Guide to identification of genera by palps, spermathecae and ducts

Guide to identification of genera by color pattern

Gen. Jollas Simon, 1901 ( 5 species)

Type species Jollas geniculatus.
Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of definition.

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Gen. Sitticus Simon, 1901 ( 71 species)

Type species Sitticus terebratus.
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to definition of SITTICINES quoted below: "Palaearctic branch of the New World of supergroup AMYCOIDA. It is the only group in Palaearctics having multi cusp [saw-like] tooth on anterolateral edge of chelicerae, while retrolateral [posterior] edge is not developed and devoid of teeth. The central "S" shaped loop of spermophor is very prominent and regular, next follows the margin of bulbus, before narrowing and entering embolus. Embolus originate postero-laterally from bulbus, tapering next and continuing hair thin, parallel to bulbus or encircling it entirely, that character is somewhat different in Sittipub. Copulatory ducts short, but in Sitticus floricola group long, twisted into loop. Spermathecae strongly sclerotized, originally elongate and "C" shaped, in some genera modified. Epigyne is different in Sittipub (see below), resembling some AMYCOIDA VARIA". Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of the definition. For more remarks - see note on SITTICINES above, for description of diversity inside genus - see descriptions below.

Sitticus (terebratus group = nominal group) (5 species)

Representative species (and the type species of the genus) Sitticus terebratus [= syn. Araneus terebratus Clerck, 1757].
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to description of SITTICINES. Differs by cymbiun expanded transversally, with apical part turned laterally. Bulbus round with embolus encircling it, tibia robust, half the length of the cymbium. Copulatory openings close each other, in a small depression in anterior middle part of epigyne, each duct is originally broader, encircles half of epigyne and then, narrowing pass into complicated coils of its further continuous parts. Color pattern represent one of variants common in Sitticus - white median line bisecting body, continuous or broken, or interrupted. Pairs of small spots accompanying mid-line in the posterior half of abdomen are irregular. Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of the definition.

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Sitticus (distinguendus group) (22 species)

Representative species Sitticus distinguendus Simon, 1868 [= Attus distinguendus Simon, 1868].
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to description of SITTICINES. Differs from the terebratus group by larger and broader central loop of spermophor, bulbus elongate oval, often enlarged basally. Embolus parallel to bulbus, originates from broader basis, gradually tapering, indistinctly longer than bulbus. Tibial apophysis short, pointed sharp. Epigyne with small, oval, anterior depression, in some species bisected by thin, indistinct septum. Copulatory openings set vertically, or slightly inclined, followed by broad entrance chamber, almost immediately narrowing into short copulatory ducts, which open to anterior ramus of spermathecae. Spermatheca letter "C" shaped, set transversally, peculiar in having terminal part at the medial-ward end, and armature of the scent duct at the lateral-ward end; the whole posterior part of spermatheca has no any additional structures attached. Development of spermatheca vary from both rami relatively broad and similarly developed, to asymmetrical development of either ramus, in a few species intermediary to the floricola group. Color pattern represent one of variants common in Sitticus - either cryptic sand coloration, or dark with white median line bisecting body, continuous or broken, or pairs of large, circular dots, contrasting white. Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of the definition.

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Sitticus (floricola group) (13 species)

Representative species Sitticus floricola [= Euophrys floricola Koch C.L., 1837].
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to description of SITTICINES. Differs by modification of the original "C" shape of spermatheca, which has posterior ramus much bigger and elongated posterior wards, which deeply changes appearance. Copulatory ducts much elongated and form striking loop. External depression in epigyne occupies largest part of the plate. Coloration with prominent pair of white spots, round or irregular, there are some white lines on carapace. Owing to coloration, but also to less hidden behavior, belong to the best noticeable Sitticus species. Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of the definition.

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Sitticus (leucoproctus group) (3 species)

Sitticus (leucoproctus group) Simon, 1876.
Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of definition.

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Sitticus (longipes group) (4 species)

Representative species Sitticus longipes (Canestrini, 1873) [= Attus longipes Canestrini, 1873].
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to description of SITTICINES. Differs by deep modification of spermathecae and duct, as shown on enclosed drawings, which are integral part of the definition .N. B. Shape of translucent internal structure of epigyne ("two circles") is not sufficient for identification of species, as there are several species with such structures in N America (S. absolutus, S. cursor, S. juniperi and some undescribed species) it is necessary to study cleared and stained epigyne and ducts).
EVOLUTIONARY HYPOTHESIS. Modification of spermathecae and relict distribution suggested in 1960ties closer relationship between Alpine S. longipes N American species (S. absolutus and related), dating perhaps from time of eventual splitting of original N American population. Present day method could check this hypothesis.

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Sitticus (palpalis group) (2 species)

Sitticus (palpalis group) Simon, 1876.
Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of definition.

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Sitticus (saxicola group) (3 species)

Representative species Sitticus saxicola (Koch C.L., 1848) [= Euophrys saxicola Koch C.L., 1848].
DIAGNOSIS. Conform to description of SITTICINES. Differs by bulbus particularly long relative to cymbium, oval, broadened posteriorly. Depression on epigyne anterior, spermathecae deeply modified, possibly derived from "C" shape, but that is not clearly visible. Drawings are integral part of the definition

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Gen. Sittipub Prószynski, 2016 gen. n. (2 species)

Type species Sittipub pubescens [= syn. Aranea pubescens Fabricius, 1775].
NOMENCLATORICAL NOTE. Name coined from roots of words "SITTI-cus" and "PUB-escens". Grammar gender masculine.
DIAGNOSIS. Cheliceral dentition and general appearance resembling other Sitticus species, but without striking white spots on abdomen. Palpal organ reminiscent of some S American genera (Hypaeus) and Amycoida (Admesturius, Semiopyla), with central loop of spermophor irregular, embolus short and thin, arising from thick basis set anterolaterally. Tibial apophysis in type species broad, of mid length, in another species split in two lobes. Epigyne in a form of shallowly depressed plate, with translucent irregular, single chamber sclerotized structure: heavily sclerotized spermatheca and very short ducts. Diagnostic drawings below are integral part of the definition.

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Sitticeae - characters by Simon, 1901.

Other views
see Ruiz G.R.S., Maddison W.P. 2015. Zootaxa 4040(3)

REMARKS. In a paper just published (11 Nov. 2015) Ruiz & Maddison 2015 adapted subfamily Sitticinae, proposed in this database since its beginning - it is too fresh development to comment it, but certainly positive. They propose to include the following genera: Aillutticus Galiano, 1987 Amatorculus Ruiz & Brescovit, 2005 Attulus Simon, 1889 (a synonym of Sitticus distinguendus, overlooked and maintained by Maddison, and World Spider Catalog, since documented in 1987) Capeta Capeta Ruiz & Brescovit, 2005 Gavarilla Ruiz & Brescovit, 2006 Jollas Simon, 1901 (=Oningis Simon, 1901) Nosferattus Ruiz & Brescovit, 2005 Pseudattulus Caporiacco, 1947 Semiopyla Simon, 1901 Sitticus Simon, 1901 (=Attinella Banks, 1905) (=Sitticulus Dahl, 1926) (=Tomis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1901)

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Loop of spermophor in Amycoida: Ruiz G.R.S., Maddison W.P. 2015. Zootaxa 4040(3): 270, f 49-52. By courtesy. COMMENT. Spermophor in Salticidae is usually twisted into loops in different levels, difference lies in appearance: which part of the spermophor is visible without making cleared preparation.
Main function of older publications is to be quickly forgotten by the successors authors
a) Sitticus (floricola group) caricis : Proszynski J. 1980 Annales zoologici, 36: 18-20, f 1-2, 7, 60-63.b) Sitticus (flor. gr.) zimmermanni : Proszynski J. 1980 Ann. zool., 36: 10-13, f 3-4, 10-14, 20-21 By courtesy.