A revision of the spider genus Zorocrates Simon (Araneae, Zorocratidae) ; American Museum novitates, no. 3579

Abstract

The spider genus Zorocrates is revised, and comprises at least 31 species found from the southern United States south to Central America; it provides a notable example of the loss of a functional cribellum within a relatively small (but seemingly monophyletic) group of species. Two specific names are removed from synonymy: Z. gnaphosoides O. P.-Cambridge and Z. mordax O. P.-Cambridge (from Z. fuscus Simon and Z. mistus O. P.-Cambridge, respectively). Two other specific names are newly synonymized: Z. isolatus Gertsch and Davis, with Z. unicolor (Banks), and Z. petersi Kraus, with Z. gnaphosoides O. P.-Cambridge. Males are newly described for Z. badius Simon and Z. pictus Simon; females are newly described for Z. karli Gertsch and Riechert. Twenty new species are described from Texas and Mexico.