A new subterranean ground spider genus from Western Australia (Araneae : Trochanteriidae)
Norman I. PlatnickA Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St, New York, NY 10024, USA.
B Corresponding author: Email: platnick@amnh.org
Invertebrate Systematics 22(2) 295-299 https://doi.org/10.1071/IS07033
Submitted: 12 July 2007 Accepted: 28 December 2007 Published: 12 May 2008
Abstract
A new genus and species, Desognanops humphreysi, are described for a remarkable blind trochanteriid spider taken from bores in the interior of Western Australia. Desognanops, gen. nov. is hypothesised to represent the sister-group of the tropical rainforest genus Desognaphosa, suggesting that the new genus may be a subterranean relict of a biota adapted to moister conditions than are found on the surface today.
Acknowledgements
Obviously, this study would not have been possible without the pioneering efforts of Dr W. F. Humphreys of the Western Australian Museum in obtaining the first known male of this species, and his persistence and success in turning up additional specimens, including females, once their significance became clear. I thank also Dr Mark Harvey of that institution for directing the specimens to me, and Dr Mohammad Shadab and Mr Steve Thurston of the American Museum for help with the illustrations and plates.
Forster R. R., Platnick N. I.
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(2002) A revision of the Australasian ground spiders of the families Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae, and Trochanteriidae (Araneae: Gnaphosoidea). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 271, 1–243.
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