The first fossil spider cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Phalangopsinae): 20 million years of troglobiomorphosis or exaptation in the dark? Author Heads, Sam W. text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2010 2010-01-31 158 1 56 65 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00587.x journal article 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2009.00587.x 0024-4082 4720036 ARANEAGRYLLUS DYLANI SP. NOV. ( FIGS 1–3 ) Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in the genitive case, and is named in honour of my son, Dylan L. Heads. The gender is masculine. Type: Holotype female: Dominican Republic , Early Miocene (Burdigalian, 18–20 Mya) Dominican amber; AMNH specimen number DR-12-32. Syninclusions: this piece of amber is particularly rich in biotic inclusions, including an isopod, a thysanuran, a collembolan, an auchenorrhynchan, two chalcidoid wasps, and numerous Diptera. The specimen is notable for the development of a white emulsion, particularly around the abdomen and mouthparts. Diagnosis: As for the genus ( vide supra ). Description: Female: body form robust ( Figs 1 , 2A ); 12.11-mm long, measured from head to abdominal apex (excluding ovipositor). Head hypognathous ( Fig. 2B ); vertex broad, with numerous dark spots extending towards the fastigium, which protrudes between the antennal fossae and is covered with a patch of short setae; frons gently sloping; frontal costa shallow, indistinct; subocular furrow distinct, curved medially towards the frontoclypeal suture; genae almost triangular in shape, covered in minute pits, with two dark spots beneath the compound eyes and a much smaller dark spot towards its ventral margin; compound eyes well developed, globose, situated high on the head, and protuding laterally; ocelli absent; antennal fossae situated directly anterior of the compound eyes; scape large, longer than wide and pedicel markedly smaller, only slightly longer than wide; first, second, and third flagellomeres small, as long as wide; subsequent flagellomeres markedly longer than wide; clypeus, labrum, and other mouthparts largely obscured by white emulsion; mandible apparently strong; maxillary palp long, terminal palpomere markedly inflated apically; labial palp smaller, largely obscured by emulsion. Pronotum shield-like, wider than long, with prominent median and marginal carinae and irregularly spaced short setae; pleural margin with prominent dark band and pale ‘lip’ on anterior pleural lobe; median carina with dark stripe, bordered laterally by several dark spots; anterior and posterior margins of pronotum with prominent rows of long setae. Meso- and metanotae and abdominal tergites broad, decreasing in size posteriorly and of largely uniform dark coloration; posterior margins of abdominal tergites with rows of setae. Abdomen largely obscured by emulsion; cerci incomplete (truncated by surface of amber), broad basally, narrowing apically, with a dense covering of setae; epiproct triangular, covered with emulsion; ovipositor incomplete (truncated by surface of amber), strong basally, narrowing apically; subgenital plate broad basally, narrowing slightly posteriorly, with a small median posterior notch. Pro- and mesothoracic legs long, robust ( Fig. 3A, B ). Procoxa large, broadly articulated with prosternum; protrochanter much smaller, largely obscured by a large bubble; profemur broad basally, narrowing very slightly towards apex, covered in fine setae and numerous irregular dark patches; numerous longer setae on the dorsal surface, particularly distally; genicular lobes prominent, inflected; protibia a little over half the length of profemur, with three dark bands and two apical spurs of equal length; tympana absent; probasitarsus three-quarters as long as protibia, with prominent apical spine; second tarsomere small; third tarsomere long, gracile. Mesocoxa approximately half the size of procoxa; mesotrochanter small, triangular; mesofemur similar to profemur, with irregular dark patches, prominent genicular lobes, but with more numerous long setae; mesotibia a little over half the length of mesofemur, with three dark bands and two apical spurs of equal length; tarsus as in the prothoracic leg. Metathoracic leg long, robust, saltatorial ( Fig. 3C ); metafemur strongly inflated basally, with numerous dark patches along the outer facets and dark bands distally; metatibia equal in length to metafemur, with four dark bands; denticulate with two parallel rows of between ten and 12 short spines and four long subapical spurs; three apical spurs, with the median spur markedly longer; metabasitarsus long, with a single dark band, and one long apical spur; second tarsomere much reduced; third tarsomere long, gracile, slightly curved.