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

<p>The monotypic genus <em>Cheliceroides</em> 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 <em>Cheliceroides</em> is not closely related to <em>Colopsus</em> 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 <em>Cheliceroides</em> from the synonymy of <em>Colopsus</em>, and its generic status is revalidated.</p>