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

description: Key to the species of the genus Copuetta gen. nov.
1 Males (3 of C. kakamega sp. nov. and C. litipo sp. nov. unknown).............................................. 2
– Females (Ƥ of C. lesnei sp. nov., C. uzungwa sp. nov. and C. wagneri sp. nov. unknown)........................... 12
2 Embolus with very broad base and nearly transverse fine curved distal section, tip slightly curved and directed prolaterally (Fig. 104)................................................................................ C. lotzi sp. nov.
– Embolus with a narrow base, forming at least one complete coil................................................. 3
3 Embolus forming a distinctly compressed coil with one or more spirals (e.g. Figs 99–103)............................ 4
– Embolus not forming a spiraling compressed coil, somewhat elongate, with retrolaterally directed tip (Figs 105, 107, 108)...10
4 Embolus short, nearly straight, directed at distal end of cymbium, with three complete coils (Figs 92, 100)...................................................................................................... C. erecta sp. nov.
– Embolus otherwise, with general orientation of coils and embolus tip oblique, with one or two complete coils............. 5
5 Embolus with length of tip approximately equal to the width of the distal coil (Figs 106, 109)......................... 6
– Embolus with length of tip less than half the width of distal coil................................................. 7
6 Base of embolus on prolateral side slightly narrowed, continuous with tegulum; embolus tip directed 45° prolaterally (Fig. 106).................................................................................. C. maputa sp. nov.
– Base of embolus on prolateral side strongly narrowed, appearing notched; embolus tip directed to distal end of cymbium (Fig. 109)................................................................................. C. wagneri sp. nov.
7 Tibiae III with a single ventral terminal spine................................................................ 8
– Tibiae III without a ventral terminal spine.................................................................. 9
8 Embolus with sharp triangular tip directed at distal end of cymbium (Fig. 103); palpal tegulum with distinct concavity along retrolateral margin, just beyond midpoint between base and tip (Fig. 128); femora IV with single retrolateral spine on dorsal surface................................................................................. C. lesnei sp. nov.
– Embolus with blunt tip directed retrolaterally distally (Figs 93, 102); palpal tegulum without distinct concavity, straight along retrolateral margin beyond midpoint (Fig. 124); femora IV with two retrolateral spines on dorsal surface................................................................................................. C. lacustris (Strand, 1916)
9 Palpal tegulum tapering gradually to distal embolus (Fig. 99); embolus with short, relatively broad base, two compressed coils and triangular tip directed distally (Fig. 99) (Comoros)........................................ C. comorica sp. nov.
– Palpal tegulum with slight bump retrolaterally near embolus base (Fig. 101); embolus base narrow and stalk-like; embolus tiny, with single compressed coil, tip directed retrolaterally distally (Fig. 101) (Tanzania)............ C. kwamgumi sp. nov.
10 Embolus long, base directed at distal end of cymbium, narrowly coiled around longitudinal axis with gentle prolateral bend (Figs 95, 105); tibiae I without pair of prolateral spines on their dorsal surface....................... C. magna sp. nov.
– Embolus short, base directed prolaterally distally, with sharp retrolateral bend (Figs 107, 108); tibiae I with pair of prolateral spines on their dorsal surface........................................................................... 11
11 Metatarsi II with single retrolateral spine on their dorsal surface; embolus with narrow base, broadening distally, with very short distally directed retrolateral tip (Figs 108, 149 .......................................... C. uzungwa sp. nov.
– Metatarsi II without retrolateral spine on their dorsal surface; embolus with narrow base, tapering distally, with fine tip directed retrolaterally (Figs 107, 145).......................................................... C. naja sp. nov.
12 Epigyne with large peripheral subtriangular ridge, small spermathecae and oblique adjacent median copulatory openings (Fig. 139).................................................................................. C. magna sp. nov.
– Epigyne lacking large peripheral ridge surrounding entire epigyne; spermathecae large; copulatory openings clearly separated and not situated medially............................................................................... 13
13 Epigyne with distinct large sclerotised ridges forming depression including copulatory openings (e.g. Figs 97, 98, 116).... 14
– Epigyne without distinct ridges and depression; copulatory openings small, sometimes surrounded by sclerotised rim (Figs 122, 130, 135, 147)................................................................................... 18
14 Entire epigynal ridge situated within the margins of the spermathecae (Figs 118, 126).............................. 15
– Part of epigynal ridges extending beyond margins of spermathecae (Figs 112, 143), otherwise epigynal ridges posteriorly situated and not passing over spermathecae (Fig. 116)........................................................... 16
15 Epigynal ridges large and round; ST II large and round; ST I with many folds (Fig. 118)............. C. kakamega sp. nov.
– Epigynal ridges comma-shaped; ST II oval, obliquely orientated; ST I without folds (Fig. 126).... C. lacustris (Strand, 1916)
16 Epigyne with weakly sclerotised semi-circular ridges, curving laterally and posteriorly, not passing over spermathecae; copulatory openings within small coiled ridges (Fig. 116)............................................. C. erecta sp. nov.
– Epigyne with strongly sclerotised semi-circular ridges, curving over posterior half of ST II; copulatory openings round, just behind anterior margin of epigynal ridges (Figs 98, 143)..................................................... 17
17 Epigyne with semicircular ridges, meeting medially; ST I and ST II equal in size and width (Fig. 112)....................................................................................................... C. comorica sp. nov.
– Epigyne with oval ridges, lateral and anterior margins at nearly right angle; ST II much larger and broader than ST I (Figs 98, 143)................................................................................. C. maputa sp. nov.
18 Epigyne with strongly recurved copulatory openings directed anteriorly, not surrounded by a sclerotised rim; ST II clearly broader than ST I (Fig. 135) (South Africa)..................................................... C. lotzi sp. nov.
– Epigyne with round, oval or comma-shaped copulatory openings situated within a sclerotised rim; ST I and ST II equal in width (Figs 122, 130, 147) (Tanzania).................................................................... 19
19 Epigyne with large oval sclerotised rim laterally in posterior half of epigyne, enclosing transverse oval copulatory openings (Fig. 130)............................................................................... C. litipo sp. nov.
– Epigyne with small comma-shaped sclerotised rim laterally at midpoint or in anterior half of epigyne, enclosing round or comma-shaped copulatory openings (Figs 122, 147)......................................................... 20
20 Epigyne with large indistinct semi-circular ridges at midpoint of epigyne, surrounding large inverted comma-shaped sclerotised rims in anterior half of epigyne; copulatory openings inverted comma-shaped (Fig. 147)............. C. naja sp. nov.
– Epigyne without indistinct semi-circular ridges; sclerotised rims small, shaped like transverse commas, at midpoint of epigyne; copulatory openings small and round (Fig. 122)............................................. C. kwamgumi sp. nov.
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 24-27, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3688.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/284201