Neodrassex, a new genus of the Leptodrassex group (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from South America

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The new genus Neodrassex is proposed to include two new species of Gnaphosidae from Brazil. Neodrassex aureus sp. nov. is described from Amazonas, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states, and N. iguatemi sp. nov. is described from Paraná state. Neodrassex gen. nov. is characterized by small size, pale coloration, large anterior median eyes surrounded by black pigmentation, absence of a dorsal abdominal scutum in males and by the cheliceral dentition with 2-3 teeth on the promargin and 2-4 on the retromargin. The new genus is tentatively placed at the Leptodrassex group.

Three new species of Neodrassex (Araneae, Gnaphosidae) from Brazil

“…According to the same author, Leptodrassex species are similar to Leptodrassus Simon, 1878 but differ from these ones primarily because of their unusual dentition, with 2-4 "discrete small" teeth on the promargin of the chelicerae and 2-3 teeth on the retromargin. A similar but not identical pattern was found by Ott (2012) for the species of the South American Neodrassex, in which the known pattern is 2-3 teeth at the promargin and 2-4 teeth at the retromargin of the chelicerae.…”

“…B. Bonaldo). The description format follows Ott (2012). Only leg articles with spines are indicated.…”

“…Neodrassex Ott, 2012 Neodrassex Ott, 2012:344;Platnick, 2013. Type-species: Neodrassex aureus by original designation (Ott, 2012). Etymology.…”

“…Neodrassex was proposed by Ott (2012) to include two species from South America belonging to the Leptodrassex group, which at that time was known exclusively from the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Asia (Murphy, 2007). Until now Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 andNeodrassex Ott, 2012 are the only genera included at this group, which was proposed by Murphy (2007).…”

“…Females of Leptodrassex group can be identified by the shape of the internal female genitalia with rounded spermathecae head and long and straight, posteriorly directed, fertilization ducts (Murphy, 2007;Ott, 2012). Although the males of the Leptodrassex group share very similar appearance and palp shape, the Leptodrassex females differs from Neodrassex ones by the external shape of the female genitalia, the latter characterized by the presence of lateral epigynal processes combined with a large atrium divided by a narrow median septum (see Ott, 2012).…”