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

description: Copuetta magna sp. nov.
Figs 11, 54, 55, 86–88, 95, 105, 137 –140
Etymology: This species takes its name from the Latin meaning large, and relates to the large size of this species.
Diagnosis: Males can be easily recognised by the large, gently curved longitudinal embolus (Figs 95, 105). Females have a large subtriangular ridge surrounding the small epigyne, with oblique copulatory openings along the midline of the epigyne (Fig. 139).
Male (holotype, Ndumo, NCA 2009/3496). Measurements: CL 4.25, CW 3.17, AL 4.10, AW 2.75, TL 8.30 (7.15–12.40), FL 0.38, SL 1.90, SW 1.71, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.60, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.13, PLE–PLE 0.79, PERW 1.11, MOQAW 0.58, MOQPW 0.63, MOQL 0.75.
Length of leg segments: I 3.55 + 1.57 + 3.13 + 3.20 + 1.58 = 13.03; II 3.48 + 1.55 + 2.90 + 3.10 + 1.45 = 12.48; III 3.40 + 1.45 + 2.60 + 3.25 + 1.40 = 12.10; IV 3.95 + 1.40 + 3.28 + 4.40 + 1.68 = 14.71.
General appearance as in Figs 11 and 54. Carapace cream, eye region black; paired black mediolateral markings from PER to posterior slope, broken up by oblique pale line from fovea, directed at palpal coxae; pale along midline from between PME to posterior of carapace, 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 narrow black fringe, expanded palpal and 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 2⁄5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by equal to 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than 1½ AME diameter; PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance slightly larger than 4⁄5 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ½ PLE diameter; CW: PERW = 2.86:1. Chelicerae yellow-brown with black mottling proximally, prolaterally and retrolaterally on paturon; promargin with two teeth separated by the basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth much larger; retromargin with two teeth separated by distance equal to their basal width, distal tooth slightly smaller than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites pale grey, yellow-brown prolaterally, white prolaterally distally; labium pale grey, yellow-brown in proximal corners, creamy-yellow distally; sternum cream, creamy-yellow around borders. Legs cream with faint black mottling and black spots at spine bases; markings densely covered in black feathery setae, with yellowish feathery setae between them; coxae with dorsal spot, trochanters with spots on prolateral and retrolateral surfaces; femora I–IV with prolateral and retrolateral spots at proximal and distal ends dorsally, oblique prolateral and retrolateral streaks originating from proximal dorsal spine, and distal bands at distal dorsal spine, more distinct on III and IV; ventrally with many small black spots at bases of erect setae; patellae I and II with proximal prolateral and retrolateral spots, lateral mottling and narrow dorsal distal fringe; patellae III and IV with proximal prolateral and retrolateral spots, broad lateral and ventral bands, absent dorsally; tibiae I and II with faint mottled proximal, median and distal bands, III and IV with distinct broad median black band and sparse mottling proximally and distally; metatarsi I– IV with proximal, median and distal black bands, faint on metatarsi I and II and distinct on III and IV; tarsi cream, without mottling. 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 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, 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 narrow cream anterior dorsal scutum extending ¼ abdomen length; dorsum cream with black patches medially and laterally in first three quarters of abdomen, posterior quarter black; markings covered in black feathery and short straight setae, areas between them with white feathery setae and scattered short straight setae; spinnerets surrounded by narrow black ring dorsally and laterally, absent ventrally; venter cream, densely covered in white feathery setae, with faint grey patch in front of inframamillary sclerite and faint fine lateral lines; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotised, cream; ventral sclerite absent; inframamillary sclerite weakly sclerotised, covered in black spot; yellow-orange. Male palp yellow, cymbium dark yellow-brown; tegulum orange-brown, with black ducts; embolus long, gently curved and longitudinal, with narrow base (Figs 95, 105, 137, 138).
Female (paratype, Morogoro, CASENT 9033126). Measurements: CL 5.70, CW 4.10, AL 6.10, AW 3.80, TL 11.70 (9.70–12.20), FL 0.44, SL 2.46, SW 2.17, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.71, PME– PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.92, PERW 1.32, MOQAW 0.71, MOQPW 0.73, MOQL 0.95.
Length of leg segments: I 4.23 + 2.15 + 3.80 + 3.85 + 1.80 = 15.83; II 4.15 + 2.12 + 3.60 + 3.70 + 1.72 = 15.29; III 4.16 + 1.90 + 3.35 + 3.98 + 1.68 = 15.07; IV 4.70 + 2.10 + 4.25 + 5.90 + 2.95 = 19.90.
General appearance as in Fig. 55, female more robustly built than male. Carapace bright orange, with red markings covered in dense black mottling; markings and setae as for male, except black striae extending to lateral margins, directed at coxae. AME separated by distance slightly larger than 2⁄5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 1⁄10 ALE diameter; clypeus height slightly larger than 1¼ AME diameter; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance slightly less than ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 3.10:1. Chelicerae deep red-brown with black mottling, bright 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 subequal teeth separated by ½ their basal width, distal tooth close to fang base. Endites deep orange-brown, cream prolaterally distally; labium deep orange-brown, cream distally; sternum bright orange with larger brown spots between coxal pairs. Legs yellow orange, posteriors slightly darker, markings and setae as for male. 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 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 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 2 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with yellow-brown dorsal scutum, extending slightly less than 1⁄5 abdomen length; dorsum cream, mottled black laterally with small white patches of feathery setae; broad black marking medially behind scutum, extending to ½ abdomen length, posterior end black; setae as for male; venter cream, densely covered in white feathery setae, with fine grey lateral lines; epigastric scutum creamy-yellow; inframamillary sclerite yellow. Epigyne with large subtriangular ridge around margins of spermathecae; copulatory openings oblique, along midline of epigyne (Fig. 139); copulatory ducts initially directed posterolaterally, bending sharply laterally then anteriorly before entering ST II along their posterior margin; ST II oval and transverse, broader than long, with broad ducts connecting ST II to kidney-shaped posterior ST I; both ST with a few folds on their surface; ST I clearly narrower than ST II (Fig. 140).
Type material: Holotype 3: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Ezulwini Hide, Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.194'S, 32°18.553'E, leg. C. Haddad, 2.VII.2009 (under bark) (NCA 2009/3496).
Paratypes: MOZAMBIQUE: Maputo Special Reserve, NE edge of lake Xingute [26°30'S, 32°49'E], leg. R. Boycott, 30.IX.2001 (tsetse fly traps), 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/764). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso [Greater St Lucia] Wetlands Park, Charter's Creek, 28°12'S, 32°26'E, leg. J. Doyen & C. & T. Griswold, 19– 21.XI.1985 (forest), 1Ƥ (NMSA); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, False Bay Park [27°55'S, 32°16'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 15.XII.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2004/760); same data, 22.X.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/765); same data, 28.X.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/781); same data, 19.XI.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/757); same data, 19.XI.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/777); same data, 17.XII.2003, 1Ƥ (NCA 2004/756); same data, 4.II.2004, 13 (NCA 2004/762); same data, 5.II.2004, 13 (NCA 2004/774); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell's Gate [28°00'S, 32°29'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 19.I.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2004/791); same data, 11.II.2003, 23 1Ƥ (NCA 2004/811); same data, 22.IX.2003, 23 (NCA 2004/809); same data, 29.IX.2003, 1imm. 13 (NCA 2004/767); same data, 6.X.2003, 23 (NCA 2004/807); same data, 13.X.2003, 1imm 13 (NCA 2004/779); same data, 13.X.2003, 43 1Ƥ (NCA 2004/805); same data, 27.X.2003, 33 (NCA 2004/808); same data, 3.XI.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/787); same data, 10.XI.2003, 33 (NCA 2004/800); same data, 17.XI.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/793); same data, 24.XI.2003, 53 (NCA 2004/803); same data, 1.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/801); same data, 8.XII.2003, 43 (NCA 2004/770); same data, 15.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/792); same data, 22.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/763); same data, 12.I.2004, 13 (NCA 2004/773); same data, 26.I.2004, 53 (NCA 2004/810); same data, 2.II.2004, 23 2Ƥ (NCA 2004/775); same data, 9.II.2004, 1imm. 23 (NCA 2004/789); Kosi Bay [26°53'S, 32°52'E], leg. J. Esterhuizen, 17.XII.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 23 (NCA 2004/780). Mpumulanga: Hazyview, Brandwag Farm, 25°02.217'S, 31°08.133'E, 950m a.s.l., leg. K. Roos, 26.VIII.2003, 13 (NCA 2012/791); Kruger National Park, near Skukuza, 25°00.347'S, 31°35.099'E, leg. K. Harris, 29.XI.2005 (pitfall traps, heavy Opuntia infestation), 1Ƥ (NCA 2007/3123); same locality, 25°00.235'S, 31°35.049'E, leg. K. Harris, 1.VIII.2005 (pitfall traps, pristine savanna), 13 (NCA 2007/1147). TANZANIA: 15 miles W of Morogoro, 400m a.s.l., leg. E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech, 13.XI.1957, 1Ƥ (CAS, CASENT 9033126).
Additional material examined: None.
Distribution: Widespread along the eastern parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania (Fig. 153).
Biology: Most of the specimens were collected from tsetse fly traps, suggesting a preference for lowergrowing vegetation (shrubs and short trees).
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 50-52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3688.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/284201