Gamasomorpha cataphracta Karsch, 1881 from Japan.

Of the 48 known species in this genus, the geographical distribution is as follows: 19 in Southeast Asia, 9 in East Asia, 4 in South Asia, 3 in West Asia, 9 in Africa, 2 in Australia, and 2 in South America. However, the current classification is problematic. The South American specimens lack illustrations and are likely misidentified. Several African species (e.g., G. australis Hewitt, 1915; G. jeanneli Fage, 1936; G. longisetosa Lawrence, 1952) are evidently misplaced (see fig. 2, Hewitt 1915; fig. 6, Fage and Simon 1936; figs 8–11, Lawrence 1952). Similarly, G. kabulensis Roewer, 1960 from Afghanistan may also be incorrectly classified (see fig. 8a–c, Roewer 1960). A comprehensive revision of the genus is therefore essential.

Holotype Philippines • ♂ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-215); Luzon, Mt. Makiling; leg. C.F. Baker. Paratypes. Philippines • 3♂2♀ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30391); same data as holotype.

The specific name is named after the collector, American entomologist Charles Fuller Baker (1872–1927), who worked in the Philippines from 1899–1903.

The new species is similar to G. ophiria Eichenberger, 2012 from Malaysia in the presence of droplike pits on the sternum, sharply pointed denticles along the lateral margin of the carapace, and posterolateral spikes on the carapace, but can be distinguished by the carapace with three posterolateral spikes (vs two; cf. Fig. 1E and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 15C), the booklung covers are smooth (vs elevated from body surface; cf. Fig. 3F and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 15I, J), and the embolus has a folded tip (vs straight; cf. Fig. 2B, F and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 16A–C).

Figure 1. 

Gamasomorpha bakeri sp. nov., male holotype. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D–F. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral and ventral views. Abbreviations: cpp = carapace posterolateral pits; cps = carapace posterolateral spikes; tg = transverse groove. Scale bars: 0.4 mm.

Figure 2. 

Gamasomorpha bakeri sp. nov., male left palp, SEM. A, C, E. Prolateral, anterior-retrolateral and dorsal views; B, D, F. Distal part of bulb, prolateral, anterior-retrolateral and dorsal views. Abbreviations: ce = conical extension; co = conductor; em = embolus; ma = mesal embolic accessory appendage. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 3. 

Gamasomorpha bakeri sp. nov., female paratype. A–D. Prosoma, dorsal, ventral, lateral and anterior views; E–G. Abdomen, ventral, lateral and anterior views; H. Epigastric region, ventral view; I. Endogyne, dorsal view. Abbreviation: boc = booklung covers; cpp = carapace posterolateral pits; cps = carapace posterolateral spikes; gap = globular appendix; na = nail-like process; psc = paddle-like sclerite; re = receptacle; ssa = secretory sac; tg = transverse groove. Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A–G); 0.1 mm (H, I).

Male (holotype). Total length 2.78; carapace 1.24 long, 0.91 wide; abdomen 1.49 long, 1.01 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 1A–C. Body reddish brown, legs yellow. Carapace (Fig. 1D, E): surface smooth, with 3 pairs of posterolateral spikes, posterolateral edge with pair of pits; lateral margin with pointed denticles; pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view. Eyes (Fig. 1D, E): ALE largest, PLE smallest; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, procurved from front; ALE separated by about their radius; ALE separated from edge of carapace by about 0.8 times their diameter. Sternum (Fig. 1F): longer than wide, surface smooth, with radial furrows of large, roundish, droplike pits between coxae. Abdomen (Fig. 1A–C): dorsal scutum ovoid, punctate, densely covered with short setae; booklung covers middle size; pedicel tube short, without dorsolateral extension; scuto-pedicel region without scutal ridge. Palp (Figs 2A–F, 12A–C): pale-orange; bulb distally tapering, ending as small conical extension (ce); cymbium extending beyond distal tip of bulb; embolus (em) dark, long, slender, lamellar, with folded tip, half way to distal tip split into second, slightly shorter, mesal embolic accessory appendage (ma), adjacent to third, slightly shorter, lamellar conductor (co).

Female (paratype). Total length 2.88; carapace 1.35 long, 0.99 wide; abdomen 1.56 long, 1.21 wide. As in male, except as noted. Epigastric area (Fig. 3E, H): externally without special features. Endogyne (Fig. 3I): receptacle broadly oval, with ovoid secretory sac (ssa), globular appendix (gap) narrow, with anterior paddle-like sclerite (psc) and nail-like process (na), lateral sclerites functioning as muscle attachments.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 13).

Holotype Indonesia • ♂ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-207); Sumatra, Fort de Kock; leg. Edward Richard Jacobson. Paratype. Indonesia • 2♂ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30392); same data as holotype.

The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

The new species is similar to G. comosa Tong & Li, 2009 from China in the smooth carapace and the pointed conical extension of bulb, but can be distinguished by the abdomen strongly constricted at anterior part (vs not constrict; cf. Fig. 4A and Tong and Li 2009: fig. 1A), pedicel tube with colorless, almost transparent directed hairs (vs lacking; cf. Fig. 4I and Tong and Li 2009: fig. 2C), and the scuto-pedicel region with a curved scutal ridge and a small round knob (vs lacking, but with nearly rectangular lateral ridge; cf. Fig. 4I and Tong and Li 2009: fig. 2B, C).

Figure 4. 

Gamasomorpha fortdekock sp. nov., male holotype. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, ventral and lateral views, arrows show the constriction; D–G. Prosoma, dorsal, ventral, anterior and lateral views; H, I. Abdomen, ventral and anteroventral views. Abbreviations: boc = booklung covers; kno = knob; scr = scutal ridge; trh = transparent hairs. Scale bars: 0.4 mm.

Male (holotype). Total length 2.34; carapace 0.95 long, 0.78 wide; abdomen 1.68 long, 1.00 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 4A–C. Body yellow, chelicerae and legs lighter. Carapace (Fig. 4C, D, F): surface smooth; pars cephalica strongly elevated in lateral view; lateral margin with a row of finely hairs. Eyes (Fig. 4D, F): ALE largest, PLE smallest; posterior eye row recurved viewed from above, procurved from front; ALE separated by less than their radius; ALE separated from edge of carapace by about 0.5 times their diameter. Sternum (Fig. 4E): finely reticulate, with narrow, transverse palpal groove, covered with thin hairs standing in small pits, radial furrows present. Abdomen (Fig. 4A, H, I): dorsal scutum ovoid, punctate, densely covered with short setae, anterior part strongly constricted; booklung covers very small; pedicel tube short, without dorsolateral extension, with colorless, almost transparent directed hairs; scuto-pedicel region with curved scutal ridge and a small round knob. Palp (Figs 5A–F, 12D–F): yellowish; bulb distally tapering, ending as pointed conical extension (ce); cymbium not extending beyond distal tip of bulb; with long slender, lamellar embolus (em), adjacent to an embolic accessory appendage (ma) and a lamellar conductor (co).

Figure 5. 

Gamasomorpha fortdekock sp. nov., male left palp, SEM. A, C, E. Prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views; B, D, F. Distal part of bulb, prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views. Abbreviations: ce = conical extension; co = conductor; em = embolus; ma = mesal embolic accessory appendage. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Female. Unknown.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 13).

Holotype Indonesia • ♂ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30393); Sumatra, Fort de Kock; leg. E.R. Jacobson. Paratypes. Indonesia • 2♂18♀ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30394); same data as holotype.

The specific name is named after the collector, the Dutch entomologist Edward Richard Jacobson (1870–1944).

The new species is similar to G. coniacris Eichenberger, 2012 from Malaysia and Indonesia in the smooth carapace and the broadly-oval receptacle, but can be distinguished by the radial furrow of sternum lacking the droplike pits (vs with droplike pits; cf. Fig. 6G and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 20D), the scuto-pedicel region without scutal ridges (vs with paired curved scutal ridges; cf. Fig. 8H and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 20H), and the bulb with a round conical extension (vs triangular; cf. Figs 7A, 12G and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 21D–F).

Figure 6. 

Gamasomorpha jacobsoni sp. nov., male holotype. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D–G. Prosoma, anterior, dorsal, lateral and ventral views. Scale bars: 0.4 mm.

Figure 7. 

Gamasomorpha jacobsoni sp. nov., male left palp, SEM. A, C, E. Prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views; B, D, F. Distal part of bulb, prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views, arrow shows the subdistal excavation. Abbreviation: ce = conical extension; co = conductor; em = embolus; ma = mesal embolic accessory appendage. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 8. 

Gamasomorpha jacobsoni sp. nov., female paratype. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D–F. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; G, H. Abdomen, ventral and anterior views; I. Epigastric region, ventral view; J. Endogyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: gap = globular appendix; na = nail-like process; psc = paddle-like sclerite; re = receptacle; ssa = secretory sac. Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A–H); 0.1 mm (I, J).

Male (holotype). Total length 1.50; carapace 0.59 long, 0.47 wide; abdomen 0.90 long, 0.51 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 6A–C. Body yellow, chelicerae and legs lighter. Carapace (Fig. 6D, E, F): surface smooth; pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view. Eyes (Fig. 6D, E): ALE largest, PLE and PME nearly equal size; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, procurved from front; ALE nearly touching; ALE separated from edge of carapace by about 0.6 times their diameter. Sternum (Fig. 6G): smooth, with narrow, transverse palpal groove, radial furrows present. Abdomen (Fig. 6A–C): dorsal scutum ovoid, punctate, densely covered with short setae; booklung covers middle size; pedicel tube short, without dorsolateral extension; scuto-pedicel region without scutal ridge. Palp (Figs 7A–F, 12G–I): pale-orange; bulb distally tapering, ending as round conical extension (ce); cymbium not extending beyond distal tip of bulb; embolus (em) dark, long, slender, lamellar; embolic accessory appendage (ma) with a subdistal excavation; conductor (co) shorter, lamellar.

Female (paratype). Total length 1.66; carapace 0.58 long, 0.48 wide; abdomen 0.96 long, 0.58 wide. Habitus (Fig. 8A–C) as in male, except as noted. Epigastric area (Fig. 8G, I): externally without special features. Endogyne (Fig. 8J): receptacle (re) broadly oval, with ovoid secretory sac (ssa), globular appendix (gap) about half the length of receptacle, with an anterior paddle-like sclerite (psc) and a nail-like process (na), with lateral sclerites functioning as muscle attachments.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 13).

Indonesia • 5♂ 5♀ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30395); Sumatra, Fort de Kock; leg. E.R. Jacobson. • 13♂ 23♀ (NHMW-ZOO-AR-30396); same data as above.

Holotype China • ♂ (IZCAS AR 27810); Taiwan, Kaohsiung City, Shoushan Mt.; 29.VI.2013; S. Li et al. leg. Paratypes. • 1 ♀ (SYNU-11); same data as holotype • 2 ♀ (SYNU-57); same data as holotype.

This species is similar to G. fricki Eichenberger, 2012 from Vietnam in the striated carapace and the pointed conical extension of bulb, but can be distinguished by the radial furrow of the sternum lacking the droplike pits (vs with droplike pits; cf. Fig. 9F and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 27D), the scuto-pedicel region with a scutal ridge (vs lacking; cf. Fig. 11H and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 28A), and the booklung covers are very small (vs large; cf. Fig. 11G and Eichenberger et al. 2012: fig. 27C).

Figure 9. 

Gamasomorpha shoushanensis (Tong & Li, 2014), male. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D–G. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral, ventral and anterior views. Scale bars: 0.4 mm.

Figure 10. 

Gamasomorpha shoushanensis (Tong & Li, 2014), male left palp. A, C, E. Prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views; B, D, F. Distal part of bulb, prolateral, dorsal and anterior-retrolateral views. Abbreviation: ce = conical extension; co = conductor; em = embolus; ma = mesal embolic accessory appendage. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 11. 

Gamasomorpha shoushanensis (Tong & Li, 2014), female. A–C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D–F. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; G, H. Abdomen, ventral and anterior views; I. Epigastric region, ventral view; J. Endogyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: gap = globular appendix; na = nail-like process; psc = paddle-like sclerite; re = receptacle; ssa = secretory sac. Scale bars: 0.4 mm (A–H); 0.1 mm (I, J).

Figure 12. 

Gamasomorpha spp., male left palp. A–C. G. bakeri sp. nov.; D–F. G. fortdekock sp. nov.; G–I. G. jacobsoni sp. nov.; J–L. G. shoushanensis (Tong & Li, 2014). A, D, G, J. Prolateral view; B, E, H, K. Dorsal view; C, F, I, L. Retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

See Tong and Li (2014).

Species of Xestaspis are similar to those of Gamasomorpha except for the presence of a pointed tubercle on the anterolateral face of the epigastric scuta (Ott and Harvey 2008). According to Eichenberger et al. (2012), the separation of the two genera may be arbitrary. The genus Xestaspis is most probably a junior synonym of Gamasomorpha (Ranasinghe and Benjamin 2016). We re-checked the type specimens of Xestaspis shoushanensis and the new materials from Sumatra. The pointed tubercles of the booklung covers of this species are inconspicuous. Thus, we transfer it from Xestaspis to Gamasomorpha, as a new combination, Gamasomorpha shoushanensis.

China (Taiwan), Indonesia (Fig. 13).

Figure 13. 

Distribution records of the four Gamasomorpha species: 1. G. bakeri sp. nov.; 2. G. fortdekock sp. nov.; 3. G. jacobsoni sp. nov.; 4. G. shoushanensis (Tong & Li, 2014).