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TAXONOMYTEXELLA Goodnight and GoodnightTexella Goodnight and Goodnight, 1942: 10 (typespecies by monotypy and original designationTexella mulaiki Goodnight and Goodnight 1942).Diagnosis.-Species of Texella may be distinguishedfrom those of Banksula in lacking spiniferoustubercles dorsally on the palpal femora, fromCalicina and Microcina in having tubercles or spursventrally on the fourth trochanters, and from Phalangodesand other nominate genera from the easternNearctic in having the eye mound situated on theanterior margin of the scute. The presence of threemesal megaspines on the palpal tibia and/or the absenceof a retina will distinguish most species ofTexella from those of Sitalcina.Males of Texella may be distinguished from allother Nearctic phalangodid genera by the followingcombination of genitalic characters: ventral platewith bifurcation wider than glans, ventral plate withwell developed apical spine, and glans doublefolded, appearing sigmoid in lateral view. Mostfemales may be distinguished from those of othergenera in having ovipositors with transverse wrinklesand a pair of apical teeth.Description.-Total body length 1.2-2.7; scutelength 0.8-1.7. Body color from yellowish white tobrownish orange, appendages relatively paler. Bodycuticle with uniform layer of hemispherical to ovoidmicrotubercles, appearing smooth (microtuberclesabout 5 p.m in diameter) to rugose (about 10 p.m) atnormal magnifications, and scattered patches oflarger tubercles (from about 20 p.m), which may beelongate, scale-like, and setiferous; setation light tomoderate, most pronounced on the abdomen. Scutewith eye mound at anterior margin; thoracic regionset off dorsally by transverse grooves and laterally(at insertion of leg III) by pronounced constriction;abdominal region typically with five transverse rowsof coarse tubercles representing fused tergites I-V.Eye mound roughly conical, reduced in troglomorphicspecies, rugosity smooth to coarse; eyes welldeveloped, reduced, or absent. Anterior tuberclespresent or absent. Ozopores well developed, on anteriolateralmargin, with distinct posterior channel.Tergites VI-VIII free, typically with median, transverserows of coarse tubercles interspersed withshort setae. Venter textured similarly as scute butmore densely setose. Coxae with coarse tuberculationtypically on ventral surfaces, retrolaterally oncoxae II, and prolaterally on coxae IV; enditesmesoapically situated on palpal coxae, coxae I, andcoxae II; anteriorly directed spur on ventral surfaceof palpal coxae. Genital operculum between coxaeIV, roughly semicircular, may be armed apicallywith 1-2 pairs of spines or tubercles. Large to smallconical, cuticular outgrowth (= postopercular process)immediately behind genital operculum presentin males of most species. Sternites typically withtransverse rows of tubercles; sternite I with spiraclenear distal part of coxa IV; sternites II-V free; sternitesVI-VII fused. Anal operculum coarsely tubercuiateand setose.Chelicerae with smooth cuticle, basal segmentwith dorsoapical swelling, apical segments dorsallysetose. Palpi with smooth cuticle of appressedscales, apically setose, typically robust but conspicuouslyattenuated in highly troglomorphicspecies; megaspine number and distribution: trochanter:1-2 ventral (small); femur: 3 ecto(ventro)­basal, 1-2 mesoapical; patella: 1 ectal, 1-2 mesal;tibia: 2 ectal, 2-3 mesal; tarsus: 2 ectal, 2 mesal.Legs with cuticle of apically rebordered scalesgiving honeycomb appearance; calcanei and tarsismooth; lightly to moderately setose; leg II longest,leg formula (longest to shortest) II-IV-I-III; leg IIlength / scute length = 2-15; tarsal counts typically3-5-4-5, 3-5-5-5, and 3-5-5-6, but up to 4-8-6-8 inhighly troglomorphic species; tarsal claws single onlegs I and II, paired on legs III and IV; legs ofjuveniles with posterior claws on onychium andenclosing arolium. Trochanter IV with ventraltubercles (females, some males) or elongate process(=spur) (most males); spur generally slightlycurved, ventrally with smooth knobs, apically bentor enlarged.Penis without muscles, composed of basal sac,truncus, and apical glans. Ventral plate bifurcate;incision at least as wide as glans width; each prongwith a rigid, cuticular, apical spine and movable setae;setae arranged in dorsal, lateral, and ventral series.Glans double folded, appearing sigmoid inlateral view, expansion along two axes of rotation:1) junction of basal and middle segment and 2)junction of apical segment and stylus; basal segmenttypically with ventroapical extension (= basalknob); middle segment with a pair of distal lobes(parastylar lobes), occasionally with a pair of secondaryparastylar lobes; stylus apical, may bear a pairof basolateral processes (stylar apophyses) and ventralcarina. Ovipositor bent or straight; cuticlewrinkled, with longitudinal and transverse folds;microsculpturing of small, thin spines, serrations, orrounded tubercles, rarely smooth; apex with dorsoventralslit, typically with a pair of teeth; setal171