Xenylla xavieri is a scarce bluish species which reaches 0.8 mm in length. Records are from dry sites such as exposed moss on boulders although there are too few localities to know whether or not this is characteristic. The mucro is fused with the dens (Fig. 1) and does not bear the small lamella seen in Xenylla grisea. Another useful character is the presence of only 2+2 teeth on the tenaculum of Xenylla xavieri (Fig. 2) which I have seen in the four specimens in the NHML collection (other Xenylla have 3+3 teeth).

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Fig. 1 (above): Lateral view of the furca of Xenylla xavieri collected from Kelsey Head, Cornwall in May 1975 by Peter Lawrence. The dens and mucro are fused. The dens bears two setae (*). man, manubrium.

Fig. 2 (above): Lateral view of the furca of another specimen of Xenylla xavieri collected from Kelsey Head, Cornwall in May 1975 by Peter Lawrence. The dens and mucro are fused. The tenaculum has 2+2 teeth (*). m, manubrium.