Cicurina (Cicurella) vibora Gertsch 1992

Paquin, Pierre & Dupérré, Nadine, 2009, of 60 troglobitic species of the subgenus Cicurella (Araneae: Dictynidae), and a first visual assessment of their distribution, Zootaxa 2002, pp. 1-67 : 53-55

Cicurina (Cicurella) vibora Gertsch 1992

( Figs 120–121, 130)

Cicurina vibora Gertsch 1992: 98 , figs 55–56 (description of female). — Jackman 1997: 162; Paquin & Hedin 2004: 3243–3245, 3254.

HOLOTYPE female: “ Texas; Williamson Co. Rattlesnake Filled Cave; 100 yds. S.E. of Cricket Cave , 24 August 1963, J. Reddell & B. Russell ”. Examined ( AMNH).

Description. Female holotype denticles (2 large, 4 small), left side likewise. Leg I: total length: 6.55; femur: 1.80; patella: 0.70; tibia: 1.70; metatarsus: 1.50; tarsus: 0.90; leg IV: total length: 7.90; femur: 2.10; patella: 0.70; tibia: 1.90; metatarsus: 2.10; tarsus: 1.10. Tarsal claw IV: 0.20. Epigynum: 0.210 mm (half). Epigynal ventral plate with short transverse slit, bearing medial, very deep, inverted V-shaped indentation; atrium almost completely intruded by a triangular dorsal plate, atrial aperture small; bursa not enlarged nor fused; copulatory ducts widely separated at midpoint, reaching below primary lobe apex; copulatory ducts constriction located; primary pores visible (1 seen); stalk, short, slightly curved, horizontal, joining the primary lobe at the aperture of the dictynoid pore; dictynoid pore rounded; primary lobe light-bulb shape; secondary lobe absent; fertilization canal long, internally positioned from dictynoid pore; fertilization duct internally attached to the primary lobe base.

Distribution. Known from Rattlesnake Filled Cave (type locality), Temples of Thor Cave, and Sunless City Cave (Williamson County, Texas, Fig. 130). The record from Sunless City Cave was identified to species by a DNA match of an immature specimen (see Paquin & Hedin 2004).

Remarks. Male unknown. Gertsch (1992) gives “southwest of Cricket Cave” in his paper, which differs slightly from the label data. The precise location of Rattlesnake Filled Cave (type locality) has been forgotten and recent efforts to clarify the situation were not successful (James R. Reddell, pers. comm.). Similarly, the location of Cricket Cave is also a mystery. However, Reddell & Finch (1963) provided enough information to estimate the location of Rattlesnake Filled Cave, and these data are judged precise enough for our purposes (see Fig. 130).