On the synonymy of Aracus Thorell, 1887 with Zelotes Gistel, 1848 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae, Zelotinae) Author Sankaran, Pradeep M. text Zootaxa 2022 2022-03-02 5105 1 145 147 journal article 20362 10.11646/zootaxa.5105.1.7 4a956aa6-5460-4a41-9458-f33dc3cbdba0 1175-5326 6332521 02DC88BB-640B-4C13-AC24-235E6F5202F4 Zelotes Gistel, 1848 Melanophora C. L. Koch, 1833 , plate CXX. Zelotes Gistel, 1848: 11 . Prostheisima L. Koch, 1872: 139 . Scotophinus Simon, 1905: 169 . Zavattarica Caporiacco, 1941: 114 . Aracus Thorell, 1887: 35 . New synonymy Justification of the synonymy. The epigynum of A . captator looks similar to the epigynum of the subterraneus -group of Zelotes , as illustrated for Zelotes subterraneus (C. L. Koch, 1833 ) , Zelotes fratris Chamberlin, 1920 and Zelotes sula Lowrie & Gertsch, 1955 : epigynum with paired anterior comma-like margins, with L-shaped lateral margins and posterior margin with a median protrusion (compare Fig. 5 with Platnick & Shadab 1983 : figs 4, 8, 11, 16). Moreover, A . captator has small, globular spermathecae that are also similar to that of the above-mentioned species (compare Fig. 5 with Platnick & Shadab 1983 : figs 4, 8, 11, 16). Based on these observations, I propose to consider Aracus as a junior synonym of Zelotes , in contrast to Deeleman-Reinhold (2001) , who doubted Aracus as a senior synonym of Haplodrassus Chamberlin, 1922 . Females of Haplodrassus species are distinct from that of Aracus by having paired lateral epigynal arms ( Platnick & Shadab 1975 : figs 3, 7). The proposed synonymy has resulted in a new combination (see below).