STUDIES ON SOME SPIDERS OF THE FAMILY GNAPHOSIDAE (ARANEAE: ARACHNIDA) FROM MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA

General: Gnaphosid spiders are found everywhere and can easily be seen running on the grassy land as well as on rocky ground and are strictly ground dwellers. Their body colour is brown and dull, so that they are inconspicuous on the ground vibrations or unturned the stones and they run inside the grass and hide under stones. Gnaphosid spiders occupy a variety of habitat from sea-shore to the high mountains, according to the specific requirements, viz. availability of food, humidity, temperature etc. Most of the gnaphosid spiders are nocturnal. Though the gnaphosid spiders in general do not spin webs, but some are seen to build the small tubular retreats, just underside of the stones, boulders where they stayed at day time and some prey is caught on the web, they come outside of the stone hol~ and caught, kill and suck the insects prey.


INTRODUCTION
General: Gnaphosid spiders are found everywhere and can easily be seen running on the grassy land as well as on rocky ground and are strictly ground dwellers. Their body colour is brown and dull, so that they are inconspicuous on the ground vibrations or unturned the stones and they run inside the grass and hide under stones. Gnaphosid spiders occupy a variety of habitat from sea-shore to the high mountains, according to the specific requirements, viz. availability of food, humidity, temperature etc. Most of the gnaphosid spiders are nocturnal. Though the gnaphosid spiders in general do not spin webs, but some are seen to build the small tubular retreats, just underside of the stones, boulders where they stayed at day time and some prey is caught on the web, they come outside of the stone hol~ and caught, kill and suck the insects prey.
Most of gnaphosids are found under stones or barks or in moss. A few live on the leaves of plants which they roll like the clubionids or at the most they spin an irregular retreat at the time of oviposition. Some of the species that live under stones make a silken sac within which they live and in which the egg-sac is made. The chief food of gnaposid spiders are insects. These spiders feed on a variety of insects like Diptera, small Lepidoptera, Dictyoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Collembola, Dermaptera etc. They may even consume the young spiders of their won species as well as of different species showing cannibalism. Usually these feed in the night. Gnaphosids chase their prey, catch and bite them to inject the poison through the fangs and narcotise them. Then they suck the juices of the body of the prey. The chitinised remains of the insects can be seen on the ground or under stones of some gnaphosid species which inhabit there. The spiders of the family Gnaphosidae are very little known in the Indian fauna. Even the classical work of Pocock (1900) on Indian spiders contains no reference to this family. Caporiacco (1934) was the pioneer worker and he has described 10 species from Himalaya. Recently Tikader (1962, 64~ 66, 73, 82), Tikader & Gajbe (1975, 76, 77, 79) Gajbe (1979 described many species from various parts of India. Patel and Patel (1975) described three species from Gujrat.
All the type specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.
Distribution : All over the world.
Originally the family Gnaphosidae was a part of the family Drassidae. Pocock (1884) proposed to replace Drassidae when Drassus was shown to be an objective junior synonym of Gnaphosa. The gnaphosidae family formerly known as Drassidae are those spiders which have eight eyes, heterogenus, arranged in two rows. In these spiders the cephalic part is not sharply see off from the thoracic, the cephalothorax is hardly elevated. The Chelicerae have a boss and scopula and the margins of the cheliceral fang furrow are oblique and usually armed. The teeth may be considerably reduced in size to minute denticles, or a single denticle, or the inner margin may have a keeled lamina in place of teeth. The labium is longer than broad, with maxillae converging more or less and provided with scopulae. Usually the maxillae have an oblique or transverse depression. The posterior coxae are more or less separated by the sternum. The legs are generally spinose and the tarsi furnished with scopulae, two claws and claw tufts. Legs formula 4123. The abdomen is oval and usually rather flattened and in some males provided with a dorsal scutum on the abdomen.
Many species are uniformly coloured, more often dark than and without markings. Some species have a striking or colourful pattern of lines or spots. The anterior spinnerets are cylindrical, longer than and more heavily sclerotized than the-posterior and widely separated.
Most gnaphosids are found under stones or bark or in moss. A few live on the leaves of plants which they roll like the clubionids or at the most they spin an irregular retreat at the time of oviposition. Some of the species that live under stones make a silken sac within which they live and in which egg-sac is made.
Key to the Genera of the Family GNAPHOSIDAE Upper margin of furrow of chelicera with three to six distinct teeth, the lower margin provided with two or three rarely with only one; bulb of male paplus with one or more apophysis . Characters: Cephalothorax nearly oval and broader in front, not attenuated. Pattern of wideni~g streaks diverging from short fovea. Anterior row of eyes procurved (as seen from in front), occupying one-third to one half width of hea~ Posterior row considerably longer than anterior and rather strongly recurved, medians irregular in outline, larger than laterals and farther from them than from each other. Sternum oval, pointed behind. Chelicerae not very strong, vertical bearing numerous long bristles which· form a scopula on inner part of apical surface. Inner margin with a prominent chitinous ridge, whose edge is concave and serrated. Outer margin with two teeth. Maxillae and labium shorter than that of Drassodes. Legs uniform in colour as carapace. Tibiae I and II with one to two ventral spines, metatarai I and II with two to four ventral spin"es. Abdomen black or deep brown, with generally six faint marks or impressions dorsally, Male palp with a strong single tibial apophysis.   Gajbe, 29.XII.1983, 1 d', University Guest House, Gwalior, M.P.
Cephalothorax: Longer than wide, narrowing in front, slightly convex, posterior middle provided with a inconspicuous fovea and V-shaped brown patch starting from fovea, clothed with pubescence and some spines as in fig. 1. Eyes in two rows, anterior medians black, posterior row slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes slightly procurved (as seen from in front), medians smaller than the laterals and closer to laterals than to each other. Posterior row of eyes slightly recurved, posterior medians conspicuously silvery white in colour, oval, larger than the laterals and closer to each other than to adjacent laterals. Sternum heart-shaped, pointed behind, rebordered, clothed with fine hairs. Labium and maxillae longer than wide, anterior end provided with scopulae. Chelicerae vertical, inner margin provided with a chitinous ridge. Legs relatively long and strong, clothed with hairs and spines. Legs formula 4123. Male palp as in fig. 2.
Abdolnen : Nearly elliptical, clothed with hairs, provided with three pairs of sagilla. Ventral side slightly lighter than the dorsal. Spinnerets very prominent, anterior spinnerets cylindrical, slightly .longer and dark in colour than others.
Remarks: The male specimen is described here for the first from India and the species is being reported here for the first time from Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. Characters : Posterior row of eyes a little longer than the anterior row and stright or only slightly recurved. The eyes nearly equidistant or the medians little farther from each other than from the laterals. The posterior lateral eyes fairly larger than the posterior median eyes. Sternum short, stout much wider than length of endites. The lower margin of the furrow of the chelicerae armed with a broad keel or a narrow lamina, without serrated edge.

Type-species: Callilepis nocturna (Linnaeus)
Distribution : Europe, Arabia, Ethiopia, Africa, Australia, America, India. Characters : The cephalothorax is ovate and much narrow in front. The anterior row of eyes are close together in a pro curved line, the anterior medians are larger than the anterior laterals. The posterior row of eyes are very strongly procurved in a semicircular line which is more or less equal or slightly longer than the anterior line. The chelicerae are of moderate size, the inner margin is armed with a single, minute tooth. The spinnerets are comparatively long. The bulb of the male palpus has a stout median apophysis.
Distrinbution : Claremont, America, India. Tikader & Gajbe,Rec. zool. Surv. India,  Characters : The cephalothorax is ovate and much narrow in front. The anterior row of eyes are close together in a strongly procurved line, the anterior medians are larger than the laterals.

Scopodes maitraiae
The posterior row of eyes are very strongly procurved in a semicircular line which is more or less equal or slightly longer than the anterior line. The chelicerae are of moderate size, with the inner margin of the furrow unarmed, and with two minute teeth on the outer margin. The spinnerets are comparatively long. Bulb of palpus of male simple, with no true apophysis.

Type-species: Megamyrmecion caudatum Reuss.
Distribution : Africa, America, India. Characters: This genus is closely allied to Drassodes. The lower margin of the furrow of the chelicera is armed with a single small tooth. The eyes of the anterior row are subequal in size. The palpus of the male is very short, and the tibia completely lacks an apophysis.

Type-species: Geodrassus gosiutus (Chamberlin).
Distribution: Utah, America, India. Characters: Cephalothorax flat, broad in front with fovea and covered with pubescence. Eyes of anterior row slightly procurved (as seen from in front), medians slightly larger than laterals and a little closer to the laterals than to each other. Posterior row longer, procurved, medians oval, slightly larger than laterals and much closer to each other than to adjacent laterals. Chelicerae strong, inner margin normally with two teeth and two on the outer margin. Sternum oval and pointed behind. MaxiIIae and labium longer than wide. Legs long and strong, tibiae I and II sometimes bear one ventral spine on the apical half. Scopulae consists of closely set, short blunt little spines. Abdomen longer than wide, narowing behind, covered with pubescence and with a 'mousy' appearance.  Cephalothorax : Longer than wide, flat, cephalic region slightly high and wide with fine pubescence and some hairs, post~rior middle provided with a short incon-spicuous longitudinal fovea. Eyes pearly white except anterior medians, posterior row of eyes slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes slightly procurved (as seen from in front), medians, black, larger than the laterals which are oval and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Posterior row of eyes strongly procurved, medians oval, larger than the laterals and closer to each other than to adjacent laterals. Median ocular quadrangle longer than broad and wider in front than behind.

Geodrassus sirmourensis
Clypeus provided with a short and long spines, clypeal height is greater than the diameter of anterior median eye. C~elicerae vertical, strong, inner margin provided with two teeth and outer margin with three dissimilar teeth. Sternum oval, pointed behind, clothed with fine hairs. Labium   Gajbe, 24.XII.1983.
Remarks : This species closely resemble Drassodes himalayensis Tikader and Gajbe but can be separated as follows : (1) Outer margin of chelicera provided with three teeth but in D.
himalayensis outer margin with two teeth. (ii) Abdomen dorsally provided with transverse balck patch but in D. himalayensis abdomen without patch. (iii) Epigyne and internal genitalis also structurally different.  Tikader & Gajbe,Rec. zool. Surv. India, : 66.  1922. Sosticus Chamberlin, Proc. bioI. Soc. Wash., 35 : 160." 1940 Characters : Eye rows distinctly separated, posterior row of eyes is in a straight line. The anterior median eyes are slightly smaller than the anterior lateral eyes. The median ocular quadrangle is somewhat longer than broad, and the front eyes are as large as or longer than the posterior median eyes. The inner margin of the furrow of the chelicera is armed ordinary with-two teeth, but three are some times present. Two spines are present on the dorsal surface of the fourth tibia.

Type-species: Sosticus insularis (Banks).
Distribution : America, India. Remarks: This species is being reported here for the first time from Madhya Pradesh. Gajbe,Bull. zool. Surv,India,2(1) : 71. Remarks: This species is being reported here for the first time from Madhya Pradesh. Simon, Proc. zool. Soc. London, : 573. 1922. SergioIus; Chamberlin,Proc. bioI. Soc. Wash.,35 : 151. Characters: These spiders are brightly coloured. Both rows of eyes straight or slightly recurved, posterior median eyes round and median ocular area longer than wide and wider behind than in front. Inner margin of chelicera with one small tooth or unarmed. Tibia ITI provided with a median dorsal spine.
Remarks : This species is being reported here for the first time from the localities mentioned above from Madhya Pradesh. Tikader & Gajbe,Proc. Indian Acad. Sci.,84 (5)  1922. Herpyllus : Chamberlin,Proc. bioi. Soc. Wash.,35 : 146. Characters : The two rows of eyes are nearly straight and widely separated, the eyes of each row are quite evenly spaced. The anterior median eyes are round, a little smaller that the posterior lateral eyes. Height of tlypeus is not more than the diameter of an anterior median eyes. Lower margin of furrow of chelicera is armed with one tooth or' nodule.

Herpyllus goaensis Tikader
Specimen examined: 2 ~~, Narayanganj, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, Coll. U. A. Gajbe, 23.1.1985(Reg. No. 1590 Characters: Carapace flat, ocular area narrowed, thoracic region with thin erect black setae, cephalic area not elevated. Anterior row of eyes slightly procurved (as seen from in front), and posterior row of eyes procurved. Eyes of the anterior row round. Posterior medians larger than others, and close togeth~r, well away from the posterior laterals, Median ocular area wide behind than in front. Height of the clypeus greater than the diameter of anterior medians. Inner margin of cheliceral furrow bears two teeth and outer margin with two or three teeth. Leg formula 4123. Fourth tibia without spines on dorsal side. Anterior spinnerets widely separated· than median or posterior spinnerets widely separated toan median or posterior spinnerets. Epigyne with large paired chitinous processes separated by median septum.

Type-species: Haplodrassus hiemalis (Emerton).
Distribution : America, India. Coll. U. A. Gajbe, 30.XII.1983(Reg. No. 1585. 1 d', Chitrakote, Bastar district, Madhya Pradesh, Coil. U. A. Gajbe, 1.1.1984. (Reg. No. AlI586). 1 ~,Shantinagar Colony, Rajnandgaon, Rajnandgaon district, Madhya Pradesh, ColI. U. A. Gajbe, 22JOI.1983 (Reg. No. A/1587), 1 ~, Sind Bag Village, Baihar Tahsil, Balaghat district, M.P. ColI. U. A. Gajbe, 19.XII.1983(Reg. No. A/1741. 1 ~, Gupt Mahadev, Piparia Tahsil, Hoshangabad district, M.P. ColI. U. A. Gajbe, 5.1.1990. (Reg. No. A/1742. 2 ~, 2d', Keshala village on Itarsi-Betul Road, Hoshangabad district, M.P. ColI. U. A. Gajbe, 11.1.1990 (Reg. No Characters: Cephalothorax oval, narrowed markedly in front, covered with fine hairs. Generally the pattern of widening streaks diverging from short foves. Eyes rather closely grouped, posterior row of eyes slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes more or less procurved (as seen from in front), lateral eyes larger than medians. Posterior row of eyes straight, medians often irregular in shape, sometimes larger than laterals and farther from adjacent laterals than from each other or equally spaced. Chelicerae not very strong, vertical, with a number of hairs on inner part of anterior surface. Sternum oval, ponted behind. Legs relatively long, tibia and metatarsi m& IV may bear ventral spines. Scopulae reach between mid-point and base of metatarsi I and II and to· apices of metatarsi III and IV. Abdomen dark black covered with fine hairs. Dorsally there may occur three pairs of spots or impresSions. Cephalothorax : Longer than wide, narrow in front, slightly convex, clothed with pubescence, posterior middle provided with a conspicuous short fovea, just above the fovea there is aU-shaped deep brown marking. Pattern of radiating streaks diverge from fovea to lateral sides as in fig. 8. Eyes closely grouped, silvery white except anterior medians, posterior row of eyes slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes slightly procurved (as seen from in front), median slightly smaIIer than the laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Posterior row of eyes nearly straight, medians, oval, smaller than the laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Median ocular area longer than wide and wider behind than infront. Clypeal height greater than the diameter of anterior median eye and clypeus provided with two spines. Sternum heart-shaped, pointed behind, rebordered, clothed with long spine like hairs. Labium and maxiIIae reddish-green, clothed with spine like hairs, anterior end provided with scopulae, shape as in fig.  9. Chelicerae moderately strong, vertical, inner and otuer margin provided with three small and bigger teeth respectively. Legs relatively long and strong, clothed with hairs and spines. Tibiae III and N provided with three pairs of ventral spines. Scopulae reach upto the base of metatarsi I and II and up to apices of metatarsi III & N. Legs Formula 4123.

Haplodrassus sataraensis Tikader & Gajbe
Abdomen: Longer than wide, nearly elliptical, widest behind the middle, clothed with pubescence and some hairs, anterior end provided with long spine like hairs. Ventral side slightly lighter than the dorsal. Epigyne as in Fig. 10 Internal genitalia as in fig 11. Spinnerets as in fig. 12 Gajbe, 31.XII.1983. Remarks: This species resembles Zelotes ashae Tikader & Gajbe, but differs from it as follows: (1) Cephalothorax and legs deep brown but in Z. ashae cephalothorax and legs reddish-brown.

Rec. zool. Surv. India
• (ii) Abdomen black but in Z. ashae abdomen unfonn deep brown. (iii) Inner and outer margin of chelicerae provided with three teeth but in Z. ashae inner and outer margin provided with two and four teeth respectively~ (iv) Epigyne and internal genitalia also structurally different.  Gajbe, 20.N.1982. (Reg. No Cephalothorax : Longer than wide, narrow in front, clothed with pubescence, posterior middle provided with a conspicuous short fovea, radiating streaks diverge from short fovea to lateral sides of cephalothorax. Eyes closely grouped, silvery white except an~erior medians which are black, posterior row of eyes same in length as anterior row. Anterior row of eyes slightly pro curved (as seen from in front), median smaller than the laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Posterior row of eyes straight, irregular is shape, slightly larger than the laterals and equally spaced as in fig. 13. Sternum oval, pointed behind, clothed with long black spine like hairs. Labium and maxillae longer than wide, anteriorly with scopulae, shape as in fig. 14. Chelicerae ms>derately strong, vertical, inner margin provided with two small teeth and outer margin with four dissimilar teeth. Legs relatively long and strong, clothed with hairs and spines. Tibia III and IV provided with three pairs of ventral spines. Scopulae reach upto base of metatarsi I and II and upto apices of metatarsi III and IV. Legs formual 4123.

Zelotes mandae
Abdomen : Longer than wide, clothed with fine hairs and three pairs of sagilla. Ventral side slightly lighter than the dorsal. Epigyne an in fig. 15. Internal genitalia as in fig. 16. Spinnerets very prominent, anterior spinnerets cylindrical, larger and darker in colour than others as in fig. 17 Gajbe, 22JOI.1983. Remarks: This species closely resembles Zelotes ashae Tikader and Gajhe but differs from it an follows: (i) Cephalothorax and legs deep brown but in Z. ashae cephalothorax and legs reddish brown. (ii) Chelicerae provided with dissimilar teeth but in Z. ashae chelicerae with similar teeth (iii) Epigyne and internal genitalia also structurally different.  • 24. Zelotes bharatae sp. nov.  General: Cephalothorax reddish-brown, legs deep brown, abdomen uniform glossy black. Total length 7.00 mm. Carapace 2.70 mm, long, 2.00 mm. wide; abdomen 4.40 mm. long, 2.40 mm.

wide.
Cephalothorax : Longer than wide, narrow in front, convex, clothed with pubescence, posterior middle provided with a conspicuous short fovea. Pattern of radiating streaks diverge from short fovea to lateral sides. Eyes closely grouped, silvery white except anterior medians which are black, posterior row of eyes slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes slightly procurved (as seen from in front), medians slightly smaller than the laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Posteiror row of eyes nearly straight, medians irregular in shape, smaller than the laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Median ocular quadrangle longer than wide and wider behind than in front. Clypeal height greater than the diameter of anterior median eyes. Strenum oval, pointed behind, rebordered, clothed with fine hairs, labium and maxillae longer than wide, clothed with hairs, anterior end .provided with conspicuous scopulae, shape as in fig. 19. Chelicerae moderately strong, long, vertical. Inner margin provided with one small tooth and outer margin with two bigger teeth. Legs relatively long and strong, clothed with hairs and spines. Tibia III and IV provided with three pairs of ventral spines. Scopulae reach upto base of metatarsi I and II and apices of metatarsi III and IV Legs formula 4123.
Abdomen: Longer than wide, nearly elliptical, widest behind the middle, clothed with pubescence and provided with three pairs of sagilla as in fig. 18. Ventral side much lighter than the dorsal.  Gajbe, 19.X1.1981. Remarks : This species resembles Zelotes nasikensis Tikader and Gajbe, but differs from it as follows : (i) Cephalothorax reddish brown but in Z. nasikensis cephalothorax deep brown. (ii) Abdomen dorsally provided with three pairs of sagilla but in Z. nasikensis abdomen without sigilla. (iii) Epigyne and internal genitalia also structurally different. Tikader & Gajbe 1979 conspicuous orange or brown scutum on the abdomen which covers from less than one-third to almost one-half of the dorsum. Epigynum without prominent sclerotized ridges on each side ending freely in front. 29. Drassyllus jabalpurensis sp. nov.  General : Cephalothorax light reddish-green, legs reddish green, abdomen brownish-green. Total length 5.60 nun. Carapace 2.10 mm. long, 1.60 mm. wide; abdomen 3.50 mm. long, 1.90 mm. wide.

Zelotes sataraensis
Cephalothorax : Longer than wide, narrow in front, slightly convex, posterior middle of thorax provided with an inconspicuous short fovea, clothed with very short spine like hairs. Eyes silvery white in colour except anterior medians which are black and all eyes situated in a compact area, posterior row of eyes slightly longer than the anterior row. Anterior row of eyes procurved (as seen from in front), medians slightly larger than laterals and closer to adjacent laterals than to each other. Posterior row of eyes slightly procurved, medians large, oval, oblique and closer to each other than to adjacent laterals as in fig. 23. Sternum oval, pointed behind, rebordered, clothed with long spine like hairs. Labium and maxillae light yellowish-green, clothed with spine like hairs, anterior end provided with scopulae as in fig. 24. Chelicerae long, not very strong, vertical, inner margin with one minute tooth and outer margin with four moderate teeth. Legs relatively long and strong, clothed with hairs and spines. Legs formula 4123.
Abdomen: Nearly elliptical, clothed with pubescence and anterior portion provided with some spine like, ~airs. Ventral side lighter than the dorsal. Epigyne as in fig. 25. Internal genitalia as in fig. 26. Spinnerets as in fig. 27. Remarks : This species closely resembles Drassyllus khajuriai Tikader & Gajbe, but differs from it as follows: (i) Cephalothorax light reddish-green and legs reddish-green but in D. khajuriai cephalothoax and legs light-green. (ii) Outer margin of chelicerae provided with four teeth but in D. khajuriai outer margin of chelicerae with two teeth. (iii) Abdomen brownish-green and without sigilla but in D. khajuriai abdomen deep brown and provided with three pairs of sigilla (iv) Epigyne and internal genitalin also structurally different.

SUMMARY
This paper deals with 29 species under 13 genera of the family Gnaphosidae out of which 5 species are described as new to science.