Reduced ALS
piriform gland spigots(Huber 2000, 2001)
All pholcids have at least two spigots on each ALS: one very wide spigot, and one slightly pointed spigot. In the plesiomorphic state, however, 5-6 additonal, smaller cylindrically-shaped spigots are present. These have been apparently reduced several times independently: (1) in Modisiminae except Priscula; (2) in Smeringopinae except Smeringopus + Smeringopina; (3) in Buitinga and close relatives; and (4) in Leptopholcus + Micromerys.
Male palpal
coxa with retrolateral
apophysis(Huber 2000)
The apophysis on the palpal coxa serves to lock the rotated palp at the beginning of (and during?) copulation.
(28S, total evidence: Bruvo-Madaric et al. 2005; 16S+CO1, 28S: Astrin et al. 2007; Dimitrov e al. 2013)
Molecular data strongly support Modisiminae, but the position of Priscula has not been resolved by molecular data.
