Leaf-curling Spiders

Phonognatha Simon, 1894

Type species: Epeira graeffei Keyserling, 1865

Fauna Portal Genus Number: 840

(after Kallal & Hormiga 2018): Phonognatha can be distinguished from other araneids based on the following combination of characters: their typical abdominal colour pattern (dark brown spots or rings dorsally on paler area of whitish guanocytes) in both sexes; a rugose area on the posterior margin of the anterior lateral spinnerets; one flagelliform spigot of triad closer to a cylindrical gland spigot than aggregate gland spigots. Males differ from other araneids by the elongated conductor in which the embolus lies in a groove, recalling a tetragnathid or nephiline palp rather than a typical araneid, conductor with a process pointing apically near centre of palp and absence of a median apophysis, similar to Deliochus and Artifex. Females can be identified by the presence of two ventral epigynal copulatory openings without a scape, lobed spermathecae and a capsule containing a helically curved copulatory duct. Phonognatha males can be distinguished from those of Deliochus and Artifex based on their longer cheliceral fangs. Females are diagnosed by the absence of epigynal flaps (present in Deliochus) and by the presence of an epigynal capsule bearing its coiled copulatory ducts (Deliochus and Artifex).