The morphology and relationships of the walking mud spiders of the genus Cryptothele (Araneae: Zodariidae)

MARTÍN J. RAMÍREZ; CRISTIAN J. GRISMADO; FACUNDO MARTÍN LABARQUE; MATÍAS A. IZQUIERDO; JOEL M. LEDFORD; JEREMY A. MILLER; CHARLES R. HADDAD; CHARLES E. GRISWOLD

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2014 vol. 253 p. 382 - 382

e revise the relationships of the spider genus Cryptothele after reexamination of the morphology of the spinnerets, leg tarsal claws and maxillae with scanning electron microscopy. Cryptothele species have a particular conformation of the spinning field of the anterior lateral spigots that is typical of zodariids and close relatives: the field of major ampullate gland spigots, together with their strain sensilla, are invaginated within the field of piriform gland spigots. The implantation of the teeth on the inner side of the leg tarsal claws is also consistent with its placement among zodariids. We added Cryptothele to a morphological dataset of zodariid genera, together with the outgroups Homalonychus (Homalonychidae) and Penestomus (Penestomidae). The phylogenetic analysis concludes that the genus Cryptothele is a member of the subfamily Cydrelinae, which by priority is here considered a junior synonym of Cryptothelinae. Cryptothele specimens cover most of their body with s