Capheris nitidiceps Simon, 1905

Sankaran, Pradeep M., 2023, Taxonomic notes on the ant-eating spider genera Asceua Thorell, 1887 and Cydrela Thorell, 1873 from India, with comment on Indian species of Euryeidon Dankittipakul & Jocqué, 2004 (Araneae: Zodariidae), Zootaxa 5296 (3), pp. 381-405 : 396

Capheris nitidiceps Simon, 1905 comb, rest., nomen dubium

Figs 12 , 18

Capheris nitidiceps Simon, 1905: 171 (subadult ♀).

Cydrela nitidiceps — Jocqué, 2009: 123 (transfer from Capheris ).

Type material. Holotype subadult ♀ from INDIA: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris, Coonoor , 11°20’N 76°48’E, 1591 m a.s.l., date unknown, leg. M. M. Maindron, repository MNHN, Paris (AR-16434), examined based on photographs.

Remarks. This species has to be considered a nomen dubium due to the immature stage of the female holotype. The type locality of this species lies hardly 267 kms away from the type locality of C. escheri that let suggests a possible synonymy of the latter species with it; however, confirmation requires the examination of adult specimens of C. nitidiceps from the type locality. Until adult specimens are found, it is treated as nomen dubium.

Distribution. India (Tamil Nadu) ( Simon 1905) ( Fig. 18 ).

Justification of the transfer. This species was originally placed under Capheris ( Simon 1905) . Jocqué (2009) erroneously transferred it to Cydrela , without proper justification. An examination of the holotype of this species showed that it has diagnostic features of Capheris species including ALEs almost touching, situated in front of AMEs, straight PER, sternum shied-shaped, anterolaterally with indentations accommodating endites, and very stout palps ( Figs 12A–C ). Based on these observations, the transfer of C. nitidiceps is fully justified.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Capheris nitidiceps Simon, 1905 comb. rest., holotype female (subadult) (AR-16434).A habitus, dorsal. B same, ventral. C prosoma showing sternum, ventral. D opisthosoma showing pre-epigyne, ventral. E original label found in the type vial. Scale bars: A–B, 0.5 mm. Figures C–D without scale provided. © MNHN, Paris.

FIGURE 18. Distribution of the genus Capheris Simon, 1893 in India. ● Capheris escheri Reimoser, 1934 comb. rest., ■ Capheris nitidiceps Simon, 1905 comb. rest., ▲ Capheris stillata Simon, 1905 comb. rest.