Messapus
Creators: name: Haddad, Charles R.
name: Mbo, Zingisile
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2015
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Corinnidae
Messapus

description: Key to the species of Messapus
1 Males ............................................................................................... 2
- Females............................................................................................. 5
2 Palp with single elongate RTA; embolus very long, originating prolaterally, curving in broad arc distally and ending midway along the retrolateral margin of the tegulum; conductor very fine, weakly sclerotised, situated prolaterally (Figs 37, 38, 43, 44).................................................................................. Messapus megae sp. n.
- Palp with more than one tibial apophysis; embolus shorter; conductor absent or present.............................. 3
3 Palp bearing four RTA, dorsal-most apophysis bifid; embolus short, needle-shaped, obliquely situated beneath sclerotised conductor (see Haddad 2005: figs 4–6); large spiders,> 11.7 mm in length.................. Messapus natalis (Pocock, 1898)
- Palp bearing three RTA; embolus not hidden beneath conductor, slightly curved and flattened; medium to large spiders, <10 mm in length.........................................................................................4
4 Largest RTA triangular, originating dorsally above two smaller teeth-like ventral apophyses (Figs 39, 40, 53, 54)............................................................................................ Messapus tropicus sp. n.
- Largest RTA stout, slightly curved ventrally in retrolateral view, originating dorsally above tongue-like ventral apophysis, with small lobed apophysis between them proximally (see Haddad 2013: figs 36, 37).......... .. Messapus martini Simon, 1898
5 Epigyne with horseshoe-shaped ridges; CPPM absent......................................................... 6
- Epigyne with oval- or slit-shaped ridges; CPPM present....................................................... 7
6 Median margins of epigynal ridges running to posterior of depression (Figs 33, 45); copulatory ducts longitudinal to epigynal axis; ST II without anterior “nipple” (Fig. 46)........................................ Messapus meridionalis sp. n.
- Median margins of epigynal ridges ending near middle of depression (see Haddad 2013: fig. 34); copulatory openings obliquely oriented to epigyne axis; ST II with anterior “nipple” (see Haddad 2013: fig. 35).. .. Messapus martini Simon, 1898
7 Epigyne ventrally with strongly sclerotised ridges forming complete oval, directed anterolaterally along their axis.........8
- Epigyne ventrally with ridges forming incomplete ovals directed posterolaterally along their axis, or with curved ridges.... 9
8 Epigynal ridges touching medially; spermathecae linked by broad median U-shaped tube (see Haddad 2005: figs 1–3); large spiders,> 15 mm in length..................................................... Messapus natalis (Pocock, 1898)
- Epigynal ridges clearly separated (Fig. 41); spermathecae not connected by broad median U-shaped tube, but projecting anterolaterally (Fig. 42); small spiders, ca. 7 mm in length....................................... Messapus megae sp. n.
9 Epigyne with two widely separated oblique incomplete oval ridges, directed posterolaterally along their axis; spermathecae large, suboval, situated laterally (Figs 35, 49, 50)........................................... Messapus tigris sp. n.
- Epigyne with curved epigynal ridges, more or less parallel to body axis; spermathecae either small, round and medially situated (Fig. 48) or with large lateral extensions projecting posteriorly (Fig. 52)...................................... 10
10 Epigyne with small ridges, curved inwards, CO anteriorly in ridges; spermathecae nearly spherical, situated anteromedially (Figs 34, 47, 48).................................................................. Messapus seiugatus sp. n.
- Epigyne with large ridges, curved outwards, with CO posteriorly in ridges; spermathecae with large lateral lobes, directed posteriorly (Figs 36, 51, 52)............................................................. Messapus tropicus sp. n.
description: Published as part of Haddad, Charles R. & Mbo, Zingisile, 2015, Five new species of the Afrotropical dark sac spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae), pp. 385-398 in Zootaxa 4057 (3) on pages 389-390, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4057.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/238360