Eridantes

Crosby & Bishop, 1933

dwarf spiders

Eridantes is a of dwarf ( Linyphiidae, Erigoninae) established by Crosby & Bishop in 1933. The genus contains three described : E. diodontos, E. erigonoides, and E. utibilis. It is distinguished from similar genera by two proposed : the mesal (rather than ectal) position of the , and the broadly divided and of the largely membranous radix. Species-level identification relies on detailed morphological characters including cephalic lobe height, prosomal pit position, male palpal form, and the convolution of the m-shaped of the female .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eridantes: /ˌɛrɪˈdæntiːz/

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Identification

-level identification requires examination of male : the is positioned mesally rather than ectally, and the radix has broadly divided and with largely membranous structure. identification uses cephalic lobe height, prosomal pit position, and male palpal form. Females are distinguished by the convolution pattern of the m-shaped of the . These characters require microscopic examination and comparison with or detailed illustrations.

Distribution

North America. E. diodontos is known from Arizona, United States, and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The broader geographic range of the and other is not detailed in available sources.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Erigoninae generaDistinguished by the mesal position of the and the broadly divided and of the membranous radix—features proposed as unique to Eridantes.

More Details

Taxonomic history

The was established in 1933 and has received limited taxonomic attention. A 2013 revision described E. diodontos as a new and provided a revised based on examination of the species E. erigonoides and the new species.

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