Family MYSMENIDAE Petrunkevitch, 1928

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• Mysmenidae Petrunkevitch, 1928.

Introduction

These minute spiders are found in litter and collected in pitfall traps but little is known of their habits. Some American and African mysmenids are kleptopararsites, living in webs of diplurid trap-door spiders.

Brignoli (1983) has transferred Mysmena tasmaniae to Calodipoena, the type species of which is Calodipoena incredula Gertsch & Davis from Texas. Further species have been described from Mexico, the West Indies and Panama. Brignoli's reason for this transfer was the alleged relationships of M. tasmaniae with Calodipoena incredula. This seems a misinterpretation of Hickman's (1979) text which states only that 'Mysmena tasmaniae has a strong resemblance to the American species Mysmena incredula'. There are many undescribed mysmenids in Australia and until they are described it seems preferable to leave tasmaniae in Mysmena rather than transfer it to a Central American genus.

Diagnosis

Minute, 8-eyed, 3-clawed spiders with a more or less spherical abdomen, sometimes with a posterior extension and high carapace. Male with a clasping spur on metatarsus 1. Female usually has a ventral subdistal sclerotised spot on femur 1. Tiny denticles are present between cheliceral teeth. Cymbium of male with lobes or apophyses. Female palp without a claw. Colulus present.

History of changes