Echinax

Haddad, Charles R., 2012, A revision of the spider genus Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 3450, pp. 33-61 : 40

Key to the Afrotropical species of Echinax

1. Females............................................................................................. 2

– Male................................................................................................ 8

2 Epigyne with large 6-shaped epigynal ridges and large copulatory openings ( Fig. 69 ); copulatory ducts long, entering ST II anteriorly ( Fig. 70 )...................................................................... E. scharffi sp. nov.

– Epigyne with curved copulatory ridges and small lateral copulatory openings; copulatory openings shorter, entering ST II posteriorly........................................................................................... 3

3 Epigynal ridges small, separated by distance greater than their width ( Fig. 52 ); copulatory ducts nearly transverse, with sharp bend medially before entering ST II.......................................................... E. clara sp. nov.

– Epigynal ridges broader, separated by distance clearly less than their width; copulatory ducts variable in structure, rarely transverse with sharp bend..............................................................................4

4 Labium and sternum without black markings................................................ .. E. hesperis sp. nov.

– Labium with spots or transverse markings along proximal margin; sternum usually without markings, but sometimes with black spots........................................................................................... 5

5 Sternum with distinct small lateral spots at each coxa; epigyne larger than congeners, clearly longer than broad ( Fig. 77 ), with gently curving copulatory ducts ( Fig. 78 ).................................................. .. E. spatulata sp. nov.

– Sternum without markings at coxae; epigyne smaller, similar in length and breadth, copulatory ducts with distinct bend along their course.......................................................................................... 6

6 Epigynal ridges meeting medially in epigyne ( Figs 41 , 64 ); copulatory ducts with distinct perpendicular bend medially, anterior and lateral sections of duct similar in length ( Fig. 65 ).................................. E. natalensis sp. nov.

– Epigynal ridges clearly separated and not meeting medially ( Figs 43 , 60 , 73 ); copulatory ducts with bend anteriorly, anterior section of duct much shorter than lateral section ( Figs 61 , 74 )................................................... 7

7 Epigynal ridges strongly curved, with large copulatory openings ( Figs 43 , 73 ); clypeus height 1½ times AME diameter; PME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter ( South Africa).............................. E. similis sp. nov.

– Epigynal ridges slightly curved, with small copulatory openings ( Fig. 60 ); clypeus height nearly 2 times AME diameter; PME separated by distance % their diameter (Tropical Africa)............................................. E. longespina

8 Palpal embolus with distal section of coil nearly straight ( Fig. 47 ).................................... E. longespina

– Palpal embolus with distal section of coil slightly to strongly curved (e.g. Figs 48–51 )...............................9

9 Sternum with distinct small lateral spots at each coxa; palpal embolus with very narrow base ( Fig. 51 ); cymbium with several flat thickened spatulate setae in distal third.................................................. E. spatulata sp. nov.

– Sternum without markings at coxae; palpal embolus with moderate to broad base; cymbium only with straight thickened spatulate setae in distal third............................................................................ 10

10 Labium without markings; basal coil of embolus very strongly oblique, approximately 75° off transverse palpal axis ( Fig. 46 ).................................................................................... .. E. hesperis sp. nov.

– Labium with proximal transverse marking or lateral spots; basal coil of embolus less oblique, between 45° and 60° off transverse palpal axis................................................................................. 11

11 Distal section of embolus strongly curved, nearly semi-circular ( Figs 45, 49 )..................................... 12

– Distal section of embolus slightly curved ( Figs 48, 50 )....................................................... 13

12 Chelicerae with black spots on anterior surface of paturon; embolus with very sharp prolateral bend; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend equal to ¼ the distance from prolateral bend to tip ( Fig. 49 ) ( Tanzania)...................................................................................................... E. scharffi sp. nov.

– Chelicerae without markings on anterior surface of paturon; embolus with gentle prolateral bend; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend approximately ½ the distance from prolateral bend to tip ( Fig. 45 ) (Central and West Africa)................................................................................. E. clara sp. nov.

13 Embolus somewhat thickened along its entire length, especially in prolateral bend of coil; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend approximately ¼ the distance from prolateral bend to tip ( Fig. 50 ); tibiae III and IV with a single rlv spine......................................................................... E. similis sp. nov.

– Embolus fine along its entire length, including prolateral bend of coil ( Fig. 48 ); longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend approximately 2⁄ 5 the distance from prolateral bend to tip ( Fig. 48 ); tibiae III and IV with two rlv spines.......................................................................................... E. natalensis sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 72. Genitalia of Echinax scharffi sp. nov.: 69. Female epigyne, ventral view. 70. Same, dorsal view. 71. Male palp, ventral view. 72. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Genitalia of Echinax clara sp. nov.: 52. Female epigyne, ventral view. 53. Same, dorsal view. 54. Male palp, ventral view. 55. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 77 – 80. Genitalia of Echinax spatulata sp. nov.: 77. Female epigyne, ventral view. 78. Same, dorsal view. 79. Male palp, ventral view. 80. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 41 – 44. Scanning electron microscope photos of Echinax natalensis sp. nov. (41, 42) and E. similis sp. nov. (43, 44) genitalia: 41, 43. Female epigyne, ventral view. 42. Male embolus, ventral view. 44. Tip of embolus, prolateral view.

FIGURES 64 – 67. Genitalia of Echinax natalensis sp. nov.: 64. Female epigyne, ventral view. 65. Same, dorsal view. 66. Male palp, ventral view. 67. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 60 – 63. Genitalia of Echinax longespina (Simon, 1909): 60. Female epigyne, ventral view. 61. Same, dorsal view. 62. Male palp, ventral view. 63. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 73 – 76. Genitalia of Echinax similis sp. nov.: 73. Female epigyne, ventral view. 74. Same, dorsal view. 75. Male palp, ventral view. 76. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 51. Digital microscope photographs of male emboli of Afrotropical Echinax species in ventral view: 45. Echinax clara sp. nov.. 46. E. hesperis sp. nov.. 47. E. longespina (Simon, 1909). 48. E. natalensis sp. nov.. 49. E. scharffi sp. nov.. 50. E. similis sp. nov.. 51. E. spatulata sp. nov.. Stipple lines indicate the points of separation between the basal and distal coils of the embolus. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.