Messapus

Haddad, Charles R. & Mbo, Zingisile, 2015, Five new species of the Afrotropical dark sac spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Corinnidae), Zootaxa 4057 (3), pp. 385-398 : 389-390

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.

Figures

FIGURES 32 – 40. Digital microscope photographs of Messapus species, cleared female epigynes in ventral view (32 – 36) and male palps in ventral (37, 39) and retrolateral views (38, 40): 32, 37, 38 M. megae sp. n.; 33 M. meridionalis sp. n.; 34 M. seiugatus sp. n.; 35 M. tigris sp. n.; 36, 39, 40 M. tropicus sp. n.. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 41 – 44. Genitalic morphology of Messapus megae sp. n.: 41 Female epigyne, ventral view; 42 Same, dorsal view; 43 Male palp, ventral view; 44 Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 51 – 54. Genitalic morphology of Messapus tropicus sp. n.: 51 Female epigyne, ventral view; 52 Same, dorsal view; 53 Male palp, ventral view; 54 Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 50. Female genitalic morphology of Messapus meridionalis sp. n. (45, 46), M. seiugatus sp. n. (47, 48) and M. tigris sp. n. (49, 50): 45, 47, 49 Epigyne, ventral view; 46, 48, 50 Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.