Cicurina (Cicurella) venii 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 : 52-53

Cicurina (Cicurella) venii Gertsch 1992

( Figs 116–117, 134)

Cicurina venii Gertsch 1992: 111 , figs 95–96 (description of female). — Jackman 1997: 162, 171; Cokendolpher 2004a: 19–20, 24–25, 27–28, 34, 52–54, figs 63–64; Reddell & Cokendolpher 2004: 81; Paquin & Hedin 2004: 3249.

HOLOTYPE female: “ Texas; Braken Bat Cave, Bexar Co., 22 November 1980. George Veni”. Examined ( AMNH).

Description. Female holotype

Carapace length: 1.62; carapace width: 1.17. Eyes absent. Cheliceral promargin right side with 3 teeth (1 large, 2 small), left side likewise; retromargin right side with 6 denticles (3 large, 3 small), left side likewise. Epigynum: 0.28 (half size). Epigynal ventral plate with short transverse slit, bearing medial, shallow, inverted U-shaped indentation; atrium squared, two-thirds intruded by rounded dorsal plate, atrial aperture small; bursa not enlarged nor fused; copulatory ducts touching at midpoint, rounded, reaching over primary lobe apex; copulatory ducts constriction located basally; primary pores not visible; stalk short, straight, horizontally directed, joining the primary lobe at the aperture of the dictynoid pore; dictynoid pore elongated; primary lobe bean-shaped; secondary lobe absent; fertilization canal short, internally positioned from the dictynoid pore; fertilization duct medially attached to the primary lobe base.

Distribution. Only reported from the type locality: Braken Bat Cave (Bexar County) ( Fig. 134).

Remarks. Male unknown. Even though the epigynum is damaged, the remnants were enough to produce a complete description. The opisthosoma however, is missing. The entrance of Bracken Bat Cave has unfortunately been sealed with concrete. This species is included on the U.S. Federal list of endangered species ( Longacre 2000).