Chthonos Coddington, 1986

Chthonos Coddington, 1986: 33 .

Type species Tecmessa pectosa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 .

Diagnosis

Males and females of Chthonos can be distinguished from those of other theridiosomatid genera by having prolateral rows of strong macrosetae on the curved (i.e., sinuate) first and second tibiae-metatarsitarsi (Figs 8A–C, 9A–C, 10C, 11B, 12A–C, 13B; see also Coddington 1986 and Dupérré & Tapia 2017) (absent in other genera), protruding sternum (Figs 8B, 9B, 10B, 11B, 12B, 13B; see also Coddington 1986) (in contrast with not protuding sternum in the other genera), and opisthosomal setae on sclerotized pits (“flecks” in Coddington 1986) (Figs 8A–C, 9A–C, 10A–C, 11A–C, 12A–C, 13A–C; see also Coddington 1986 and Dupérré & Tapia 2017) (absent in other genera).

Description

Females of Chthonos have irregular membranous copulatory ducts (Figs 5A–C, 9D, 11D, 13D) with a dorsal patch of gland ducts near the sides of the spermathecae (Fig. 5A–C). For further genus description details, see Coddington (1986) and Labarque & Griswold (2014).