Revalidation of the jumping spider genus Cheliceroides Żabka, 1985 based on molecular and morphological data (Araneae, Salticidae)

The monotypic genus Cheliceroides Żabka, 1985 is revalidated based on both molecular sequence data (ultra-conserved elements and protein-coding genes of mitochondrial genomes) and morphological evidence. Results of molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Cheliceroides is not closely related to Colopsus Simon, 1902, not even in the same tribe, and comparative morphological study also demonstrates significant differences in the genital structures (e.g., the shape of embolus, with or without a pocket on the epigynum) of the two genera. Therefore, here we remove Cheliceroides from the synonymy of Colopsus, and its generic status is revalidated.