Account
What the sources say about this taxon, as written.
description · 
Plazi
Description . Very small, entelegyne Araneoidea ; total length 0.70 to 1.30. Cephalothorax : Carapace without glandular depressions above maxillae; cuticle without glandular pits (Fig. 18C); margins fused to sternum via pleural sclerites. Eight (Fig. 18C), rarely six or (in troglomorphic taxa) fewer eyes present on anterior margin of pars cephalica; AME, if present, smallest. Chelicerae with or without bulging anterior projections in males; promargin with true teeth, a pair of fused setal sockets adjacent to base of fang and single peg tooth in males (Fig. 19F). Legs and female pedipalp : Legs three-clawed ( Fig. 20D ), covered with smooth or serrate hair-like setae; femur I of males with prolateral stridulatory denticles (Fig. 18C). Trichobothria present on legs; tibiae each with two or three trichobothria ( Fig. 20C ); metatarsi without trichobothria. Female pedipalp four-segmented (with fused tibiatarsus) or reduced to a vestigial nubbin; claw absent (Figs 19C–D). Abdomen : Abdomen oval or globose; anterior sclerite present around epigastric region and petiole; large dorsal scute present on males (Fig. 14), absent (Fig. 16B) or (rarely) present (Fig. 13B) on females; lateral sclerotic strips present on males; posterior sclerotic ring surrounding spinnerets and colulus. Six spinnerets situated posterior to fleshy colulus ( Figs 22A, 22C , 23 A–B); PMS of M. bryophilum with single medial AC gland spigot; PLS of M. bryophilum with complete triad. Anterior tracheal system welldeveloped, with relatively large lateral atria and multiple radiating tracheae (Fig. 15B); second tracheal tubes on each side looping mesally and extending through petiole into cephalothorax (Fig. 12D); posterior tracheal spiracle present, tracheae quadritracheate. Genitalia : Male pedipalp (Fig. 21) small to large, relatively simple; patella with distally-directed, flanged or hooked ligulate retrolateral apophysis and retrolateral stridulatory ridges; tegulum smooth, with curved evaginated tegular ridge; embolus exposed, long (length> 5× width), usually looped or coiled. Female genitalia (Figs 15A–E) with pair of separate, globular anterior spermathecae; insemination ducts coiled around fertilisation ducts; fertilisation ducts posteriorly-directed.
diagnosis · Plazi
Diagnosis . Species of Micropholcomma can be distinguished from all other Micropholcommatini except Pua novaezealandiae by the presence of a normal, non-bifurcate embolus ( Fig. 9A ); and can be distinguished from Pua by the presence of a long embolus (length> 5× width) which is usually looped or coiled ( Figs 9A , 12A, 17B). Other diagnostic characters include the presence (and presumed retention) of posterior tracheae (shared with Gigiella ) and the presence of a male leg I-pedipalpal stridulatory system (Fig. 21D).