Coptoprepes Simon

Werenkraut, Victoria & Ramírez, Martín J., 2009, A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the spider genus Coptoprepes Simon (Araneae: Anyphaenidae, Amaurobioidinae), Zootaxa 2212, pp. 1-40 : 4

Coptoprepes Simon

Coptoprepes Simon, 1884: 130 , 136 (type species by monotypy Coptoprepes flavopilosus Simon, 1884 ), 1887: E24, 1897: 93, 96, 102. Ramírez, 1995: 369; 1997: 178; 2003: 79.

Diagnosis: Coptoprepes are similar to Negayan species in having contiguous spermathecae and a notch just retrolateral to the male cymbial conductor where the median apophysis fits (see Ramírez 2003: fig. 42A, B; Fig. 16 d, but can be distinguished by the lack of long, thick RTA with sinuous tip, characteristic of Negayan species (Ramírez 2003: fig. 48F, G, Lopardo 2005: fig. 9E, F). Several Coptoprepes species are unique in having a compressed, curved RTA with the tip pointing upwards ( Fig. 10 c).

Description: Color often dark, with or without abdominal pattern. Dorsal shield of prosoma (carapace) narrowed in front, posterior eye row procurved, ocular area not projecting. Chelicerae relatively small, unmodified, slightly smaller in males, three to five teeth on promargin, a series of small teeth (four to seven) on retromargin. Anterior legs with few spines, most often lacking prolateral spines on tibia II. Male palpal tibia short, RTA variable, even absent. Cymbium large, with retrolateral apical notch contiguous to cymbial conductor, where median apophysis fits. Tegulum displaced basally in ventral view, median apophysis apical, often large, sometimes bifid. Primary conductor with long canal. Secondary conductor of variable shape, separate or fused to anterior dorsal margin of tegulum. Paramedian apophysis with shallow cusps or absent. Embolus long, basal process flattened. Epigyne flattened, copulatory openings in or very close to epigastric fold. Copulatory ducts long in species with long embolus, with tortuous course, on occasion slightly coiled on oblique axes; fertilization ducts generally well separated from posterior epigynal margin. Spermathecae contiguous to each other.

Distribution: Southern forests of Chile and Argentina, from the relict forests in central Chile, Elqui province in the North, to humid forests in Tierra del Fuego.

Natural history: So far, all Coptoprepes species were collected on leaf litter, or in silken cells under logs (Ramírez 2003). They are usually collected in pitfall or flight interception traps.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Coptoprepes bellavista new species. a – f male, g – h female paratype (a left palp, male holotype, prolateral view, b same, ventral view, c same, retrolateral view; d copulatory bulb, preparation MJR- 01329, prolateral view, e same, apical view, f same, retrolateral view; g epigyne, ventral view; h vulva).

FIGURE 16. Coptoprepes contulmo new species. a left palp, male holotype, prolateral view, b same, ventral view, c same, retrolateral view; d copulatory bulb, preparation MJR- 01334, prolateral view, e same, apical view, f same, retrolateral view.