Kiekie gen nov.

Type species. Ctenus sinuatipes F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 .

Etymology. Kiekie is derived from the Guaymí word kie-kie and it means “a demon”, which refers to the large size and reddish coloration of these spiders. Before the European colonization, the Guaymí language was spoken in Central America from the Chagres River of Panama to southern Costa Rica, extending across the Isthmus from coast to coast (Alphonse 1956). There is some evidence that it was also the language of the native inhabitants of the islands in the Gulf of Panama (Alphonse 1956). The original distribution of the language corresponds to the distribution of most species of this genus. The gender is considered neuter.

Diagnosis. Kiekie species can be distinguished from the remaining Neotropical Cteninae by the presence of the following set of characters: embolus elongated, laminar, originating from tegular base; conductor resembling an open fan, and median apophysis cup-shaped in the male palp; large copulatory opening and subrectangular median field in the epigynal plate; males with metatarsus IV modified, from slightly to strongly curved and with short and numerous spines.

Description. Medium to large sized ecribellate spiders. Total body length (males and females): 11.50–31.00 mm. Carapace piriform, reddish brown; thoracic groove longitudinal, in the posterior third (Figs 1 A–B). Chilum divided, reddish. Clypeus with long erect black bristles. Ctenid eye pattern 2-4-2, with the anterior and posterior row recurved in dorsal view (Figs 1 A–B). Eyes round, except oval anterior lateral eyes. Chelicerae reddish brown; promargin with three teeth, the median almost twice as high as the laterals; retromargin with four similar-sized teeth and two small proximal teeth (Fig. 2A); with intermarginal denticles between the promargin and the retromargin; prominent basal condyle. Light brown endites, with lighter tip; external lateral margin excavated, distally rounded bearing dense apical scopulae and subapical serrula. Reddish brown labium, distally rounded bearing dense apical scopula. Reddish brown sternum, oval, not extending between coxae IV. Leg formula 4123. Legs reddish brown, except ventral femur light brown. All legs in males and females with a patch of tenant setae (claw tufts, CT) arising from a movable plate (claw tuft plate, CTP) (Fig. 2B). Claw tufts with scopular tenant setae (Fig. 2C). Tarsus with several rows of trichobothria and distal tarsal organ (Fig. 2D). Capsulated tarsal organ with elongated aperture (Fig. 2E). Trichobothrial bases transversely ridged (Fig. 2F). Male legs more elongated and slender than female legs. Males with metatarsus IV modified, from slightly to strongly curved and with modified spines (Figs 3 A–C). Trochanter notched. Abdomen oval, with numerous black setae in the anterior dorsal area (Figs 1 A–B). Abdomen with light brown venter and dark brown dorsum, with a longitudinal narrow lighter stripe. Cribellum absent (Fig. 4A). Six spinnerets, ALS and PLS two-segmented, PMS one-segmented (Fig. 4A). Anterior lateral spinnerets (ALS) with PI spigots interspersed with tartipores (TP) (Fig. 4B). ALS with a pair of large major ampullate gland (MAP) spigot and a large TP on the side (Fig. 4C). Posterior median spinnerets (PMS) lacks a paracribellum and presenting small aciniform gland (AC) spigots (Fig. 4D). The female PMS have additional large cylindrical glands (CY) spigots, with conical bases and long, conical shafts (Fig. 4D). The PMS has two large apical spigots, with a tartipore in between: these are probably two minor ampullate gland (mAP) spigots (Fig. 4E). The conical apical segment of the posterior lateral spinneret (PLS) has numerous CY spigots and elongated spigots with a cylindrical base and long, narrow shaft that is probably a modified spigot (MS) (Fig. 4F). Male palp (Figs 5 A–B, 6A, 7A–B, 8A–B, 9A–B, 10A–B, 12A–B, 13A–B): tibia elongated, slightly shorter than cymbium; RTA with species-specific shape; cymbium teardrop-shaped in ventral view; subtegulum prolateral, partially visible behind embolus; tegulum suboval, with spermatic duct visible medially; embolus elongated and laminar, originating basally; median apophysis cup-shaped; conductor hyaline, usually covering or guiding the embolus tip. Epigynum (Figs 5C, 6B, 8C, 9C, 10C, 11A, C, 13C, 14A): subtriangular, subpentagonal or subhexagonal median field, with the copulatory opening elevated; median fields with robust lateral spurs and hyaline area around the copulatory openings (except Kiekie curvipes). Female internal genitalia (Figs 5D, 6C, 8D, 9D, 10D, 11B, D, 13D, 14B): copulatory ducts laminar, elongated and curved; spermathecae bean-shaped; short fertilization ducts emerging from basal area of spermathecae.

Composition. 11 species: Kiekie sinuatipes (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) comb. nov., K. curvipes (Keyserling, 1881) comb. nov., K. garifuna sp. nov., K. sanjose sp. nov., K. verbena sp. nov., K. sarapiqui sp. nov., K. griswoldi sp. nov., K. barrocolorado sp. nov., K. panamensis sp. nov., K. montanensis sp. nov., and K. antioquia sp. nov. .

Distribution. From Mexico to northwestern South America, with several species in Central America (Fig. 15 A–B).