Males of this genus have a relatively elongated tegulum with a long, slender, and simple tegular apophysis (sometimes membranous and unsclerotized); the embolus has a mesoprolateral origin, and its tip is hidden by the massive apical tegular extension (figs. 6, 7). The retrolateral tibial apophysis is short, sometimes inconspicuous, but bears modified setae (figs. 4, 5). The epigynum has a variable-shaped median field (figs. 13, 14, 23, 56, 58, 63, 68, 73). The two large spermathecae (figs. 15–18, 24, 57, 59, 64, 69, 74) have internally directed heads with a porous surface; a large dictynoid pore is present at the anteromedian corner of their base (figs. 17, 18). No scopulae or modified hairs were found on the legs of the specimens examined (fig. 8). The tarsal trichobothrial bases bear a single ridge (fig. 75) and the tarsal organ is capsulate (fig. 76). The teeth on the paired tarsal claws originate on the median, rather than ventral, surface of the claws (figs. 77, 78).

DESCRIPTION: A detailed description has already been provided by Jocqué (1991).

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands.

KEY TO SPECIES OF PLATNICKIA

1. Females.......................... 2

– Males (those of P. roble unknown)....... 6

2. Epigynum with a short, transverse median field (fig. 58); spermathecae simple, rounded (fig. 59)..................... roble

– Epigynum with a larger median field, not transverse; spermathecae bilobed....... 3

3. Median lobes of spermathecae smaller than lateral lobes; median field of epigynum shallow, with lateral margins obsolete... 4

– Median lobes of spermathecae larger than lateral lobes or similar in size to them; median field of epigynum depressed, with well-defined lateral margins.......... 5

4. Margins of median field of epigynum obsolete, defining a square, copulatory openings widely spaced (fig. 56); copulatory ducts short (fig. 57)................ elegans

– Margins of median field of epigynum conspicuous, defining a shallow depression, more or less rectangular, with rounded anterolateral corners, copulatory opening closely spaced (fig. 73); copulatory ducts long, thick (fig. 74)..................... bolson

5. Median field of epigynum more or less trapezoidal, widest anteriorly (fig. 68); both lobes of spermathecae similar in size, more or less consecutive (fig. 69); leg spines normal...................... bergi

– Median field of epigynum almost heart-shaped, with rounded anterolateral margins (fig. 63); spermathecal lobes situated side by side, median ones extending anteriorly (fig. 64); leg spines reduced............ wedalen

6. Palp with tegular apophysis well sclerotized.. 7

– Palp with tegular apophysis unsclerotized.. 8

7. Tegular apophysis and tegular extension proportionately thick and short; retrolateral tibial apophysis short (figs. 52–54)..... elegans

– Tegular apophysis proportionately longer, more sinuous; tegular extension also more elongated; retrolateral tibial apophysis more acute, projecting (figs. 70–72)...... bolson

8. Tegular apophysis short, ventrally directed, separated from the ventral surface of the tegular extension; retrolateral tibial apophysis truncated (figs. 65–67); leg spines normal........................ bergi

– Tegular apophysis slightly longer, running nearly parallel to the ventral surface of the tegular extension, which has a dorsal denticulate keel; retrolateral tibial apophysis with very acute tip (figs. 60–62); leg spines reduced..................... wedalen