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

The validity of the monotypic genus Cheliceroides is tested using both molecular sequence data (ultra-conserved elements and protein coding genes of mitochondrial genomes) and morphological evidences. Results of molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Cheliceroides falls in an independent clade from Colopsus Simon, 1902, and comparative morphological study also demonstrates significant difference in the genital structures of the two genera. Therefore, here we remove Cheliceroides from the synonymy of Colopsus, and its genus status is revalidated.