Brescovit, Antonio D. ; Bonaldo, Alexandre B. ; Santos, Adalberto J. ; Ott, Ricardo. ; Rheims, Cristina A.

Date: 2012-06-21

Abstract:

The new endemic goblin spider genus Predatoroonops is erected for 17 new soft-bodied oonopid species from Brazil: Predatoroonops schwarzeneggeri, sp. nov., is the type species of the genus, P. poncho, sp. nov., P. billy, sp. nov., P. valverde, sp. nov., P. blain, sp. nov., P. maceliot, sp. nov., P. anna, sp. nov., P. rickhawkins, sp. nov., P. dutch, sp. nov., P. dillon, sp. nov., P. vallarta, sp. nov., P. phillips, sp. nov., P. yautja, sp. nov., P. peterharlli, sp. nov., P. mctiernani, sp. nov., P. chicano, sp. nov., and P. olddemon, sp. nov. Males of this new genus are easily diagnosed and separated from other Oonopinae genera by the extremely modified male chelicerae that frontally have median furrows and accentuated projections. The females can be recognized by the genitalia, which have a conspicuous posterior receptaculum, usually exposed between the epigastric folds. An auxiliary character for both sexes could be the presence of very long pairs of ventral spines with pronounced bases on the legs I and II tibiae and metatarsi. The genus is considered endemic and the species are recorded mainly from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. An identification key is provided for all Predatoroonops species known to date.