Pholcidae C. L. Koch, 1850

Family |   ACCEPTED

N.B.: for comments on the monophyly and relationships of many genera see Huber, 1998d and Huber, 2000; the division of Pholcidae into five subfamilies, Ninetinae Simon, 1890, Arteminae Simon, 1893, Modisiminae Simon, 1893, Smeringopinae Simon, 1893 and Pholcinae, is confirmed by Huber, Eberle & Dimitrov, 2018; two additional subfamilies are described by Meng et al., 2026: 99, 113 (Caipirinae Meng, Carvalho, Podsiadlowski & Huber, 2026 and Physocyclinae Meng, Carvalho, Podsiadlowski & Huber, 2026).

In synonymy:

Decetia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898 = Physocyclus Simon, 1893 (Simon, 1903a: 988)

Decetica Strand, 1929 = Physocyclus Simon, 1893 (Bonnet, 1958: 3650)

Gen. Physocyclus Simon, 1893 urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidergen:00413
type Pholcus globosus Taczanowski, 1874; gender masculine
N.B.: considered a senior synonym of Decetia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898a: 234 [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidergen:06251] (type D. incisa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874)) by Simon, 1903a: 988; Decetia is preoccupied in Lepidoptera by Walker, 1860, replaced by Strand, 1929: 18 [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidergen:06252] and considered a senior synonym of Physocyclus by Bonnet, 1958: 3650; not a senior synonym of Priscula Simon, 1893 (Huber, 1997c: 595, contra Brignoli, 1981c: 96.

Transferred to other genera:

Physocyclus binghamae (Chamberlin, 1916) -- see Priscula

Physocyclus conwayi (Mello-Leitão, 1947) -- see Priscula

Physocyclus difficilis Mello-Leitão, 1918 -- see Mesabolivar

Physocyclus gularis (Simon, 1893) -- see Priscula

Physocyclus macrostylus Mello-Leitão, 1941 -- see Gertschiola

Physocyclus simoni Berland, 1911 -- see Psilochorus

Physocyclus venezuelanus (Simon, 1893) -- see Priscula

In synonymy:

Physocyclus boconoensis González-Sponga, 2007 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2009a: 66)

Physocyclus borburatensis González-Sponga, 2007 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2009a: 66)

Physocyclus cariacoensis González-Sponga, 2007 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2009a: 66)

Physocyclus claviger (Simon, 1878, T from Pholcus) = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2011b: 126)

Physocyclus dubius Mello-Leitão, 1922 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2000: 149)

Physocyclus guatirensis González-Sponga, 2007 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2009a: 66)

Physocyclus incisus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898, T from Decetia) = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Simon, 1903a: 988)

Physocyclus juruensis (Mello-Leitão, 1922, T from Pholcophora) = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Silva-Moreira et al., 2010: 45)

Physocyclus monaguensis González-Sponga, 2007 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber, 2009a: 66)

Physocyclus muricola Badcock, 1932 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Mello-Leitão, 1946a: 72)

Physocyclus neomexicanus Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929 = Physocyclus enaulus Crosby, 1926 (Gertsch, 1935a: 11)

Physocyclus orientalis Zhu & Song, 1999 = Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) (Huber & Zhu, 2001: 152)

Nomen dubium:

Physocyclus rotundus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898a: 263, pl. 39, f. 3-3c (f, Guatemala) -- Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 76

Physocyclus bicornis Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003776
Physocyclus bicornis Gertsch, 1971: 64, f. 66-69 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus bicornis Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 12, f. 1-7 (mf)
Physocyclus bicornis Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 16-17 (mf)
Physocyclus brevicornus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043386
Physocyclus brevicornus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 54, f. 133-139 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus californicus Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929 | | USA, Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003777
Physocyclus californicus Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929: 102, pl. 1, f. 3-4, 6, 11 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus californicus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 14, f. 8-14 (mf)
Physocyclus cornutus Banks, 1898 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003778
Physocyclus cornutus Banks, 1898b: 212, pl. 13, f. 41 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus cornutus Chamberlin, 1921b: 247, pl. 10, f. 5 (f)
Physocyclus cornutus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 16, f. 15-21 (mf)
Physocyclus cornutus Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 2-3 (f)
Physocyclus darwini Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043392
Physocyclus darwini Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 67, f. 176-182 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus dugesi Simon, 1893 | | Mexico to Venezuela urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003779
Physocyclus dugesi Simon, 1893e: 320 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus dugesi F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902a: 369, pl. 35, f. 1-2 (mf)
Physocyclus dugesi Banks, 1913: 181, pl. 12, f. 25 (m)
Physocyclus dugesi Huber, 1997c: 595, f. 15A-C, 16A-B (m)
Physocyclus dugesi Huber, 1998b: 1596, f. 112-115 (mf)
Physocyclus dugesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 18, f. 22-28 (mf)
Physocyclus dugesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 5-7 (m)
Physocyclus enaulus Crosby, 1926 | | USA, Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003780
Physocyclus enaulus Crosby, 1926: 1, pl. 1, f. 1-2 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus neomexicanus Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929: 102, pl. 1, f. 8, 13-15 (Dm) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:039855]
Physocyclus enaulus Gertsch, 1935a: 11 (S of Physocyclus neomexicanus)
Physocyclus enaulus Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940: 320 (S of Physocyclus neomexicanus confirmed)
Physocyclus enaulus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 21, f. 29-41 (mf)
Physocyclus franckei Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043384
Physocyclus franckei Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 50, f. 119-125 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus gertschi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043387
Physocyclus gertschi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 58, f. 140-146 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) | | North America. Introduced to St. Helena, Africa, Czechia, Iran, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Pacific Is., Galapagos urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003781 TYPE SPECIES
Pholcus globosus Taczanowski, 1874: 105 (Df) Original description
Pholcus gibbosus Keyserling, 1877c: 208, pl. 7, f. 2 (Df)
Pholcus claviger Simon, 1878g: 483 (Dm) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003686]
Physocyclus globosus Simon, 1893a: 470
Pholcus gibbosus Workman, 1896: 72, pl. 72 (f)
Decetia incisa O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1898a: 234, pl. 29, f. 1 (Df) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:064228]
Physocyclus globosus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902a: 368, pl. 34, f. 22-23 (f, Dm)
Physocyclus rotundus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902a: 369, pl. 35, f. 3-3a (f; misidentified per Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 76)
Physocyclus globosus Simon, 1903a: 988 (S of Decetia incisa)
Physocyclus globosus Chamberlin, 1921b: 247, pl. 10, f. 4 (f)
Physocyclus dubius Mello-Leitão, 1922a: 210, f. 2 (Df) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:053953]
Pholcophora juruensis Mello-Leitão, 1922a: 210, f. 3-4 (Dm) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003662]
Decetica incisa Strand, 1929: 18 (generic replacement name)
Physocyclus globosus Petrunkevitch, 1929b: 141, f. 132-135 (mf)
Physocyclus muricola Badcock, 1932: 7, f. 2 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003775]
Physocyclus globosus Nakatsudi, 1943a: 152, f. 4a-e (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Mello-Leitão, 1946a: 71 (S of Physocyclus muricola)
Physocyclus globosus Mello-Leitão, 1946b: 33 (S of Physocyclus muricola confirmed)
Physocyclus globosus Brignoli, 1981c: 94, f. 14-18, 21-24 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Yaginuma, 1986a: 31, f. 17.8 (m)
Artema atlanta Feng, 1990: 45, f. 20.1-7 (mf; misidentified per Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 63)
Physocyclus globosus Huber & Eberhard, 1997: 905, f. 1-3, 5-9 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Huber, 1998b: 1596, f. 116-119 (mf)
Physocyclus orientalis Zhu & Song in Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999: 63, f. 26A-H (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003789]
Physocyclus globosus Huber, 2000: 149, f. 36, 49, 139, 169 (S of Physocyclus dubius)
Physocyclus globosus Huber & Zhu, 2001: 152 (S of Physocyclus orientalis)
Physocyclus globosus Saaristo, 2001b: 17, f. 23-34 (mf)
Physocyclus boconoensis González-Sponga, 2007: 56, pl. 1, f. 1-9 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043585]
Physocyclus borburatensis González-Sponga, 2007: 58, pl. 2, f. 1-9 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043586]
Physocyclus cariacoensis González-Sponga, 2007: 60, pl. 3, f. 1-9 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043587]
Physocyclus guatirensis González-Sponga, 2007: 62, pl. 4, f. 1-10 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043588]
Physocyclus monaguensis González-Sponga, 2007: 64, pl. 5, f. 1-9 (Dmf) [urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043589]
Physocyclus globosus Beatty, Berry & Huber, 2008: 19, f. 12-14, 44-45 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Irie, 2009: 111, f. 36-38 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Huber, 2009a: 66 (S of Physocyclus boconoensis, P. borburatensis, P. cariacoensis, P. guatirensis and P. monaguensis)
Physocyclus globosus Silva-Moreira et al., 2010: 46 (S of Pholcus juruensis)
Physocyclus globosus Saaristo, 2010: 166, f. 25.46-53 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 25, f. 42-48 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Huber, 2011b: 126 (S of Pholcus claviger)
Physocyclus globosus Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 14-15 (m)
Physocyclus globosus Gómez-Rodríguez et al., 2014: 69, f. 1D (m)
Physocyclus globosus Baert et al., 2023: 22, f. 73A-B (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Alcántar-Valenzuela et al., 2024: 12, f. 16-21 (mf)
Physocyclus globosus Sherwood et al., 2025b: 60, f. 1O (f)
Physocyclus guanacaste Huber, 1998 | | Costa Rica, Honduras urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003782
Physocyclus guanacaste Huber, 1998b: 1591, f. 58-63 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus guanacaste Huber, 2000: 19, f. 37 (m)
Physocyclus guanacaste Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 28, f. 49-55 (mf)
Physocyclus hoogstraali Gertsch & Davis, 1942 | | USA, Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003783
Physocyclus hoogstraali Gertsch & Davis, 1942: 7, f. 45 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus hoogstraali Gertsch, 1971: 62, f. 64-65 (Dm)
Physocyclus hoogstraali Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 30, f. 56-62 (mf)
Physocyclus huacana Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043388
Physocyclus huacana Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 58, f. 147-153 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus lautus Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003784
Physocyclus lautus Gertsch, 1971: 66, f. 61 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus lautus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 32, f. 63-69 (f, Dm)
Physocyclus lautus Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 18-19 (m)
Physocyclus lyncis Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:053951
Physocyclus lyncis Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022: 198, f. 58-63 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus mariachi Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:053949
Physocyclus mariachi Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022: 185, f. 14-37 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus marialuisae Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043390
Physocyclus marialuisae Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 64, f. 161-167 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus merus Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003785
Physocyclus merus Gertsch, 1971: 64, f. 39-42 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus merus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 34, f. 70-76 (mf)
Physocyclus mexicanus Banks, 1898 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003786
Physocyclus mexicanus Banks, 1898b: 213, pl. 13, f. 40 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus michoacanus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043385
Physocyclus michoacanus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 52, f. 126-132 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus michoacanus Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 4 (f)
Physocyclus modestus Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003787
Physocyclus modestus Gertsch, 1971: 65, f. 47-49 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus modestus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 37, f. 77-83 (mf)
Physocyclus modestus Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 11-12 (f)
Physocyclus montanoi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043389
Physocyclus montanoi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 61, f. 154-160 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus mysticus Chamberlin, 1924 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003788
Physocyclus mysticus Chamberlin, 1924b: 632, f. 70-71 (Dm) Original description
Physocyclus mysticus Huber, 2000: 150, f. 570-580 (m, Df)
Physocyclus mysticus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 39, f. 84-90 (mf)
Physocyclus palmarus Jiménez & Palacios-Cardiel, 2013 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:046305
Physocyclus palmarus Jiménez & Palacios-Cardiel, 2013: 96, f. 3-13 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus paredesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043396
Physocyclus paredesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 76, f. 204-207 (Dm) Original description
Physocyclus paredesi Valdez-Mondragón, 2014: 208, f. 18-33 (m, Df)
Physocyclus pedregosus Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003790
Physocyclus pedregosus Gertsch, 1971: 64, f. 43-46 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus pedregosus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 41, f. 91-97 (mf)
Physocyclus peribanensis Valdez-Mondragón, 2014 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:047202
Physocyclus peribanensis Valdez-Mondragón, 2014: 205, f. 1-17 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus platnicki Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043395
Physocyclus platnicki Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 74, f. 197-203 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus pocamadre Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:053952
Physocyclus pocamadre Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022: 201, f. 64-69 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus reddelli Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003791
Physocyclus reddelli Gertsch, 1971: 62, f. 34-38 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus reddelli Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 41, f. 98-104 (mf)
Physocyclus rothi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043393
Physocyclus rothi Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 70, f. 183-189 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus sarae Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043394
Physocyclus sarae Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 72, f. 190-196 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus sarae Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 20-21 (f)
Physocyclus sikuapu Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:053950
Physocyclus sikuapu Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2022: 192, f. 38-57 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus sprousei Valdez-Mondragón, 2010 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:043391
Physocyclus sprousei Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 64, f. 168-175 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus sprousei Valdez-Mondragón, 2013b: 186, f. 8 (m)
Physocyclus tanneri Chamberlin, 1921 | | USA, Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003793
Physocyclus tanneri Chamberlin, 1921b: 245, pl. 10, f. 1-3 (Df) Original description
Physocyclus tanneri Chamberlin & Gertsch, 1929: 102, pl. 1, f. 5, 7, 9, 12 (Dm)
Physocyclus tanneri Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 45, f. 105-111 (mf)
Physocyclus validus Gertsch, 1971 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003794
Physocyclus validus Gertsch, 1971: 65, f. 50-52 (Dmf) Original description
Physocyclus validus Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 47, f. 112-118 (mf)
Physocyclus viridis Mello-Leitão, 1940 | | Brazil urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:003795
Physocyclus viridis Mello-Leitão, 1940h: 21 (Dm) Original description
Physocyclus viridis Huber, 2000: 149 (misplaced in this genus)
Physocyclus viridis Valdez-Mondragón, 2010b: 77 (incertae sedis, misplaced in this genus)
Physocyclus xerophilus Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2020 | | Mexico urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spidersp:052264
Physocyclus xerophilus Nolasco & Valdez-Mondragón, 2020: 3, f. 1-16 (Dmf) Original description

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