Anelosimus ethicus (Keyserling, 1884)

Agnarsson, Ingi, 2006, A revision of the New World eximius lineage of Anelosimus (Araneae, Theridiidae) and a phylogenetic analysis using worldwide exemplars, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (4), pp. 453-593 : 470

ETHICUS GROUP – CLADE 21

To my knowledge an araneid-like epigynal scape (1 -1, Fig. 55A ) is present in only eight theridiid species, and these are all closely related, together forming the epigynal scape clade ( Fig. 59 , clade 23). In addition to the scape the monophyly of this clade is also supported by the sperm duct trajectory switchback I touching (29 - 1), and modification of the stridulatory system, with a straight row of tightly spaced, numerous, stridulatory picks on the abdomen (102 -2, 106 -0, see Agnarsson, 2004: fig. 26D,E). This lineage contains the ethicus group, the third American clade, containing A. ethicus , A. nigriscens (previously subsumed within A. ethicus ), A. rabus Levi, 1963 , and four new species (revised by Agnarsson, 2005). The ethicus group is united by: copulatory ducts encircling spermathecae (8 -1), a bulky theridiid tegular apophysis (51 -0, Fig. 57C ), with a distal hook (52 -2, Fig. 57B ) and a simple short Eb (78 -1, Fig. 57C ).

Figures

Figure 55. Characters I. A, Anelosimus ethicus epigynum, note scape (arrow); B, Anelosimus may epigynum, note anterior septum (arrow); C, Enoplognatha ovata male palp, note unmodified terminal portion of the theridiid tegular apophysis (arrow); D, Argyrodes argyrodes male palp, note simple terminal hook on the theridiid tegular apophysis (vertical arrow) with terminal ridges, and the unique Argyrodes conductor (horizontal arrow); E, Anelosimus sp. 1 (Australia), male palp with a ‘corkscrew’ embolus (arrow); F, Kochiura aulica, male palp, note cymbial marginal setae strongly bent towards the palpal bulb (arrows); G, Anelosimus ethicus male prosoma, note robust femur I (arrow) compared with femur IV.

Figure 57. Characters III. A, Anelosimus nelsoni, note a finger-shaped lower branch of the theridiid tegular apophysis hook (arrow); B, Anelosimus nigrescens, note a blade-like lower branch of the theridiid tegular apophysis hook (arrow); C, Anelosimus ethicus, with a small, barely separate embolic division b (arrow); D, Anelosimus baeza male palp, ventral view, showing the sperm duct trajectory in the tegulum relative to position of sclerites; E, Anelosimus eximius, a schematic view of the sperm duct trajectory from ectal view (view as in G), F, Anelosimus eximius from above; G, Anelosimus baeza ectal view, showing switchbacks I and II.

Figure 59. The preferred phylogeny with informal clade names and clade numbers in circles at the nodes.