Falconina Brignoli 1985
Creators: name: García, Fabián
name: Bonaldo, Alexandre B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Corinnidae
Falconina

description: Falconina Brignoli, 1985
Falconia Schenkel, 1953: 46. Type species by original designation Falconia melloi Schenkel, 1953.
Falconina Brignoli, 1985: 380. Replacement name for Falconia Schenkel, preoccupied by Distant (1884) in Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae; synonymized with Corinna C. L Koch by M ü ller & Reimer 1988: 153; revalidated by Bonaldo 2000: 76.
Diagnosis. Males of Falconina share with those of Septentrinna Bonaldo, 2000 a well-developed cymbial retrolateral basal process that interacts with the retrolateral tibial apophysis (Figs 5B, 20B). They can be distinguished by the laminar tegular process positioned ventrally in relation to embolar insertion (tubular, positioned dorsally in relation to embolar insertion in Septentrinna) (Figs 5A, C, 20A, C) and by the presence of a unique embolar process, developed retrolaterally (Figs 5C, 20D). Females are distinguished from those of other Corinninae genera by the posterior vulvar plate, visible in ventral view as the posterior margin of the epigyne, forming a fold with the epigynal plate (Fig. 6B); internally, the posterior vulvar plate presents two extensions that are merged with primary spermathecae (Figs 6C–D).
Description: Total length (males and females) 3.89–7.50, females usually larger than males. Carapace suboval, longer than wide (Bonaldo 2000: fig. 215; Ramírez 2014: fig. 2F), with sparse long black hairs, more abundant in ocular region (Fig. 1A), with fine granulations, visible only through SEM; cephalic region poorly demarcated, with slight narrowing and sub-straight anterior margin, inconspicuous interocular tubercle; thoracic region gradually lowered in males, somewhat more abruptly in females. Clypeus one and a half diameter of AME in height (0.09– 0.30); row of anterior eyes strongly procurved in frontal view (Fig. 9C–D); AME slightly larger than others. Interdistances: AME-AME separated by less than one diameter, AME-ALE subcontiguous; PME-PME separated by about one diameter, PME-PLE by about a diameter and a half of PME; ALE-PLE subcontiguous (Fig. 1A; Ramírez 2014: fig. 9D). Labium wider than long, about half the length of endites. Sternum longer than wide, with few strong erect bristles and many hairs inserted into tubercles, shield-shaped, about straight anteriorly, sides convex, pointed posteriorly (Fig. 1B). Chelicerae small, weakly geniculate, less than half the length of carapace; front surface finely grained; retrolateral surface with conspicuous striations; basal condyle subtriangular; retromargin of fang furrow with four to six separated, subequal teeth, promargin with three, middle one larger (Fig. 1C–D); fang about onethird the length of chelicerae. Chilum divided, glabrous and smooth (Fig. 9C–D). Legs long and slender, relatively hirsute, with long, thick bristles and feathery hairs. Coxae with few hairs set in tubercles. All femora darker than other leg segments. Tibia I with two to six pairs of ventral spines; metatarsus I with two to three pairs of ventral spines. Tarsal scopula thin, restricted to tarsus I and II; in tarsus III and IV replaced by spiniform bristles; metatarsus without scopulae, III and IV with conspicuous tuft of ventro-distal bristles; tarsal claws with five short teeth (Fig. 2A–B); dense tuft of subungual hairs, with short hairs; tarsal organ subapical (Fig. 2C–D); tarsal trichobothria (Fig. 2E) distributed in row; female palpal tarsus with three short teeth (Fig. 2F). Abdomen usually hairy, with erect bristles and feathery hairs (Ramírez, 2014: fig. 98D); dorsal scutum present only in males (Figs 3A, 9A–B, 12A), poorly defined, restricted to anterior half; ventral scutum absent in both sexes, anal tubercle inconspicuous. Colulus represented by subquadrangular plate covered by simple hairs. Usually, two or three pairs of white patches in middle of abdomen, anterior pair usually larger, two or three posterior single white spots near the spinnerets, sometimes fused (Fig. 3A–B). Spinnerets (surveyed only in male of F. gracilis; Fig. 4A). ALS (Fig. 4B) with nearly four piriform spigots, eight piriform tartipores and two major ampullate spigots (m); PLS (Fig. 4C) with eight aciniform spigots, one aciniform tartipore; PMS (Fig. 4D) with three aciniform spigots, one aciniform tartipore, one minor ampullate spigot (m) and one nubbin. Male palp: tibial length almost half of cymbial length; ventral lobe of retrolateral tibial apophysis (VL) always present, with an apical spur, shorter and thicker (Figs 5A, 10B) or longer and thin (Figs 13B, 20A), hook-shaped apically; Dorsal process of ventral lobe present (Figs 5B, 15B, 19B) or absent (Figs 10A, 13A; Bonaldo 2000: figs 211, 212); medial lobe of retrolateral tibial apophysis always present (Figs 5B, 10B, 13B, 15B, 17B, D, 20A), dorsal lobe present (Figs 5B, 10B, 17B, D) or absent (Figs 13B, 15B, 20B). Cymbial retrolateral basal process well developed, interacting with retrolateral tibial apophysis (Figs 5B, 20B). Cymbial prolateral basal process present. Tegulum longer than wide, sclerotized, spermophore spiraled, with three or five ventral folds; conductor hyaline; embolus comma-shaped (Figs 5C, 8G–I, 20D) or lamellar (Fig. 10A), with basal process oriented retrolaterally, with apex projected towards conductor; tegular process well developed, ventrally inserted in relation to embolus, positioned mid-laterally, parallel to conductor, sub-quadrangular (Fig. 13A), small and sub-triangular (Figs 8G–I, 20A), or medial and sub-rectangular (Fig. 10A). Epigyne with one copulatory opening, generally near to posterior margin of epigynal plate; posterior vulvar plate well developed, visible in ventral view, forming fold with epigynal plate (Fig. 6A, B); posterior margin of epigynal plate with (Fig. 13C) or without (Fig. 10C) pronounced median notch; when present, inverted U-shaped (Fig. 6B) or M-shaped (Fig. 13C). Vulva with two extensions fused to primary spermathecae (Fig. 6C); primary spermathecae globular; fertilization ducts generally short (but see Figs 10C–D, 11D); secondary spermathecae globular, smaller than (Fig. 6D) and fused to primary spermathecae.
Natural history. Some of the specimens examined were collected with pitfall traps, which suggests that species of Falconina may be ground-dwellers. Specimens of F. gracilis from Goiânia, Caldas Novas, and Mineiros (Parque Nacional das Emas), Goiás, Brazil were observed alive, allowing a few preliminary observations of the natural history. Females were more frequently seen than males. Specimens can be collected from around 18 to 22 hours, near colonies of leaf-cutter ants (Atta spp., Formicidae), and some individuals were observed entering and leaving ant nests without being attacked. Predation by F. gracilis on adults of Atta spp. was also recorded (Fig. 7).
Key to species of Falconina
1 Males .............................................................................................. 2 Females............................................................................................. 9
2(1) Apical spur of ventral lobe of RTA short, thick (Fig. 5A–B).................................................... 3
- Apical spur of ventral lobe of RTA, long, thin (Fig. 20A–B).................................................... 4
3(2) Embolus comma-shaped (Fig. 5C); medial lobe of RTA small, dorsal lobe with apical spiniform projections (Fig. 5B; Bonaldo 2000: figs 223–226).......................................................... Falconina gracilis (Keyserling)
- Embolus laminar (Figs 10A, 11A); medial lobe of RTA robust, dorsal lobe without apical spiniform projections (Figs 10B, 11B)............................................................................ Falconina taita sp. nov.
4(2) Tegular process large, as wide as the tegulum width, with pronounced lateral margins, inserted on a tegular depression (Fig. 13A)............................................................................................... 5
- Tegular process smaller (Figs 17A, C, 20A), not as wide as the width of the tegulum, tegular depression absent........... 6
5(4) Tegular process entire (Fig. 12A), with acute lateral-apical margins, apical spur filiform, nearly as long as median lobe (Fig. 12C; Bonaldo 2000: figs 211–212)................................................ Falconina melloi (Schenkel)
- Tegular process bifid (Figs 13A, 14A), with truncated lateral-apical margins, apical spur thicker, longer than median lobe (Figs 13B, 14B)............................................................... Falconina albomaculosa (Schmidt)
6(4) RTA composed of only two lobes, dorsal lobe absent; tegular process laminar, sculptured (Figs 15A–B, 19A–B, 20A–B)... 7
- RTA composed of three lobes, dorsal lobe present; tegular process smooth, triangular (Figs 17A, C, 18A–C)............. 8
7(6) Dorsal process of ventral lobe of RTA present, composed by a single triangular projection; tegular process sub-rectangular, with a basal membranous sector (Figs 19A–B, 21A–B), covering the embolus in ventral view (Fig. 20C–D)........................................................................................ Falconina crassipalpis (Chickering)
- Dorsal process of ventral lobe of RTA absent; tegular process sub-squared, without a basal membranous sector (Figs 15A–B, 16A–B)......................................................................... Falconina adriki sp. nov.
8(6) Median lobe of RTA long, sub-rectangular, with rounded apices; embolus comma-shaped, medially inserted, with acute apices (Figs 17C–D, 18C–D)............................................................ Falconina catirina sp. nov.
- Median lobe of RTA shorter, sub-squared, with truncated apices; embolus lameliform, prolaterally inserted, with enlarged, truncated apices (Figs 17A–B, 18A–B)................................................... Falconina iza sp. nov.
9(1) Posterior margin of epigynal plate without a pronounced median notch (Figs 10C–D, 15C, Bonaldo, 2000 fig. 213)...... 10
- Posterior margin of epigynal plate with a pronounced median notch (Figs 6A–B, 10C)............................. 12
10(9) Posterior margin of epigynal plate gently curved laterally, fertilization ducts extremely long, secondary spermathecae posteriorly placed in relation to primary spermathecae (Figs 10C–D, 11C–D)............................ Falconina taita sp. nov.
- Posterior margin of epigynal plate straight or abruptly curved laterally, fertilization ducts short, secondary spermathecae anteriorly placed in relation to primary spermathecae (Fig. 15D; Bonaldo, 2000 fig. 214)........................... 11
11(10) Posterior margin of epigynal plate straight, posterior vulvar plate wider than long (Bonaldo 2000: figs 213, 214)....................................................................................... Falconina melloi (Schenkel)
- Posterior margin of epigynal plate abruptly curved laterally, posterior vulvar plate as long as wide (Figs 15C–D, 16C–D)................................................................................... Falconina adriki sp. nov.
12(9) Posterior vulvar plate extremely projected posteriorly, with a large portion visible in ventral view, rectangular in dorsal view (Fig. 22A, C)........................................................................................ 13
- Posterior vulvar plate slightly projected posteriorly, barely visible in ventral view, sub-squared in dorsal view (Fig 6A–C, 13C–D)............................................................................................ 15
13(12) Median notch of posterior margin of epigynal plate inverted U-shaped (Figs 22A–B, 23A–B).... Falconina andresi sp. nov.
- Median notch of posterior margin of epigynal plate M-shaped (Fig. 19C)........................................ 14
14(13) Margins of posterior vulvar plate oval, as wide as the margins of epigynal plate in ventral view; dorsally, posterior vulvar plate with anterior margin projected laterally (Figs 19C, 21 C–D)....................... Falconina crassipalpis (Chickering)
- Margins of posterior vulvar plate trapezoidal, shorter than the margins of epigynal plate in ventral view; dorsally, posterior vulvar plate without projection on anterior margin (Figs 22C–D, 23C–D)................... Falconina brignolii sp. nov.
15(12) Margins of epigynal plate and posterior vulvar plate divergent in ventral view; dorsally, posterior vulvar plate with anterior margin recurved, secondary spermathecae inserted subapically in relation to primary spermathecae (Fig. 6A–D; Bonaldo 2000: figs 221–222)............................................................... Falconina gracilis (Keyserling)
- Margins of epigynal plate and posterior vulvar plate parallel in ventral view; dorsally, posterior vulvar plate with anterior margin procurved, secondary spermathecae inserted proximally in relation to primary spermathecae (Figs 13C–D, 14C–D)......................................................................... Falconina albomaculosa (Schmidt)
description: Published as part of García, Fabián & Bonaldo, Alexandre B., 2023, Taxonomic revision of the soldier spider genus Falconina Brignoli, 1985 (Araneae: Corinnidae: Corinninae), pp. 201-242 in Zootaxa 5343 (3) on pages 203-205, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5343.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8334263