A revision of the trapdoor spider genus Cyclocosmia (Araneae, Ctenizidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2580

Abstract

"The four known species of Cyclocosmia are diagnosed and described; all are characterized by a caudally truncate abdomen terminating in a heavily sclerotized disc that functions as a false bottom when the spider retreats headfirst to the base of its burrow. The species have similar genitalia but can be distinguished by details of the abdominal sculpturing and setation. Cyclocosmia truncata (Hentz) is redescribed for the first time on the basis of topotypical specimens of both sexes, and is recorded from Tennessee, northern Alabama, and northwestern Georgia. Specimens from southwestern Georgia and northern Florida formerly placed as truncata are assigned to C. torreya, new species. The Mexican genus Chorizops Ausserer is placed as a junior synonym of Cyclocosmia, and the male of its type species, Cyclocosmia loricata (C.L. Koch), described for the first time. The Chinese species Cyclocosmia ricketti (Pocock) is newly recorded from Thailand"--P. [1].