Stenoonops

Abstract: The male reproductive system of spiders consists of paired, tubular testes and often long and convoluted deferent ducts, which are fused near the genital opening to form an ejaculatory duct. In rare cases and as revealed in previous studies the testes can be partly fused (anteriorly or posteriorly), as reported, for example, for Dysderidae (Dysderoidea). In order to determine whether this pattern is also present in other dysderoids, we studied the genital system of Oonopidae for the first time by means of light microscopy. The following species were included, covering both conventionally recognized subfamilies (Gamasomorphinae and Oonopinae): Neoxyphinus ogloblini Biraben, 1953; Silhouettella loricatula (Roewer, 1942); Opopaea recondita Chickering, 1951; Myrmopopaea sp.; Scaphiella hespera Chamberlin, 1924; Lionneta sp.; Orchestina moaba Chamberlin and Ivie, 1935; Oonops balanus Chickering, 1971, and Stenoonops reductus (Bryant, 1942). In contrast to other spider taxa observed to date, all studie...

Abstract: The mega-diverse haplogyne family of goblin spiders (Oonopidae Simon, 1890) has long been among the most poorly known families of spiders. However, since the launch of the goblin spider Planetary Biodiversity Inventory project knowledge about Oonopidae is rapidly expanding. Currently, Oonopidae is placed within the superfamily Dysderoidea and is divided into three subfamilies. Nevertheless, the monophyly and internal phylogeny of this family has not yet been investigated based on DNA sequence data. Hence, this study reports the first phylogeny based on ribosomal sequence data including 37 oonopid genera and representatives of all families within the Dysderoidea. These results suggest that the majority of the oonopid genera constitute a natural group. Moreover, two subfamilies Orchestininae and Sulsulinae and several morphologically defined groups e.g. the Zyngoonops- and Dysderina-groups, were well supported. In contrast, the Pelicinus-, Stenoonops- and Scaphiella-groups were not corroborated. Although most genera represented by more than one specimen were recovered as monophyletic, our study casts doubt on the monophyly of the genus Aschnaoonops Makhan & Ezzatpanah, 2011. Further- more, the results corroborate that a low degree of body sclerotisation might be considered as a plesiomorphic trait

Abstract: Oonops seldeni sp. nov. and Mysmenopsis lissycoleyae sp. nov. are described from male specimens preserved in Miocene amber from the Dominican Republic and are the first fossil records of these extant genera. Gamasomorpha incerta Wunderlich, 1988 is transferred to Stenoonops. Two females previously described as Orchestina dominicana? Wunderlich, 1981 are transferred to Orchestina sp. indet., and one new specimen of a male of Orchestina dominicana Wunderlich, 1988 is identified. Oonopidae is reported for the first time from Cretaceous ambers of Burma, Lebanon and New Jersey. These are the oldest records of this family, extending the known range from the Rupelian (Oligocene) to the Valanginian (Lower Cretaceous). Recent StenoonopsMysmenopsis are unknown from Hispaniola. The presence of these genera in amber suggests that they will be found. The presence of Mysmenopsis in amber is further evidence of kleptoparasitic/commensal spiders in the Miocene.

Abstract: The genus Scaphioides Bryant contains species that resemble those of Stenoonops Simon but lack the sternal and palpal synapomorphies of that genus and have a longitudinal ridge on the male endites, a short, wide male embolus, and a more heavily sclerotized epigastric scutum in females. As delimited by those characters, the genus is circum-Caribbean in distribution and contains at least 19 species, including 11 described as new: S. campeche from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, S. irazu from Costa Rica, S. bimini and S. gertschi from the Bahama Islands, S. camaguey, S. granpiedra, S. siboney, S. cobre, and S. yateras from Cuba, S. miches from Hispaniola, and S. reductoides from the Virgin Islands. The male of S. halatus (Chickering) is described for the first time. A new genus, Hortoonops, is established for three similar Caribbean species that lack the synapomorphies of both Stenoonops and Scaphioides, but are united by peculiar excavations on the anterior metatarsi that represent an extraordinar...