Cybaeodes Simon, 1878

Platnick & Di Franco, 1992, On The Relationships of the Spider Genus Cybaeodes (Araneae, Dionycha), American Museum Novitates 3053, pp. 1-9 : 6-7

Cybaeodes Simon

Cybeodes Simon, 1878 : 205 (type species by monotypy Cybeodes testaceus Simon ).

Cybaeodes: Simon, 1893: 387 (corrected spelling, original name based on the generic name Cybaeus , which was also misspelled as Cybeus by Simon, 1878: 206).

Cerrutia Roewer, 1960: 88 (type species by original designation Cerrutia molara Roewer ). NEW SYNONYMY.

DIAGNOSIS: Cybaeodes can easily be recognized by the combined presence of gnaphosid-like anterior lateral spinnerets in males (but not females) and two ventral rows of modified setae on the anterior legs of both sexes. The extremely small eyes (see Roewer, 1960: Fig. la) seem also to be diagnostic (both of the cavernicolous species C. molara and the other, presumably epigean species), and we would not be surprised to find that blind, cavemicolous members of Cybaeodes occur in Mediterranean caves.

DESCRIPTION: To the detailed descriptions provided by Roewer (1960) and Di Franco (1989), we can add that the trichobothrial bases bear several chevron-shaped ridges ( Fig. 9 ), that the tarsal organ is elongate, with a round opening and elevated receptors (Fig. 10), and that the male palpal tibia bears a small prolateral lobe (as in Liocranum and Hesperocranum ).

SYNONYMY: Roewer's redescription of the genus can probably be ascribed to Simon's lack of Cybaeodes males and his association of the genus more closely with gnaphosids than with other liocranids.

Figures

Figs. 7-10. Cybaeodes marinae Di Franco, female. 7, 8. Tarsus I, ventral views. 9. Trichobothrial base from tarsus I. 10. Tarsal organ from leg I.