A first step towards the revision of Cicurina: redescription of type specimens of 60 troglobitic species of the subgenus Cicurella (Araneae: Dictynidae), and a first visual assessment of their distribution
Authors: PAQUIN PIERRE , DUPÉRRÉ NADINE 
Published: June 2019

The intraspecific variability recently documented in the genus Cicurina strongly suggests a reassessment of the taxonomy, particularly for the troglobitic members. Adult troglobitic Cicurina (subgenus Cicurella) are rare and most of the 60 nominal species of troglobitic Cicurina (Cicurella) were originally described upon the examination of only one or two females, resulting in numerous species differing only in minor variations of the female genitalia. In many cases, such morphological differences could also be interpreted as intraspecific variability. We present the first step of the taxonomic revision of the genus with the redescription of all troglobitic species of the subgenus Cicurella based on type specimens to provide a reliable and comparable morphological basis: Cicurina bandera Gertsch 1992, C. bandida Gertsch 1992, C. baronia Gertsch 1992, C. barri Gertsch 1992, C. browni Gertsch 1992, C. brunsi Cokendolpher 2004, C. bullis Cokendolpher 2004, C. buwata Chamberlin & Ivie 1940, C. caliga Cokendolpher & Reddell 2001, C. caverna Gertsch 1992, C. coahuila Gertsch 1971, C. coryelli Gertsch 1992, C. cueva Gertsch 1992, C. delrio Gertsch 1992, C. ezelliGertsch 1992, C. gruta Gertsch 1992, C. holsingeri Gertsch 1992, C. hoodensis Cokendolpher & Reddell 2001, C. leona Gertsch 1992, C. loftini Cokendolpher 2004, C. machete Gertsch 1992, C. madla Gertsch 1992, C. maya Gertsch 1977, C. mckenziei Gertsch 1992, C. medina Gertsch 1992, C. menardia Gertsch 1992, C. mirifica Gertsch 1992, C. mixmaster Cokendolpher & Reddell 2001, C. neovespera Cokendolpher 2004, C. obscura Gertsch 1992, C. orellia Gertsch 1992, C. pablo Gertsch 1992, C. pastura Gertsch 1992, C. patei Gertsch 1992, C. platypus Cokendolpher 2004, C. porteri Gertsch 1992, C. puentecilla Gertsch 1992, C. rainesi Gertsch 1992, C. reclusa Gertsch 1992, C. reddelli Gertsch 1992, C. reyesi Gertsch 1992, C. russelli Gertsch 1992, C. sansaba Gertsch 1992, C. selecta Gertsch 1992, C. serena Gertsch 1992, C. sheari Gertsch 1992, C. sprousei Gertsch 1992, C. stowersi Gertsch 1992, C. suttoni Gertsch 1992, C. travisae Gertsch 1992, C. troglobia Cokendolpher 2004, C. ubicki Gertsch 1992, C. uvalde Gertsch 1992, C. venefica Gertsch 1992, C. venii Gertsch 1992, C. vespera Gertsch 1992, C. vibora Gertsch 1992, C. wartoni Gertsch 1992, C. watersi Gertsch 1992 and C. wiltoni Gertsch 1992. We provide, in a series of maps, a first visual assessment of the distribution of these troglobites. Several problems became evident from our examination of the data, including potential synonymies, conflicting distributions, damaged types, potential mislabeling, species known only from one sex, misevaluation of intraspecific variability, and unknown location of type localities. A reliable taxonomic basis for the eyeless members of this genus is particularly important for cave conservation and management because the particular conservation status of these troglobites, particularly for four species that are included on the U.S. Federal list of endangered species.