Cicurina (Cicurella) travisae 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 : 47

Cicurina (Cicurella) travisae Gertsch 1992

( Figs 106–107, 131)

Cicurina travisae Gertsch 1992: 101 , figs 63–70 (description of female). — Jackman 1997: 162.

HOLOTYPE female: “ Texas; Travis County, Tooth Cave, 15 miles N.W. of Austin ; found under rocks. August 5, 1963 James Reddell coll.”. Examined ( AMNH).

Additional material examined. UNITED STATES: Travis County: Amber Cave , 08.iv.1984, 1♀ [ TMM# 11799 ] , J. Reddell, M. Reyes ( TMM) ; Kretschmarr Cave , 21.ii.1988, 1♀, M. Reyes ( TMM) ; McDonald Cave , 29.v.1989, 1♀ 14 juvs, W. Elliott, J. Reddell, M. Reyes ( TMM) ; Pisarowicz Cave , 21.iv.1984, 1♀ [ TMM# 10156 ] , J. Reddell, M. Reyes ( TMM) ; Root Cave (north entrance), 01.iv.1989, 1♀ 2 juvs, J. Reddell & M. Reyes ( AMNH) ; Salamander Cave , 06.iv.1966, 1♀ 1 juv., J. Reddell ( TMM) .

Description. Female holotype

Opisthosoma length: 1.98. Epigynum: 0.370 mm. Epigynal ventral plate with long transverse slit, bearing medial, deep, inverted U-shaped indentation; atrium square, almost completely intruded by rounded dorsal plate, atrial aperture small; bursa not enlarged nor fused; copulatory ducts almost touching at midpoint, acute, reaching top or slightly over primary lobe apex; copulatory ducts constriction located basally; primary pores not visible; stalk strongly procurved, joining the primary lobe at the aperture of the dictynoid pore; dictynoid pore elongated; primary lobe elongated; secondary lobe absent; fertilization canal short, reaching dictynoid pore; fertilization duct internally attached to the primary lobe base.

Distribution. Reported from a few caves in the Jollyville Plateau of Travis County: Amber Cave, Kretschmarr Cave, McDonald Cave (=Schulze Cave), Pisarowicz Cave, Root Cave, Salamander Cave, and Tooth Cave (type locality) ( Fig. 131).

Remarks. Male unknown. Gertsch (1992) illustrated four specimens representing Cicurina (Cicurella) travisae (his figs 63–70) without mentioning which one is the holotype. The holotype vial contained the holotype opisthosoma, and one mature female. Cokendolpher (2004a) believed that Gertsch (1992) illustrated more than one species for Cicurina (Cicurella) travisae . In the distribution of Cicurina (Cicurella) buwata, Gertsch listed Gallifer Cave as a known locality (under Cicurina (Cicurella) elliotti ). Gallifer Cave is however located on the Jollyville plateau, nearby the cave listed for Cicurina (Cicurella) travisae . Pisarowicz Cave and Salamander Cave listed here as known localities for the species, have unfortunately been destroyed by urban development.