Contributions to the taxonomy of the long-jawed orb-weaving spider genus Tetragnatha (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) in the Neotropical region, with comments on the morphology of the chelicerae

Abstract

We newly diagnose, illustrate, and clarify the distribution ranges of six of the most common and broadly distributed species of Tetragnatha Latreille, 1804 found in the Neotropical region. Twenty new junior synonyms from around the world are included, nine for T. bogotensis Keyserling, 1865, four for T. mandibulata Walckenaer, 1841, three for T. keyserlingi Simon, 1890, three for T. nitens (Audouin, 1826), and one for T. elongata Walckenaer, 1841. Tetragnatha vermiformis Emerton, 1884 is newly recorded from South America. The Argentine T. major Holmberg, 1876 and T. riparia Holmberg, 1876 are considered nomina dubia. Finally, we discuss the terminology of the structures of the chelicerae to establish a coherent nomenclature for teeth and fang cusps.