Genus Roddenberryus gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 33515347-F78C-4513-8F8A-B509087E1CEF

Type species

Roddenberryus kirk gen. et sp. nov. (here designated).

Diagnosis

Members of Roddenberryus gen. nov. can be distinguished from all non-nopine genera by the presence of tarsal adesmatic joints (Figs 1H, 5G, 9H, 12H) and from all other Nopinae by a conformation of the unique characters of the endites and labium among these genera, in which the endites have an accentuated finger-shaped forward projection and the labium is triangular and projected (Figs 1E, 2C, 3C, 4C, 8F, 9E, 12E, 14C). Additionally, members of Roddenberryus gen. nov. can be distinguished by the triangular, very short, scaly gladius (Figs 5G, H, 9H, 12H), strongly projected tarsal organ margins (Fig. 6E–F) and the serrula composed by interspersed multiple rows of teeth (Fig. 4F).

Etymology

The generic name, masculine, is a patronymic honoring Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr, the creator of Star Trek, a science fiction media franchise that inspired generations of kids to pursue scientific careers.

Other species included

Roddenberryus spock gen. et sp. nov., R. mccoy gen. et sp. nov., R. sargi (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899) gen. et comb. nov. and R. pelegrina (Bryant, 1940) gen. et comb. nov.

Description

Caponiids with only two eyes (Fig. 1D). Carapace orange, elongate oval, widest at rear of coxae II, only gradually narrowed anterior of eyes, without conspicuous pattern (Figs 1D, 9D, 12D). Pars cephalica flattened, pars thoracica slight sloping posteriorly (Fig. 4A); thoracic groove absent. Anterior median eyes dark, situated on slightly elevated black ocular tubercle, separated by about a half of its diameter, set back from anterior margin of clypeus by about twice their diameter (Figs 1D, 9D, 12D). Chelicerae orange, with median lamina; most of distance between lamina and fang base occupied by white membranous lobe (Fig. 4G–J); cheliceral paturon with scattered, long, weak bristles (Fig. 4H–I); ectal side with stridulatory ridges (Fig. 4I); fang very short (Fig. 4J). Endites orange except for anterior tips due to a white membranous projection, finger-shaped, convergent along midline, but not touching (Figs 1E, 2C, 4C, 8F, 9E, 12E), covered with scattered long setae, and with strong distal serrula consisting of interspersed multiple tooth rows (Fig. 4E–F). Labium orange, triangular, projected, with broad base, fused to sternum along obsoleted posterior groove (Fig. 4C). Sternum orange, oval, surface with fine reticular lines with numerous long, stiff setae (Figs 1E, 4B, 8F, 9E, 12E); pleural membrane with three sclerotized intercoxal extensions between coxae I and II, II and III, and III and IV (Fig. 4A); long and thin precoxal triangles on coxae II, III and IV (Figs 1E, 4B, 8F, 9E, 12E). Legs orange, formula 4123, without spines; anterior femora slightly thickened (Figs 1I, 5A); all metatarsi with multiple adesmatic joints intertwined on cuticle, specific limits poorly defined (Figs 1H, 5G, 9H, 12H), with dorsal metatarsal stopper (Fig. 5I), I–II with a crista occupying almost all ventral part (Fig. 5G) and a triangular, very short, scaly gladius (Figs 1H, 5C, G, H, 9H, 12H); all tarsi with three claws (Fig. 5E) and multiple adesmatic joints intertwined on cuticle (Figs 1H, 5D, 9H, 12H); paired claws usually with 8–10 teeth, most distal one largest (Figs 5E–F, 6B); unpaired claw short, with 2–4 teeth (Fig. 5E, L); ventral frictional setae on tarsi (Fig. 5E, L) and several other setae around pretarsal claws. Tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with trichobothria in a single row, bases with semicircular rim bearing slight longitudinal ridges (Fig. 6D), tarsal organ exposed, but with marginal ring strongly pronounced (Fig. 6E–F). Female palpal tarsus not elongated, without claw, prolateral surfaces covered with strong, long setae (Figs 1B–C, 9B–C, 12B–C), with an oval pad of fine chemoreceptor setae on dorsal, distal sector (Fig. 4K–L), without a tibial brush on prolateral side, but palpal tibia also covered with strong, long setae on prolateral side (Figs 1B, 4K, 9B, 12B); prolateral pick on palpal femur, located almost in middle of podomere (Figs 1B, 9B, 12B). Abdomen pale gray dorsally (Figs 1A, 2A, 3A, 8A, 9A, 12A), lighter ventrally, with sclerotized epigastric and postepigastric scuta (Figs 1F, 2B, 3B, 9F, 12F); with two pairs of respiratory spiracles clustered around epigastric groove; anterior spiracles leading to short tracheal trunk ending in numerous long tracheoles; posterior spiracles leading to only one wide tracheal trunk extending anteriorly into cephalothorax and several short, small tracheoles extending posteriorly (Fig. 11B, D, F). Six spinnerets in typical caponiid arrangement (Fig. 7G), PMS with one major ampullate gland spigot and 10–11 aciniform gland spigot fields (Fig. 7I); PLS with several aciniform gland spigots (Fig. 7K); ALS with one presumed piriform gland spigot (Fig. 7J); PLS considerably greater than ALS (Fig. 7G). External female genitalia with a sclerotized anterior plate (Fig. 11A, C, E); posterior plate narrower, sclerotized; external sclerotization around spiracles (ess) pointy anteriorly on anterior spiracles and tear-shaped on posterior spiracles (Fig. 11A, C, E). Internal female genitalia consisting of a transverse, sclerotized, anteriorly directed posterior receptacle (pr) or interpulmonary fold, a presumed uterus externus (ue) and a membranous anteromedian receptacle formed by a membranous duct at base (arb) protruding anteriorly from bursa, leading to large, oval, membranous sac-like structure (sac) (Figs 7A–D, 11B, D, F). Male palpal patella short, with a few short setae on prolateral surface (Fig. 8G–H); tibia partially excavated ventrally, with prolateral surface densely covered with strong, long setae (Figs 2D–F, 8G–H); cymbium elongated, swollen, partially curved, with wide tip, proximal half of prolateral surface densely covered with strong, long setae (Figs 2D, 8G), distal half of prolateral surface and entire retrolateral surface with few short setae (Figs 2F, 8H), with oval dorsal distal pad of fine chemoreceptor setae; tegulum sub-spherical, with retrolateral groove which partially divides one sub-apical third (Figs 2D–F, 8G–H); embolus thin, pointed, curved upward on lateral position (Figs 2D–F, 8G–H).

Distribution

Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Cuba (Figs 6G, 15).

Key to the species of Roddenberryus gen. nov.

1. Males..................................................................................................................................................2

– Females..............................................................................................................................................3

2. Embolus short, not reaching half the length of tegulum; elongated tibia, width less than half the length (Fig. 8G–H) ........................................................................ R. mccoy gen. et sp. nov.

– Embolus long, greater than half the length of tegulum; thickened tibia, width almost equal to length (Fig. 2D–F) ........................................................................................... R. kirk gen. et sp. nov.

3. Invaginations on clypeus margins absent (Fig. 1D) .................................... R. kirk gen. et sp. nov.

– Invaginations on clypeus margins present (Figs 9D, 12D, 14A)...................................................4

4. A few adesmatic joints occupying only last third of tarsus (Fig. 12H); epigastric furrow with median invagination and rounded laterals (Figs 11E, 12F) ...... R. sargi (Pickard-Cambridge, 1899)

– Several adesmatic joints occupying almost entire tarsus (Fig. 9H); epigastric furrow straight with slightly invagination (Figs 9F, 11C, 14B)..............................................................................5

5. Apical sector of tibia with dense tuft of black setae (Fig. 14A) ......... R. pelegrina (Bryant, 1940)

– Apical sector of tibia lacking dense tuft of black setae .......................... R. spock gen. et sp. nov.