Scopocira Simon 1900
Creators: name: Costa, Erika L. S.
name: Ruiz, Gustavo R. S.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Salticidae
Scopocira

description: Scopocira Simon, 1900
Scopocira Simon, 1900: 385 (Type species by original designation: Scopocira dentichelis Simon, 1900).
Grauhara Peckham & Peckham, 1901: 226 (Type species by monotypy: Grauhara vivida Peckham & Peckham, 1901 = Scopocira histrio Simon, 1900 syn. nov.). Synonymized by Simon (1903: 1049).
Paranaia Mello-Leitão, 1941: 255 (Type species by original designation: Paranaia fuscimana Mello-Leitão, 1941). Synonymized by Galiano (1981: 12).
Suaruna Mello-Leitão, 1945: 298 (Type species by original designation: Suaruna delicata Mello-Leitão, 1945 = Scopocira histrio Simon, 1900). Synonymized by Galiano (1958: 25).
Diagnosis. Males of Scopocira can be distinguished from other salticids by having two apophyses on the chelicera, one on the prolateral face, near the base of the fang (Figs 11‒13, 15), and the other as a modification of the retromarginal teeth (Figs 17‒18) (Galiano, 1958). The embolus arises from the retrolateral portion of tegulum (see Figs 71‒76). Females can be recognized by having an upside down drop-shaped atrium that extends posteriorly and connects to the posterior border of the epigynal plate (Figs 57, 61). Spermathecae can be observed through the translucent anterior atrium (Figs 133, 139).
Note. According to Galiano (1958: 21), the species within this genus would easily be recognized by the four pairs of ventral spines on tibiae I, but the revision of the genus showed that some species (S. abaporu sp. nov., S. bicornia sp. nov., S. carinata, S. fuscimana, S. melanops) have the usual three ventral pairs seen in other salticids.
Description. Small (2.84‒4.54 mm) orangish colored (Figs 1‒2) or dark brown jumping spiders with white scales (Figs 3‒4). Carapace rounded in males (Fig. 108), rectangular in females (Figs 5, 111), covered with small granulation and thin setae with reduced branching (Fig. 6), the later apparently unique for the genus. Cephalic area lighter, usually with white intestine diverticuli and dark retinae seen through the tegument (Fig. 123). Black rings around eyes. Clypeus low, with sparse white scales (Fig. 110). Chelicera orange, sexually dimorphic: males with enlarged chelicera, with one apophysis on the prolateral face, near the base of the fang (Figs 11‒13, 15), four teeth on promargin (Fig. 16) and a large tooth on the retromargin, with three cusps (Figs 17‒18); females with the same four teeth on promargin and unmodified retrolateral tooth with three to four cusps (Fig. 14). Palp short in females, with distal sensitive hairs and no claw (Fig. 51). Male palp with unmodified femur and patella, tibia short with developed retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) relocated more dorsally; usually a retroventral tibial apophysis (RvTA) and an intercalary tibial apophysis (ITA) are present, varying in shape (Fig. 78); cymbium elongate, with a small retrolateral, proximal projection, called here as “cymbial locking lobe”; the entire bulb is twisted counterclockwise (left palp) when seen from its distal portion, causing the subtegulum to be exposed prolaterally and the embolus to arise from the retrolateral portion of tegulum (Figs 71‒76); the sperm duct has the standard, simple pattern seen in most salticids: the fundus rests in the subtegulum and runs distally; the tegular shoulder (where the duct folds and runs proximally), due to the twisted bulb, is relocated at the prolateral, distal portion of the palp (Fig. 77; see also Figs 71‒75); still caused by the twist, instead of running along the entire proximal border of the tegulum (as in Fig. 71), the duct folds again at the middle of the bulb (Figs 74‒75, 77) and enters the retrolateral embolus, leading to a large opening at its tip (Figs 24‒25); the embolus is always complex (Figs 19‒50), with retrolateral paraembolic projection and dorsal embolic apophysis (DEA). Legs usually 1423 (or 1432) in males and 4132 (or 4123) in females (1423 in both male and female of S. fuscimana), all usually with dark longitudinal stripes on the prolateral and retrolateral faces of femora, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi. Leg spines greatly reduced in number; ventral tibia of leg I varying between 3 and 4 pairs (see species descriptions) (Fig. 52). Other spines homogeneous across the genus, as follows: femur I‒IV d0-0-1, p0 (or 0-0-1), r0 (or 0-0-1); patella I‒IV 0; tibia I p0, r0, v2-2 -2 or v2-2 -2-2, II p0, r0, v2-2 -2 (or v2-2); III‒IV 0; metatarsus I‒II p0, r0, v2-2; III‒IV 0. Tarsal bothrium proximal plate with a rimmed ridged crescent (Fig. 53) and tarsal organ not protected, with round opening (Fig. 54). Tarsal claws with a few small teeth and developed adhesive tufts (Fig. 55). Abdomen usually longer than carapace with dorsal color pattern in both sexes (e.g. Figs 108, 111). Males with no epiandrous spigots (Fig. 56). Females have an upside down drop-shaped atrium that extends posteriorly and connects to the posterior border of the epigynal plate (Figs 57, 61). Spermathecae can be observed through the translucent anterior atrium (e.g. Figs 133, 139). Internal structures mostly fused and complex. An interpretation is given, although tentative (Fig. 79). From the anterior atrium, lateral copulation ducts extend posteriorly and fold, leading to the spermathecae. A pair of posterior ducts, supposed to be glands, possibly connects to the folding portion of the copulation ducts. A pair of long ducts of lateral glands emerges from the portion of the copulation ducts close to the spermathecae, extending posteriorly and folding back (see also Figs 58, 60, 62‒63). Spermathecae have nutritive gland pores medially, near the base of the fertilization ducts (see also Figs 59, 64). Spinnerets cream-colored, as follows: the anterior lateral spinnerets have two major ampullate spigots (MAP) in females (one MAP and one nubbin in males) surrounded by about 15 piriform spigots (Figs 65, 68); the posterior median spinnerets apparently have two minor ampullate spigots (mAP), different in morphology, in females (single mAP in males), and about two aciniform spigots (Figs 66, 69); the posterior lateral spinnerets have about five aciniform spigots (Figs 67, 70). Distribution. Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and South America (Fig. 186).
description: Published as part of Costa, Erika L. S. & Ruiz, Gustavo R. S., 2014, Taxonomic revision of Scopocira Simon, 1900 (Araneae: Salticidae), pp. 151-195 in Zootaxa 3893 (2) on pages 152-153, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/249751