Cicurina (Cicurella) delrio Gertsch 1992

Paquin, Pierre & Dupérré, Nadine, 2009, of 60 troglobitic species of the subgenus Cicurella (Araneae: Dictynidae), and a first visual assessment of their distribution, Zootaxa 2002, pp. 1-67 : 23

Cicurina (Cicurella) delrio Gertsch 1992

( Figs 34–35, 138)

Cicurina delrio Gertsch 1992: 96 , charts 1–2, figs 21–22 (description of female). — Jackman 1997: 162.

HOLOTYPE female: “ Texas; Sunset Cave, Val Verde Co., 12 mi. NW Del Rio (on Ellison Brit Ranch ), on slit 50’ from entrance. December 14, 1962. Reddell & Russell”. Examined ( AMNH).

Additional material examined. UNITED STATES: Val Verde County: Diablo Cave (Calyx hole entrance), 11.viii.1963, 1♀ 1 juv., under a rotting shirt, J. Reddell, D. McKenzie ( AMNH) .

Description. Female holotype

Total length: 3.90; carapace length: 1.65; carapace width: 1.25; opisthosoma length 2.25. Six eyes reduced to pale remnant spots. Cheliceral promargin right side with 3 teeth (2 large, 1 small), left side likewise, retromargin right side with 7 denticles (2 large, 5 small), left side 6 denticles (2 large, 4 small). Leg I total length: 4.95; femur: 1.35; patella: 0.50; tibia: 1.20; metatarsus: 1.00; tarsus: 0.70. Leg IV missing. Epigynum length: 0.462 mm. Epigynal ventral plate with long transverse slit, bearing medial, shallow, inverted U-shaped indentation; atrium rectangular, half intruded by straight dorsal plate; atrial aperture large; bursa slightly enlarged, not fused; copulatory ducts scarcely separated at midpoint, reaching over the top of primary lobe apex; copulatory ducts constriction located sub-basally; primary pores not visible; stalk short, procurved, joining primary lobe at the aperture of the dictynoid pore; dictynoid pore rounded; primary lobe light-bulb shape; secondary lobe absent; fertilization canal short, reaching the dictynoid pore; fertilization duct internally attached to the primary lobe base.

Distribution. Known from Diablo Cave, Sunset Cave (type locality) and Unnamed Cave No 8, all three caves in Val Verde County (Texas, Fig. 138). The specimen from Unnamed Cave No 8 could not be located and examined to confirm the occurrence of Cicurina (Cicurella) delrio in that cave. However, the locality is included in Fig. 138 based on Gertsch’s (1992) record and indicated by an open symbol.

Remarks. Male unknown. Gertsch (1992) added the information “on wall 50 feet from cave entrance” for that specimen, but that information does not appear on the label. Gertsch (1992) considered Cicurina (Cicurella) delrio as an eyed taxon, along with other epigean species. Examination of the type and other specimens of that species however suggest that the eyes are not functional and the species is clearly a troglobite. See also Cicurina (Cicurella) mirifica .