Copuetta maputa Haddad, 2013, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Haddad, Charles R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Corinnidae
Copuetta
Copuetta maputa

description: Copuetta maputa sp. nov.
Figs 12, 13, 20, 56, 57, 67, 89–91, 96, 98, 106, 141–144
Messapus martini Simon, 1898: 214; Bosselaers & Jocqué, 2000a: 307, fig. 1A–H (3 misidentified, see remarks under M. martini above).
Etymology: The species name is derived from the Maputaland ecoregion in southern Mozambique and KwaZulu- Natal Province, South Africa, to which this species is apparently endemic.
Diagnosis: Males of this species are closely related to C. comorica sp. nov. and C. wagneri sp. nov. In C. maputa sp. nov. the embolus base is quite long and upright and the embolus tip is short and directed prolaterally (Figs 20, 96, 106). In C. comorica sp. nov. the base is very short and the embolus tip is directed distally (Fig. 99), while in C. wagneri sp. nov. the embolus has an oblique base and a narrow elongate tip that is directed at the distal end of the cymbium (Fig. 109). Females have an epigyne with opposing lateral semi-circular ridges that are clearly separated (Fig. 143), while those of C. comorica sp. nov. meet along the midline of the epigyne (Fig. 112).
Male (holotype, Ndumo, NCA 2006/425). Measurements: CL 3.75, CW 2.80, AL 3.90, AW 2.43, TL 7.75 (6.15–8.90), FL 0.46, SL 1.62, SW 1.57, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.53, PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.08, PLE–PLE 0.63, PERW 0.97, MOQAW 0.59, MOQPW 0.57, MOQL 0.70.
Length of leg segments: I 3.23 + 1.40 + 2.60 + 2.73 + 1.50 = 11.46; II 3.20 + 1.35 + 2.48 + 2.60 + 1.40 = 11.03; III 3.10 + 1.35 + 2.30 + 2.90 + 1.27 = 10.92; IV 3.90 + 1.44 + 3.05 + 4.25 + 1.45 = 14.09.
General appearance as in Figs 12 and 56. Carapace bright yellow, eye region black, entire clypeus mottled black; paired black mediolateral markings from palpal coxae to posterior slope; pale along midline from between PME to posterior of carapace, with faint black mottling between mediolateral markings from PER to midpoint of carapace and with narrow mottled black marking in front of fovea; striae orange, radiating from fovea, directed between coxae, covered in dense black mottling within mediolateral markings; lateral margins with faint black fringe, with indistinct black spots between leg coxae; markings covered with black feathery setae, areas between them covered in white feathery and short straight setae. AME separated by distance slightly less than 1⁄5 their diameter; AME touching ALE; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; PME slightly larger than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ½ PLE diameter; CW: PERW = 2.89:1. Chelicerae dark brown with black mottling, yellow prolaterally distally; promargin with two teeth separated by the basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth much larger; retromargin with two teeth separated by ½ their basal width, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites dark yellowbrown with faint black mottling, white prolaterally distally; labium orange-brown, creamy-orange distally; sternum bright yellow-orange, slightly darker around borders. Legs with faint lateral mottling and faint black spots at spine bases; markings covered in black feathery setae, with yellowish feathery setae between them; femora I–IV yellow, III and IV with faint distal band; patellae I–IV yellow with lateral mottling; tibiae I–III yellow and IV yelloworange, all with very faint broad median band; metatarsi I–IV pale orange-brown with very faint proximal, median and distal bands; tarsi I–IV yellow-orange. Leg spination: femora: I pl 3 do 3 rl 1, II pl 2 do 3 rl 1, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 2; all femora with scattered erect ventral setae; patellae: I and II with fine proximal and distal do setae, III and IV with proximal seta and distal spine dorsally; tibiae: I pl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 1-2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2, with rlv 5 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 3. Abdomen with yellow anterior dorsal scutum extending to ½ abdomen length; dorsum mottled black anteriorly, laterally and posteriorly, with small white blotches and streaks laterally; dorsum pale along midline, with broadened cream patch behind scutum, with scattered small black blotches; markings covered in black feathery and short straight setae, areas between them with white feathery setae and brown scattered short straight setae; spinnerets surrounded by narrow black ring dorsally and laterally, absent ventrally; venter cream, densely covered in white feathery setae and scattered short straight setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotised, creamy-yellow; ventral sclerite absent; inframamillary sclerite yellow-orange. Male palp yellow, cymbium yellow-brown; tegulum dark orange-brown, with dark red-brown ducts; embolus with narrow base and two compressed coils, of which the distal coil is much broader than the proximal; embolus tip sharp and triangular, directed prolaterally (Figs 20, 96, 106, 141, 142).
Female (paratype, Chidenguele, NCA 2008/200). Measurements: CL 3.35, CW 2.63, AL 3.70, AW 2.20, TL 7.20 (7.20–8.75), FL 0.37, SL 1.59, SW 1.51, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.54, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.59, PERW 0.90, MOQAW 0.53, MOQPW 0.52, MOQL 0.62.
Length of leg segments: I 3.00 + 1.35 + 2.40 + 2.55 + 1.40 = 10.70; II 2.95 + 1.34 + 2.30 + 2.43 + 1.35 = 10.37; III 2.87 + 1.30 + 2.11 + 2.65 + 1.23 = 10.16; IV 3.60 + 1.42 + 2.88 + 3.95 + 1.25 = 13.10.
General appearance as in Figs 13 and 57, female more robustly built than male. Carapace creamy-yellow, markings and setae as for male, except with black mottling from PER to mediolateral markings. AME separated by distance slightly larger than 1⁄5 their diameter; AME nearly touching ALE, separated by distance less than 1⁄10 ALE diameter; clypeus height slightly larger than 4⁄5 AME diameter; PLE very slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance slightly less than 3⁄5 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly larger than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.92:1. Chelicerae dark brown with dense black mottling, yellow prolaterally distally; promargin with two teeth separated by distance equal to the basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth much larger; retromargin with two teeth separated by ½ their basal width, distal tooth slightly smaller than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites yellow-brown with faint grey mottling, white prolaterally distally; labium pale orange-brown with grey mottling, cream distally; sternum yellow, yellow-brown around borders. Legs creamy-yellow, metatarsi yellow-brown, markings and setae as for male. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 1, II pl 2 do 3 rl 1, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with scattered erect ventral setae; patellae: I and II with fine proximal and distal do setae, III and IV with proximal seta and distal spine dorsally; tibiae: I pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1-2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2, with rlv 5 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with pale yellow dorsal scutum, extending to 1⁄5 abdomen length; dorsum with black marking anteriorly, laterally and posteriorly, with several small white blotches; dorsum cream along midline with narrow chevrons, broadened in posterior half, with small black spots along midline; venter cream, densely covered in white feathery setae; epigastric scutum creamy-yellow; inframamillary sclerite orange. Epigyne with opposing semi-circular ridges, with copulatory openings situated anteriorly within depression, entering directly into ST II (Fig. 143); copulatory openings often plugged (Fig. 98); ST II oval with several lobes, connected to kidney-shaped posterior ST I by long narrow ducts; both ST with a few folds on their surface; ST I only half as broad as ST II (Fig. 144).
Type material: Holotype 3: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Crocodile Farm, 26°54.426'S, 32°19.185'E, leg. C. Haddad, 17.I.2006 (on wall of house at night) (NCA 2006/425).
Paratypes: MOZAMBIQUE: Bilene, Praia do Bilene, 25°15.649'S, 33°17.659'E, 27m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie, 20.XII.2007 (leaf litter, coastal forest), 13 (NCA 2008/209); Chidenguele, Paraiso de Chidenguele, 24°57.276'S, 34°11.860'E, 38m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie, 16.XII.2007 (night collecting, dune forest), 1Ƥ (NCA 2008/200). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso [Greater St.
Lucia] Wetlands Park, False Bay Park [27°55'S, 32°16'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 4.II.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2004/761); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate [28°00'S, 32°29'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 8.XII.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2004/785); same data, 14.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/799); same data, 19.I.2004, 33 (NCA 2004/ 812); same data, 9.II.2004, 13 (NCA 2004/804); Lake Sibaya, 27°20'S, 32°42'E, leg. B. Lamoral, I.1968, 13 (NMSA 12337); Ndumo Game Reserve, Southern shore of Hotwe Pan, 26°52.730'S, 32°18.452'E, leg. C. Haddad, 7.II.2005 (Acacia xanthophloea bark), 1Ƥ (NCA 2008/2910); same locality, Crocodile Farm, 26°54.426'S, 32°19.185'E, leg. C. Haddad, 17.I.2006 (on wall of house at night), 13 (NCA 2008/271); Sodwana Bay to Lake Sibaya, 27.41563°S, 32.70982°E, leg. P. van Niekerk, G. van Niekerk, X. Combrinck & J. Warner, 28.II.2007 (beats, undergrowth, coastal dune forest), 13 (NCA 2007/3829).
Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso [Greater St. Lucia] Wetlands Park, False Bay Park [27°55'S, 32°16'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 1.XII.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2005/196); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate [28°00'S, 32°29'E], Block A, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 26.IV.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2005/192); same data, 14.VI.2004, 1 imm. 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/332); same data, 29.XI.2004, 13 (NCA 2005/195); same data, 6.XII.2004, 13 (NCA 2005/197); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate [28°00'S, 32°29'E], Block B, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 7.VI.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 1 imm. 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/194); same data, 16.VIII.2004, 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/334); same data, 5.XII.2004, 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/336); same data, 6.XII.2004, 13 (NCA 2005/198); Natal, leg. C. Martin, misidentified 3 paralectotype of Messapus martini (MNHN 19680).
Distribution: Apparently endemic to the coastal regions and adjacent interior of southern Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa (Fig. 153).
Biology: A species primarily collected in the lower strata of forest and woodland habitats (shrubs, tree bark and leaf litter).
description: Published as part of Haddad, Charles R., 2013, Taxonomic notes on the spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Araneae, Corinnidae), with the description of the new genera Copuetta and Wasaka and the first cladistic analysis of Afrotropical Castianeirinae, pp. 1-79 in Zootaxa 3688 (1) on pages 52-55, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3688.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/284201