Melicymnis bicolor Simon 1885

Melicymnis bicolor Simon, 1885 [species inquirenda] Figs 4–7 Melicymnis bicolor Simon, 1885: 23, plate X, fig. 22 (juvenile). Murphy 2007: 589, fig. 594 (juvenile). Mulicymnis bicolor Simon 1893: 370 (lapsus for Melicymnis). Type material. Syntypes juveniles, INDIA: Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur: Vajrakarur (=Wagra Karoor) (15°01’N 77°23’E; 446 m a.s.l.), date unknown, M.M. Chaper leg., repository MNHN, Paris (AR1643 & AR9664), examined based on photographs. Remarks. We examined the syntypes of M. bicolor, and confirmed its stage of immaturity as mentioned by Platnick (2006) (Figs 4–5). The anterior lateral spinnerets of M. bicolor are not cylindrical in shape as seen in other gnaphosid genera, but are conical, indicating its misplacement under Gnaphosidae (Murphy 2007: fig. 594). The pattern of eye group including very large posterior median eyes, shape of the sternum, and the chelicerae with more than one pro-, and single retromarginal teeth (Murphy 2007: fig. 594; herein Figs 4–5) fit this genus in Cithaeronidae Simon, 1893, but confirmation requires the examination of adult specimens of M. bicolor. Until then, we formally propose this genus and the species to be considered a species inquirenda under Gnaphosidae. The syntypes juveniles in the MNHN collection are highly bleached and damaged (Figs 4–5). Distribution. India: Andhra Pradesh (Simon 1885).