Laminion Sankaran & Caleb & Sebastian 2020, gen. nov.
Creators: name: Sankaran, Pradeep M.
name: Caleb, John T. D.
name: Sebastian, Pothalil A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Zodariidae
Laminion

description: Genus Laminion gen. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AEA4B317-503D-4D43-8603-96A86156AB83
Type species
Storena birenifer Gravely, 1921.
Diagnosis
Males of Laminion gen. nov. can be separated from all other zodariid genera by the combination of a huge, prominent cymbial flange (Figs 4A, 8D, arrows 1, 2) and cymbial processes (Figs 4 D–F, 8D–E, G; CP1, CP2, CP3); females by the presence of three sclerotised plates on the epigynum (Figs 3D, 6B; lSP, mSP), in combination with strongly compact, stout spermathecae (Fig. 6C). Laminion gen. nov. resembles Hermippus Simon, 1893, but can be separated by the sclerotised plates of epigynum, cymbial processes of pedipalp and lack of complex and multiple apophyses on pedipalpal tibia (compare Figs 1 A–C, E, 3A–D, 6A–B, 7A, 8A–E, G with Sankaran et al. 2014: figs 1a, c, 2a, 4a, 5a, c, 6b–c, 9b–c, 10a, c, 11a, 13a, 14a, c, 15a, 17a).
Etymology
The genus name refers to the lateral and median sclerotised plates of the female genitalia (Latin ‘ laminam ’ = ‘plate’) (Figs 3D, 6B; lSP, mSP), in combination with the terminal ‘- ion ’ taken from Zodarion Walckenaer, 1826, which is the familiotype. Gender neuter.
Description
SIZE. Medium-sized zodariid spiders.
PROSOMA. Elongate-ovoid (Figs 1 A–B, 6A, 7A), widest at level of coxa II, domed in lateral view (Fig. 1C, E), highest between PME and deep, vertical fovea, abruptly sloping backwards (Fig. 1C, E). Carapace uniform dark reddish-brown / orange-brown, with black shades on the margin, covered with fine hairs.
CHILUM. Unipartite, inverted triangular, medially elevated.
CLYPEUS. Very high, covered with fine hairs (Fig. 1D, F).
CHELICERAE. Covered with fine hairs dorsally, with disto-mesal group of hairs; cheliceral margins without teeth, but with denticles; lateral condyles prominent, moderately elevated. Fangs short and stout.
LABIUM. Triangular, longer than wide, slightly constricted at base, sparsely covered with setae (Fig. 2 C– D).
ENDITES. Triangular, covered with thick antero-mesal scopulae (Fig. 2 C–D).
STERNUM. Roughly triangular, rebordered, granulate, medially elevated, anterior margin with median concavity, lateral margin with blunt or pointed extensions fitting into coxal and intercoxal concavities (Figs 2 C–D, 7B).
EYES. All eyes circular, pale, AER slightly procurved, PER moderately procurved, AME largest, PME smallest, lateral eyes nearly contiguous (Fig. 2 A–B), MOQ longer than wide, distinctly wider in front than behind (Fig. 2 A–B).
LEGS. Covered with fine hairs, with elongated metatarsi and tarsi, femora and patellae with few spines, tibiae and metatarsi with numerous spines, mostly on posterior ones, metatarsi bear brush of distoventral setae distinctly denser on posterior ones, tarsi lined with paired ventral spinules; leg formula 4132.
OPISTHOSOMA. Elongate-ovoid, black, dorsum, laterals and venter with distinct pale stripes and blotches of varying sizes and shapes (Figs 1 A–B, G, 6A, E, 7A, E). Dorsal scutum present (Fig. 7A) or absent
(Figs 1 A–B, 6A). Epiandrum distinct. PVS present (Fig. 7C) or absent (Fig. 2 E–F). Spinnerets with large spigots (Fig. 2F).
PEDIPALP. Femur with a disto-ventral depression (Figs 3 A–B, 8A, arrows). Patella with a dorsal apophysis (Figs 4I, 8D; PA). Tibia with a very long prolateral seta (Figs 3A, 8A), apical margin on dorso-retrolateral side lamellate and elevated (Fig. 4D, G–H; LTi). RTA short, broader at base, gradually tapered towards pointed or blunt apex (Figs 4 D–E, G–H, 8D, G). Cymbium with truncated apex (Figs 3C, 8B), with two very long setae at prolateral base (Fig. 3A), antero-dorsally decorated with a mat of fine hairs (Figs 4B, 8 A–C, arrow 2), with huge prominent retrolateral flange along entire length (Figs 4A, 8D, arrows 1, 2), with retro-basal processes (Figs 4 D–F, 8D–E, G; CP1, CP2, CP3). Tegulum highly sclerotised, with disto-prolateral apophysis (Figs 4 B–C, 5B; dpTA). MA stout, with lateral extensions (Figs 5B, D, 8F; pMA, rMA). Conductor highly sclerotised, transversely oriented, with prominent retrolateral processes (Figs 5 B–D, 8F; C, rC1, rC2). Embolus long, filiform, with prominent embolic base, with blunt tip (Figs 5A, 8B, F, arrow 3; E, EB).
Females generally as in males, but carapace more elongated, anteriorly slightly wider. Palp tarsus spinose, with single claw. Epigynal plate represented by broad, paired lateral and a narrow median plates (Figs 3D, 6B; lSP, mSP). Internal genitalia represented by very compact, stout spermathecae with broad internal ducts (Fig. 6C). Insemination ducts short (Fig. 6C).
Species included
Laminion birenifer (Gravely, 1921) gen. et comb. nov., Laminion arakuensis (Patel & Reddy, 1989) gen. et comb. nov., Laminion debasrae (Biswas & Biswas, 1992) gen. et comb. nov. and Laminion gujaratensis (Tikader & Patel, 1975) gen. et comb. nov.
Distribution
Currently known to occur only in India (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal) (Fig. 9).
description: Published as part of Sankaran, Pradeep M., Caleb, John T. D. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2020, A review of the Indian species formerly assigned to the genus Storena Walckenaer, 1805 (Araneae: Zodariidae) with the description of a new genus, pp. 1-23 in European Journal of Taxonomy 707 on pages 2-6, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.707, http://zenodo.org/record/4011010