Singotypa, SIMON, 1894

SINGOTYPA SIMON, 1894

Type species: Epeira melania L. Koch, 1871 , by original designation. Synonymized by Dondale, 1966.

Diagnosis: Phonognatha can be distinguished from other araneids based on the following combination of characters: their typical abdominal colour pattern (dark brown spots or rings dorsally on paler area of whitish guanocytes) in both sexes; a rugose area on the posterior margin of the ALS ( Fig. 11A, arrow); one flagelliform spigot of triad closer to a cylindrical gland spigot than aggregate gland spigots ( Fig. 11C). Males differ from other araneids by the elongated conductor in which the embolus lies in a groove, recalling a tetragnathid or nephiline palp rather than a typical araneid, conductor with a process pointing apically near centre of palp and absence of a median apophysis, similar to Deliochus and Artifex gen. nov. ( Fig. 10). Females can be identified by the presence of two ventral epigynal copulatory openings without a scape, lobed spermathecae and a capsule containing a helically curved copulatory duct ( Figs 11D, 12E–G). Phonognatha males can be distinguished from those of Deliochus and Artifex gen. nov. based on their longer cheliceral fangs ( Figs 12B, 25B vs. Figs 29B, 41B). Females are diagnosed by the absence of epigynal flaps (present in Deliochus ) and by the presence of an epigynal capsule bearing its coiled copulatory ducts ( Deliochus and Artifex gen. nov.; Fig. 16F–G).

Description

Female: Total length 7.48–11.63. Carapace 3.25–4.28 long, 1.99–3.03 wide, 0.92–1.44 high, yellowish brown to reddish brown, sometimes with pars cephalica and carapace margins slightly darker than pars thoracica. AMEs on small prominence; lateral eyes juxtaposed, paired on a small prominences; AME diameter 0.14– 0.29; AME interdistance slightly wider than AME diameter; AME–PME distance c. AME diameter. Clypeus c. 1/2–3/4 AME diameter. Paturon coloured as pars cephalica, with 3 prolateral and 2–3 retrolateral teeth. Leg formula 1243, coloured as cephalothorax, or slightly lighter; femur I sigmoid. Abdomen 4.67–8.19 long, 3.16–5.54 wide, 3.03–5.54 high; light brown with pale guanocytes; 1–5 round dark brown markings, often with dark brown posterior; ventral side two longitudinal stripes from epigastric furrow to spinning field. Spinning field typical of araneoids, with the following exceptions common to zygielline (and some nephiline) araneids: a rugose area on posterior rim of ALS making a notch in the piriform spigot field and one flagelliform spigot of triad closer to a cylindrical gland spigot than aggregate gland spigots. Epigynum with small ventral-facing copulatory openings; each copulatory duct coiled within a capsule, forming a helix running anterior then twisting back on itself, before reaching a lobed spermatheca; fertilization ducts emerge dorsal and posterior from spermathecae. Copulatory ducts may be plugged with secretions or parts of pedipalp.

Male: Total length 2.85–8.21. Carapace 1.75–4.83 long, 1.15–3.17 wide, 0.59–1.52 high, yellowish brown to reddish brown in colour, sometimes with pars cephalica and carapace margins darker than pars thoracica. Eye arrangement as in female; AME diameter 0.12–0.22; AME interdistance slightly wider than AME diameter; AME–PME distance c. AME diameter. Clypeus c. 1/2 AME diameter. Paturon coloured as pars cephalica, with 3 prolateral and 2–3 retrolateral teeth. Legs formula 1243, coloured as cephalothorax or slightly lighter; femur I sigmoid. Abdomen 1.62–4.71 long, 1.24–2.91 wide, 0.80–3.03 high; light brown with pale guanocytes; 1–5 dark brown markings, often with dark brown posterior; ventral side two longitudinal stripes from epigastric furrow to spinning field. Spinning field with rugose patch and triad positioning as in females. Pedipalp tibia 1/2–3 times length of cymbium; cymbium slightly elongated, with broad, integral paracymbium; tegulum and subtegulum rotated dorsally; conductor with lightly rugose texture, spiralling and emerging ventrally, twisting slightly, with a groove where the embolus rests, terminating in an oblique point; centre of conductor with process somewhat parallel to elongated, twisted part of conductor. One or both pedipalps sometimes missing.

Composition: Phonognatha is composed of four species: P. graeffei ( Keyserling, 1865) , P. melania ( Koch, 1871) , P. neocaledonica Berland, 1924 comb. nov., and P. tanyodon sp. nov.

Natural history: The natural history of Phonognatha is primarily based on studies of the most commonly observed and collected species, P. graeffei . All Phonognatha species share the leaf-curling behaviour, placing a leaf near the hub of an incomplete orb-web to use as retreat. The temporary, non-sticky spiral remains in the finished web. It is expected that all Phonognatha also cohabit in the leaf retreat, especially while the female is subadult, and possible subsequent cannibalism ( Fahey & Elgar, 1997), though this has primarily been observed in P. graeffei and P. tanyodon sp. nov.

Phylogenetics: Putative synapomorphies of Phonognatha include the spot-like abdominal dorsal markings, coiled copulatory ducts within a capsule, cheliceral dimorphism (males’ are larger), curved tip of conductor and presence of a barrier web.

Distribution: Known from all states in Australia except the Northern Territory and from New Caledonia.