MYSMENOPSINAE, Lopardo & Hormiga, 2015

Lopardo, Lara & Hormiga, Gustavo, 2015, Out of the twilight zone: phylogeny and evolutionary morphology of the orb-weaving spider family Mysmenidae, with a focus on spinneret spigot morphology in symphytognathoids (Araneae, Araneoidea), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 173 (3), pp. 527-786 : 779-780

MYSMENOPSINAE SUBF. NOV.

(CLADE C159)

Mysmenopsinae comprises the kleptoparasitic genera Isela (including Kilifina , see below) and Mysmenopsis . This sister-taxon relationship has been previously proposed (Griswold, 1985). Although we lacked sequence data for the representatives of this clade, this seemingly stable group is strongly supported by the morphological partition.

Monophyly

Several synapomorphies support Mysmenopsinae : the kleptoparasitic predatory strategy; females without aggregate gland spigots on PLS ( Figs 6D , 58H ); with between three and five palpal tibial trichobothria ( Figs 2E , 62A ); and with a modified (stridulatory) field on retrolateral femur I ( Figs 3C , 57B–D ); both sexes also have a stridulatory field on prolateral femur IV ( Figs 9A–C , 54H , 59F ); strong leg I ( Fig. 140A, D, G ; secondary similar legs in Mysmenopsis penai ); tarsal organ located on the middle third of tarsus ( Figs 8E , 54E , 56F ), and with a teardrop-shaped opening distinctly smaller than setal sockets ( Figs 3F , 9D , 54F , 62H ); opisthosoma with long and thick setae interspersed among shorter and thinner setae ( Fig. 140A ); cylindrical gland spigots on PLS as slim as other spigots, subequal to flagelliform gland spigot; male palpal tibia with scoop-shaped rim ( Figs 1A , 4A , 53B , 55A, C , 58A ); large palpal tibia (i.e. about one-fifth the size of carapace in lateral view; Figs 1A , 4A , 55A, C ); and cymbium as long as wide ( Figs 1A , 4C , 55B ). Ambiguously optimized synapomorphies for this clade include: shorter but stout and straight setae comprising the tarsal prolateral row on leg I ( Figs 8F , 54G , 59D ); strongly serrated distal promarginal curved seta on chelicerae; fingerprint cuticle on piriform field ( Fig. 61C ; rugose in Kilifina- MYSM-002- KENYA); minor ampullate (mAP) gland spigot without nubbins or tartipores ( Figs 6C, G , 58F , 61D ); males with palpal tibial bearing spinelike strong setae or spurs ( Figs 1A, B , 4A, E , 53E , 55H , 58E , 60B ); switchback I of spermatic duct close to fundus after passing through the distalmost wall of the bulb ( Fig. 131C, G ; distal in Isela ); and metatarsal clasping spine twisted ( Figs 3B , 8B, C , 140E, F ) or strongly curved proximally ( Figs 54D , 57I , 59B ).

Diagnosis

Mysmenopsinae differs from the genera Maymena , Trogloneta , and the subfamily Mysmeninae by: their kleptoparasitic lifestyle; a stridulatory field on prolateral femur IV; strong leg I; tarsal organ located on the middle third of tarsus, and with a teardrop-shaped opening distinctly smaller than setal sockets; mAP gland spigot without nubbins or tartipores; opisthosoma with long and thick setae interspersed among shorter and thinner setae; females with between three and five palpal tibial trichobothria; without aggregate gland spigots on PLS; and with a modified (stridulatory) field on retrolateral femur I; and males with large palpal tibia bearing spinelike strong setae or spurs. The following combination of features is unique for Mysmenopsinae : females with narrow copulatory ducts of uniform diameter; males with metatarsal clasping spine twisted or strongly curved proximally; prolateral apical clasping spine on tibia I; shorter but stout and straight setae comprising the tarsal prolateral row on leg I; relatively small cymbium and bulb; palpal tibial with scoop-shaped rim; cymbium as long as wide; loss of tegular conductor; switchback I of spermatic duct close to fundus after passing through the distalmost wall of the bulb; both sexes also have femoral macrosetae; cylindrical gland spigots on PLS as slim as other spigots, subequal to flagelliform; strongly serrated distal promarginal curved seta on chelicerae; and fingerprint cuticle on piriform field.

Figures

Figure 1. Isela okuncana (Mysmenidae), male left palp: A, D, E, ventral view; B, C, dorsal view; C, D, detail of tip of palp; E, detail of cymbial process. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 2. Isela okuncana (Mysmenidae): A, D–F, female; B, C, G, H, male. A, B, carapace, lateral view; C, carapace, ventral view; D, same, detail of labium–sternum junction; E, detail of female palpal tibia; F, detail of mouthparts; G, abdomen, ventral view; H, same detail of pedicel area.

Figure 3. Isela okuncana (Mysmenidae), legs: A, B, male; C–F, female; A, left leg I, prolateral view, tibia–metatarsus junction bearing clasping spines; B, detail of metatarsal clasping spine; C, right leg I, femur, ventral surface; D, left leg IV, tarsus, prolateral view; E, right leg I, prolateral view, detail of claws; F, right leg I, prolateral view, detail of tarsal organ.

Figure 4. Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp., Mysmenidae) from Kwale, Kenya, male left palp: A, B, F, prolateral view; C, dorsal view; D, retrolatero–dorsal view; E, J, retrolateral view; G, I, ventral view; F, detail from figure B; I, detail from figure G. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 6. Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp., Mysmenidae) from Kwale, Kenya; opisthosoma: A–F, female; G, male. A, right anterior lateral spinneret; B, same, left, detail; C, posterior median spinnerets; D, G, posterior lateral spinnerets; E, abdomen, posterior view; F, detail of minor ampullate spigot.

Figure 8. Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp., Mysmenidae) from Kwale, Kenya; male right leg I: A, metatarsus, dorsal view; B, same, detail of clasping spine; C, same prolateral view; D, tibia, ventral view; E, tarsus, dorsal view; F, same prolateral view.

Figure 9. Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp., Mysmenidae) from Kwale, Kenya; legs: A–C, E, female; D, F, male. A–C, E, left leg IV; D, right leg I; F, right leg IV. A, femur, prolateral view; B, same, detail of stridulatory area, C, same, close up; D, tarsus, dorsal view, tarsal organ; E, claws, retrolateral view; F, tibia, prolateral view.

Figure 53. Mysmenopsis cidrelicola (Mysmenidae), male paralectotype. A–F, left palp; A, retrolateral view; B, dorsal view; C, retrolateral–ventral view; D, bulb and cymbium, ventral view; E, detail of tibial hollow area; F, bulb and cymbium, retrolateral–ventral view. G, abdomen, pedicel area; H, posterior spinnerets. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 54. Mysmenopsis cidrelicola (Mysmenidae), male paralectotype. A, ocular area, frontal view; B, mouthparts, ventral view. C–G, left leg I; C, tibia and metatarsus, prolateral view; D, metatarsal clasping spine, dorsal view; E, tarsus, dorsal view; F, same, detail of tarsal organ; G, tarsus, prolateral view. H, femur, prolateral–ventral view.

Figure 55. Mysmenopsis dipluramigo (Mysmenidae), male left palp. A, prolateral view; B, dorsal view; C, retrolateral view; D, tibia, detail from figure A, prolateral view; E, same, detail from figure C, retrolateral view; F, distal view; G, embolus and tip of cymbium, detail from figure A, prolateral view; H, detail of tibial hollow area, ventral view; I, same, detail of spur. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 56. Mysmenopsis dipluramigo (Mysmenidae): A, B, E–G, male; C, D, female. A, left patella III, dorsal view; B, left leg II, claws; C, abdomen, epigynal area, ventral view; D, same, colulus, posterior respiratory spiracle and spinnerets, ventral view; E, epiandrous spigots; F, left tarsus I, dorsal view; G, mouthparts, ventral view.

Figure 57. Mysmenopsis dipluramigo (Mysmenidae), left legs I: A–E, female; F–J, male. A, femur, prolateral view; B, same, retrolateral view; C, same, detail of stridulatory area; D, same, detail from panel C; E, femoral projection, detail from panel A; F, dorsal view; G, tibial and metatarsal clasping spines, prolateral view; H, metatarsal clasping spines; I, same, detail of strongest clasping spine; J, tibial clasping spines.

Figure 58. Mysmenopsis palpalis (Mysmenidae): A–G, male; H, female. A–E, left palp; A, prolateral view; B, dorsal view; C, distal view; D, embolus and distal cymbium, ventral view; E, detail of tibial spurs. F, posterior median spinnerets; G, H, posterior lateral spinneret. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 59. Mysmenopsis palpalis (Mysmenidae): A–G, male; H–I, female. B, D, F, left legs, prolateral view. A, prosoma, lateral view; B, tibial and metatarsal clasping spines, leg I; C, ocular area, frontal view; D, tarsus I; E, mouthparts, detail from figure G, ventral view; F, femur IV, detail of stridulatory area; G, prosoma, ventral view; H, epigynum, ventral view; I, spinning field and posterior respiratory spiracle, posterior view.

Figure 60. Mysmenopsis penai (Mysmenidae): A–F, male right palp, inverted; G, H, female digested abdomen. A, ventral view; B, same, detail of tibial hollow area; C, distal view; D, same, detail of embolus and cymbium; E, tibial spurs, detail from panel B; F, embolus and distal cymbium; G, posterior tracheal system; H, anterior tracheal system and vulva. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 61. Mysmenopsis penai (Mysmenidae), female. A, epigynum, ventral view; B, same, posterior view; C, left anterior lateral spinneret; D, right posterior median spinneret. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 62. Mysmenopsis penai (Mysmenidae): A–D, female; E–H, male left leg I. A, right palpal tibia, dorsal view; B, right maxilla; C, labrum; D, right chelicera, distal view. E, tibial and metatarsal clasping spines, prolateral view; F, same, detail of tibial clasping spine; G, metatarsus–tarsus junction, dorsal view; H, tarsal organ. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 131. Mysmenidae male left palp (unless otherwise stated), cleared: A, Mysmenopsis penai, retrolateral view, right palp, inverted; B, Mysmenopsis dipluramigo, retrolateral view; C, Mysmenopsis cidrelicola, presumably paralectotype, retrolateral view, right palp, inverted; D, Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp.), from Kwale, Kenya, ventral view, right palp, inverted; E, Trogloneta granulum, ventral view; F, Trogloneta cantareira, ventral view; G, Kilifina-MYSM-002- KENYA (Isela sp.), from Kwale, Kenya, dorsal view, right palp, inverted; H, Isela okuncana, ventral view; I, Maymena ambita, ventral view; J, Maymena mayana, ventral view. See Appendix 3 for the list of abbreviations.

Figure 140. Composite images of Mysmenidae species: Mysmenopsinae and Maymena. A–C, Isela okuncana; A, female, lateral view; B, female, ventral view; C, male, ventral view. D–F, Kilifina-MYSM-002-KENYA (Isela sp.), from Kwale, Kenya; D, female, lateral view; E, male, lateral view; F, male, ventral view. G, H, Mysmenopsis dipluramigo; G, female, lateral view; H, male, lateral view. I, Mysmenopsis palpalis, female, ventral view. J, K, Mysmenopsis cidrelicola, male paralectotype; J, lateral view; K, ventral view. L, Mysmenopsis penai, female, dorsal view. M–O, Maymena ambita; M, male, lateral view; N, female, lateral view; O, female, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–I, L–O, 0.5 mm; J, K, 1 mm.