Scytodes Latreille, 1804

Zamani, Alireza, Stockmann, Mark, Magalhaes, Ivan L. F. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2022, New taxonomic considerations in the spitting spider family Scytodidae (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 5092 (2), pp. 151-175 : 153

Genus Scytodes Latreille, 1804

Scytodes Latreille, 1804: 134 (type species Aranea thoracica Latreille, 1802 , by subsequent designation).

Diagnosis. Species of the genus Scytodes differ from those of Dictis in having three tarsal claws ( Figs 1A , 3C–F ) (vs. two in Dictis ).

Composition. 225 species ( WSC 2021).

Distribution. Worldwide, with several synanthropic species ( WSC 2021).

Figures

FIGURE 1. A–D Scytodes arwa Rheims Brescovit & van Harten.A (IBSP 35581, female), leg III, tarsus, claws, prolateral view (arrow points to inferior claw); B–D (IBSP 35570, male, holotype) B leg I, femur, ventral view; C leg IV, femur, ventral view; D leg III, metatarsus, prolateral view; E–F Dictis striatipes L. Koch (IBSP 35569, female) E leg I, tarsus, claws, prolateral view; F leg III, tarsus, claws, prolateral view.

FIGURE 3. Scytodes arwa Rheims, Brescovit & van Harten. A, G–H (IBSP 35570, male, holotype); B (IBSP 35582, female); E–F (IBSP 35581, female); I–J (IBSP 35583, female, holotype of S. makeda Rheims, Brescovit & van Harten syn. n.). A–B habitus, dorsal view (A male, B female); C–F tarsal claws, prolateral view (C male, leg I, D male, leg III, E female, leg I, F female, leg III, arrows point to inferior claw); G–H male, left palp (G prolateral view, H retrolateral view); I–J female genitalia (I ventral view; J vulva, dorsal view). Scale bars: A–B = 2 mm; C–J = 0.5 mm. AP = anterior plate; DR = dorsal receptacle; F = fovea; OS = outer spermathecae; PP = posterior plate; PR = positioning ridge.