Messapus martini Simon, 1898

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, Zootaxa 3688 (1), pp. 1-79 : 17-20

Messapus martini Simon, 1898

Figs 1, 2 , 27, 28 , 34–38

Messapus martini Simon, 1898: 214 (Ƥ Lectotype, here designated, together with 3 paralectotype, here designated, misidentified; 3 actually belongs to Copuetta maputa sp. nov.: SOUTH AFRICA: Natal, leg. C. Martin, MNHN 19680—examined); Bosselaers & Jocqué, 2000a: 307, figs 1A–H.

Diagnosis: Messapus martini can be easily recognised by the females possessing distinct horse-shoe shaped epigynal ridges, with the copulatory openings along their anterior median margins ( Fig. 34 ). In M. natalis comb. nov., the epigynal ridges are oval and the copulatory openings anterolaterally placed ( Haddad 2005: figs 1, 2). Males can be recognised by the structure of the two palpal tibial apophyses and the short sickle-shaped transverse distal embolus ( Figs 36–38 ). In M. natalis comb. nov. the embolus is shorter, thinner and hidden beneath a sclerotised conductor for most of its length ( Haddad 2005: fig. 5). Regarding size, M. martini is considerably smaller (6.85–10.48 mm) than M. natalis comb. nov. (11.7–16.25 mm).

Remarks: Examination of the female and male syntypes of M. martini and comparison of these specimens with more recently collected material indicates that they belong not only to two different species, but should also be placed in different genera and subfamilies. The female has characteristics shared with members of the Corinninae, especially regarding the broad carapace with raised eye region and bulging chelicerae, and genitalic morphology, while the male has a palp typical of the Castianeirinae .

In the very brief original description of the genus, Simon (1898) provides some general characters related to the carapace shape and eye arrangement. He ends the genus description saying “Caetera fere Castianeira ”, meaning “The rest generally as for Castianeira ”. In the footnote describing M. martini, Simon indicates a female symbol first, followed by a male symbol. The description then proceeds in two parts, the first giving characteristics of the carapace, abdomen and legs, most notably the presence of three pairs of ventral spines on each of the anterior tibiae and metatarsi. The second part of the description deals with the palpal morphology of the male. Significantly, the leg spination alluded to by Simon is consistent with the syntype female specimen (see redescription below), while the syntype male only has two pairs of ventral spines on the anterior tibiae and metatarsi. It would thus seem that the focus of the first part of his description is on the morphology of the female. The similar colouration of the female and male described as M. martini (compare Figs 27 and 56 ) lead to the use of more general descriptive characters by Simon, which could be applicable for almost all of the species of cryptic lycosiform Corinnidae . Thus, the more detailed morphological characters (particularly genitalic) needed for a proper generic diagnosis, and for recognition of which of the syntypes should maintain nomenclatural priority, are lacking. Had Simon possessed a specimen of the true male of M. martini (described below), then his opinion of the relationship of the genus to Castianeira may have been very different.

According to the description, the label accompanying the syntypes and the MNHN database, Simon did not specifically designate a holotype and allotype/ paratype specimen. This contrasts from Bosselaers and Jocqué (2000a), who specified the male as being the holotype and the female as the paratype. Since the female and male belong to unrelated taxa, the female is here designated as a lectotype to clarify the definition of the species, in line with Simon’s original description. A new genus of Castianeirinae , Copuetta gen. nov., is described below to accommodate the misplaced male paralectotype of M. martini , which is described from freshly collected conspecifics as C. maputa sp. nov. The true male of M. martini is described below for the first time, as is the true female corresponding to C. maputa sp. nov.

Bosselaers and Jocqué (2000a) transferred Messapus from the Liocranidae to the Corinnidae : Castianeirinae based on their assumption that the male syntype was the holotype. Based on the redescription of M. martini and the designation of the female as the lectotype, the genus is here transferred to the Corinnidae : Corinninae.

Female (Groenkloof, NCA 88/892). Measurements: CL 4.18, CW 3.50, AL 6.40, AW 3.65, TL 10.48 (8.28– 10.48), FL 0.65, SL 2.20, SW 2.15, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.80, PME–PME 0.22, PME– PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 1.10, PERW 1.37, MOQAW 0.69, MOQPW 0.70, MOQL 0.81.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.70 + 1.75 + 2.90 + 2.80 + 1.70 = 12.85; II 3.58 + 1.72 + 2.70 + 2.78 + 1.60 = 12.38; III 3.60 + 1.70 + 2.80 + 3.60 + 1.55 = 13.25; IV 4.40 + 1.75 + 3.60 + 4.60 + 1.70 = 16.05.

General appearance as in Figs 1 and 27 . Carapace broad, yellow-brown in cephalic region, yellow-orange medially, creamy-yellow around margins, eye region grey; faint black line from PER to fovea along midline; faint black mediolateral markings with serrated margins from PER, meeting medially at fovea; striae orange-brown with faint black mottling, radiating from fovea, directed between coxae; lateral margins without markings. AER slightly procurved, medians larger than laterals; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance slightly less than 1⁄5 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than AME diameter; PER slightly procurved, laterals very slightly larger than medians; PME separated by distance slightly larger than 4⁄5 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly larger than ¾ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.55:1. Chelicerae orange-brown; chilum single; promargin with three teeth, distal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; proximal and median teeth separated by ½ basal width of proximal tooth, median and distal teeth adjacent; retromargin with two teeth separated by basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth slightly larger, close to fang base. Endites yellow-brown, cream prolaterally distally; labium approximately 1½ times broader than long, yellow-brown, cream distally; sternum cream, pale yellow-brown around margins; intercoxal sclerites absent. Legs with yellow-orange femora, patellae and tibiae, and orange metatarsi and tarsi; all segments with dense mottling comprising black feathery setae and scattered patches of white feathery setae; femora with asetose retrolateral streaks and ventral median rows of erect setae. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3-4, II pl 2 do 3, III pl 2-3 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with row of erect setae ventrally, decreasing in length distally and from femora I to IV; patellae: III do 1, IV do 1; tibiae: I pl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, II pl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3; metatarsi: I plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, II pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3; palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2, with more than 10 erect ventral setae, longer and thicker on retrolateral side; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 2 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 1. Abdomen without dorsal scutum, two pairs of faint sigilla present; dorsum creamy-grey, darker at spinnerets; venter cream; inframamillary sclerite tiny, cream and indistinct. Female epigyne with strongly sclerotised horse-shoe shaped ridges, with anterior median copulatory openings ( Fig. 34 ); copulatory ducts short and broad, initially directed retrolaterally and posteriorly, with sharp lateral bend before entering anterior ST II; ST II subtriangular with “nipple” on anterior margin, broader laterally than medially, connected broadly to elongate median posterior ST I ( Fig. 35 ).

Male (Pretoria, NCA 97/692). Measurements: CL 4.60, CW 3.80, AL 5.60, AW 3.30, TL 10.08 (6.85– 10.08), FL 0.63, SL 2.35, SW 2.20, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.73, PME–PME 0.20, PME– PLE 0.17, PLE–PLE 1.05, PERW 1.32, MOQAW 0.68, MOQPW 0.69, MOQL 0.76.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.98 + 1.90 + 3.05 + 3.10 + 1.85 = 13.88; II 3.80 + 1.80 + 3.00 + 3.00 + 1.70 = 13.30; III 3.90 + 1.68 + 2.92 + 3.70 + 1.75 = 13.95; IV 4.60 + 1.80 + 3.60 + 4.80 + 1.70 = 16.50.

General appearance as in Figs 2 and 28 . Carapace dark orange-brown with faint black mottling in cephalic region, bright orange medially and yellow-orange posteriorly and laterally, eye region dark, nearly black; markings and striae as for female. AER slightly procurved, medians larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly larger than 2⁄5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance slightly less than 1⁄5 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than AME diameter; PER slightly procurved, laterals very slightly larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly less than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.88:1. Chelicerae dark orange-brown with black mottling; chilum single; promargin with three teeth, distal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; proximal and median teeth separated by ½ basal width of proximal tooth, median and distal teeth with shared base (bifid); retromargin with two teeth separated by basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth slightly larger, close to fang base. Endites dark yellow-brown, cream prolaterally distally; labium 1½ times broader than long, dark yellow-brown, paler distally; sternum creamyyellow, yellow-brown around margins; intercoxal sclerites absent. Colouration, markings and setae on legs as for female. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3, II pl 2 do 3, III pl 3 do 3 rl 2-3, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with row of erect setae ventrally, decreasing in length distally and from femora I to IV; patellae: III do 1, IV do 1; tibiae: I pl 1 plv 3 rlv 3, II pl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, II pl 1 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3; palp: femur pl 1 do 2, patella pl 1 do 2, tibia pl 1 plv 1; palpal femur with two rows of erect setae ventrally, rl row longer and thicker. Abdomen with yellow dorsal scutum extending to ½ abdomen length, with two pairs of faint sigilla; dorsum creamy-grey, slightly darker posteriorly; venter cream, medially with paired row of tiny yellow sclerites; inframamillary sclerite small and yellow. Male palpal femora and patellae bright yellow; tibiae yellow proximally, red medially and black at tibial apophyses; cymbium black, tegulum deep red with dark red-brown ducts; palpal tibiae with large, flat subtriangular retrolateral ventral apophysis and hook-like retrolateral apophysis with lobate proximal projection; tegulum large and oval, subtegulum projecting pro- and retrolaterally, with curved transverse embolus originating prolaterally at distal end of tegulum ( Figs 36–38 ).

Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: Groenkloof Nature Reserve [25°47'S, 28°11'E], leg. M. Filmer, 20.III.1988 (on ground among rocks), 1Ƥ (NCA 88/892); Pretoria [25°45'S, 28°10'E], leg. B. Sunkel, 3.IV.2001 (in house), 13 (NCA 2004/422); Pretoria, Agricultural Building [25°44'S, 28°12'E], leg. B. Sunkel, 20.I.1997 (in building), 13 (NCA 97/692); Pretoria, Wonderboom South [25°41'S, 28°12'E], leg. A.S. Dippenaar, 15.IV.1975 (on ground), 1Ƥ (NCA 76/1180). KwaZulu-Natal: Charter's Creek, Lake St Lucia, 28°12'S, 32°26'E, leg. J. Doyen & C. & T. Griswold, 19–21.XI.1985 (forest), 23 ( NMSA 22039); Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Campsite [28°05'S, 32°02'E], leg. A. Honiball, 30.IV.2006, 13 (NCA 2007/2930); Ingwavuma [27°07'S, 31°59'E], leg. R.F. Lawrence, VII.1951, 13 ( NMSA 5589); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell's Gate, Block A, 28.00°S, 32.48°E, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 20.X.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2010/253); same locality, Block B, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 6.XII.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2010/274); 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, Shokwe Pan, 26°52.424'S, 32°12.652'E, 43m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, V. Swart & A. Kirk-Spriggs, 2.XII.2009 (canopy fogging, Kigelia africana), 1Ƥ (NCA 2010/2748). Mpumulanga: Badplaas, 25°57'03''S, 30°34'00''E, 1100m a.s.l., leg. D. & S. Ubick, 26–29.III.2001 (at night, in litter under riparian trees), 1Ƥ ( CAS). ZAMBIA: Luangwa Valley [14°15'S, 31°05'E], leg. A.S. Dippenaar, 1.VIII.1978 (grass), 13 (NCA 2000/375).

Distribution: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumulanga Provinces in South Africa, and Zambia ( Fig. 40 ).

Biology: This species shows contrasting habits and has been collected from the soil surface, tree bark and tree canopies. The two specimens photographed live ( Figs 1, 2 ) were actively hunting on bark at night. Both sexes were collected from dense silk retreats constructed in the fissures of bark of mature large trees ( Fig. 3 ). There are several attachment lines to the substrate above the retreat as well as slits at the bottom and top ends of the retreat through which the spiders apparently enter and exit.

Figures

FIGURE 40. Distribution of Messapus martini Simon, 1898 (black circles), M. natalis (Pocock, 1898) (white circles) and Merenius secundus (Strand, 1907) (black star) in the Afrotropical Region.

FIGURES 1 – 6. General habitus photographs of Messapus martini Simon, 1898 (1 – 3) and M. natalis (Pocock, 1898) (4 – 6) from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa: 1, 4. Females. 2, 5. Males. 3, 6. Retreats. Arrows indicate anchor lines of retreats.

FIGURES 27 – 33. Digital microscope photographs of Messapus martini Simon, 1898 from South Africa (27, 28), M. natalis (Pocock, 1898) from South Africa (29, 30) and Merenius secundus (Strand, 1907) from Tanzania (31 – 33): 27, 29, 31. Female, dorsal habitus. 28, 30. Male, dorsal habitus. 32. Cephalic region of female in dorsal view. 33. Female epigyne in ventral view. Scale bars: 27 – 31 = 2.0 mm, 32 = 0.1 mm, 33 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 34 – 39. Genitalic morphology of Messapus martini Simon, 1898 (34 – 38) and Merenius secundus (Strand, 1907) (39): 34, 39. Female epigyne, ventral view. 35. Same, dorsal view. 36. Male palp, prolateral view. 37. Same, ventral view. 38. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 34 – 38 = 0.50 mm; 39 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 61. Digital microscope photographs of Copuetta kakamega sp. nov. (45), C. kwamgumi sp. nov. (46, 47), C. lacustris (Strand, 1907) (48, 49), C. lesnei sp. nov. (50), C. litipo sp. nov. (51), C. lotzi sp. nov. (52, 53), C. magna sp. nov. (54, 55), C. maputa sp. nov. (56, 57), C. naja sp. nov. (58, 59), C. uzungwa sp. nov. (60) and C. wagneri sp. nov. (61): 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59. Female habitus, dorsal view. 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 61. Male habitus, dorsal view. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.