Megalopsalis (Spinicruroides) Taylor, 2025, new subgenus

Megalopsalis (Spinicruroides) new subgenus Fig. 4b Insert below: http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: DD6F3E70-DC5D-4823-AA1A-7FEE9B8BC1F1 Type species: Megalopsalis caeruleomontium Taylor, 2013b. Other included species (original combinations): Megalopsalis atrocidiana Taylor, 2013b; Megalopsalis coronata Taylor, 2013b; Megalopsalis puerilis Taylor, 2013b. Etymology: Gender masculine, from the historical genus Spinicrus (currently synonymised with Megalopsalis) and the suffix - oides, ‘resembling’. Description: Pedipalp patella of both sexes lacking distinct apophysis or hypersetose area; tarsal claw with ventral tooth-row. Penis (Fig. 4b) with glans short to medium-length, subtriangular to subrectangular, rapidly narrowing beyond shaft-glans junction to become strongly compressed; bristle groups relatively long; shaft with relatively weak waist behind bristle groups. Spiracle with grate of mid-length, densely reticulate spines with multifurcate endings, and dense patch of lace tubercles in lateral corner (Taylor 2013b). Comments: The species of Spinicruroides were left unassigned to species groups by Taylor (2013b). Though externally diverse in appearance, they form a cluster distinguishable from other Megalopsalis species by genital morphology. The sides of the glans converge less strongly than in other subgenera, so the overall shape is a narrower triangle or even rectangular, in contrast to the broader triangle of Intutoportula or Megalopsalis. The glans is also noticeably flatter in lateral view. Spinicruroides species are found in coastward regions of New South Wales and Queensland (Taylor 2013b).