Scelidocteus Simon 1907
Year: 2024
Type: other
Abstract: Genus Scelidocteus Simon, 1907 Type species: Scelidocteus pachypus Simon, 1907. Sceliscelis Oketch & Li, 2020, in Oketch et al. 2020, by original designation (type species = Sceliscelis marshi). New synonymy. Diagnosis: In most species, the male palpal bulb contains only a pronounced embolus and conductor, which can spiral around each other (Benoit 1974: figs 12, 13), but in many it is only the embolus that has a basal spiral (see Oketch et al. 2020: fig. 3C–E). In general, the female genitalia are heavily sclerotized, more so than in other palpimanid genera, with a distinct anterior pair of spermathecae dorsal to large membranous sac-like spermathecae (see Oketch et al. 2020: fig. 4D). Included species: Ten described species: Scelidocteus baccatus Simon, 1907, Scelidocteus berlandi Lessert, 1939, Scelidocteus incisus (Tullgren, 1910), Scelidocteus lamotei Jézéquel, 1964, Scelidocteus marshi (Oketch & Li, 2020), here transferred from Sceliscelis, comb. nov., Scelidocteus ochreatus Simon, 1907, Scelidocteus pachypus Simon, 1907, Scelidocteus schoutedeni Benoit, 1974, Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li, 2020, and Scelidocteus vuatouxi Jézéquel, 1964; and 13 undescribed species included in our phylogeny. Distribution: Africa, including São Tomé and Príncipe. Discussion: Our phylogeny includes Sceliscelis marshi (specimens HW0262 and HW 0471), which nests within Scelidocteus with strong support, justifying this transfer. Sceliscelis was diagnosed by a small hook at the end of the embolus; however, the fine details of the embolus are ossen species specific rather than genus specific. Other diagnostic features proposed for Sceliscelis, such as a more rugose carapace (i.e. larger tubercles) and less developed scopulae on leg I, are qualitative and likely to be continuous within Scelidocteus. It was also proposed that the posterior, sclerotized edge of the epigastric plate (epigynum) is strongly undulating and that there are sac-like receptacles, but this also occurs in Scelidocteus (cf. Oketch et al. 2020: figs 2C, D, 3C, D).
Authors: Wood, Hannah M., Kulkarni, Siddharth, Ramírez, Martín J., Scharff, Nikolaj
Institutions: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum, University of Copenhagen, Natural History Museum of Denmark
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W6949298145
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