Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001

Type species: Copa oxyopoides Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995, by original designation.

Diagnosis. Echinax resembles Copa in general body shape, heavily spined legs and the presence of cryptic lycosiform colouration, but can be recognised from other cryptic lycosiform Castianeirinae, particularly Copa, by their smaller size (<5.80 mm, almost always larger in other genera); the presence of very long leg spines distally on all patellae that are longer than the particular leg segment, and the spines on the anterior metatarsi that are longer than half the length of the particular segment (shorter than patellae and less than half metatarsi length in other genera); the AME that are 2 to 3 times ALE diameter (less than 2 times in other genera); and the carapace that is approximately 2.75–3.10 times broader than the PER (PER usually broader in other genera).

Description. Small spiders, 2.90–5.80 mm in length; carapace and abdomen cream or pale yellow with black markings; carapace surface smooth, with black feathery setae covering markings; several long curved setae on clypeus and eye region; carapace oval, broadest at coxae II, eye region narrow, fovea distinct (Figs 1–14); posterior margin very slightly concave or straight. AER procurved, AME approximately 2x ALE diameter; AME separated by approximately ½ their diameter, nearly touching ALE; PER strongly procurved, PME slightly larger than PLE; PME closer to PLE than to each other; MOQ width similar anteriorly and posteriorly, longer than wide. Chilum single, triangular, tapering distally, weakly sclerotised, with distal notch; cheliceral promargin and retromargin with two teeth each; scrappy seta absent (Figs 17, 29); curved setae on cheliceral promargin finely plumose (Fig. 17) or pectinate (Fig. 29); endites straight laterally with distinct serrula comprising sharp, ventrally curved denticles (Figs 18, 19, 30, 31), with dense maxillar hair tuft on mesal margins; labium hemispherical, wider than long. Pleural bars isolated, weakly sclerotised; sternum approximately as broad as long, shield-shaped, slightly narrowed anteriorly; surface smooth, with scattered long erect setae; precoxal triangles present, intercoxal sclerites absent. Leg formula 4123; legs strongly spined (Fig. 15), all segments except metatarsi and tarsi with feathery setae (Figs 21–23); retrocoxal window absent on coxa I; femora with two rows of erect ventral setae (Fig. 21); distal patellar spines longer than patella length (Fig. 15); patellar indentation narrow, broad at proximal end (Figs 23, 24, 32); metatarsi III longer than metatarsi I and II; metatarsi distally scopulate (Fig. 25); tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with several erect dorsal and lateral trichobothria with sunken distal plate (Figs 26, 33); tarsal organ level with integument, surrounded by fine ridges, opening oval (Fig. 27); paired tarsal claws short, situated laterally, with very dense claw tufts in between (Figs 28, 34); metatarsi III and IV without terminal preening brush or comb. Abdomen oval in females, elongate oval in males; anterior dorsal surface of abdomen with three pairs of fine elongate pedicillate setae above pedicel (Sector 1 of Agnarsson et al. 2007); dorsal scutum weakly sclerotised, extending ¼ abdomen length in females and ½ to entire abdomen length in males (Figs 1–14); two pairs of weakly sclerotised dorsal sigilla present; epigastric region weakly sclerotised, venter without post-epigastric sclerites and ventral sclerite, inframamillary sclerite present, distinct, densely covered in short setae. Spinnerets (only observed with SEM in E. natalensis sp. nov.): ALS of female (Fig. 35) with two major ampullate gland spigots, many piriform gland spigots and several small tartipores (not exposed in males); ALS of male (Fig. 38) with single major ampullate gland spigot, several piriform gland spigots and a single large nubbin; PMS of female (Fig. 36) with three large cylindrical gland spigots, two small minor ampullate gland spigots, several aciniform gland spigots and one distinctive tartipore; PMS of male (Fig. 39) with two large minor ampullate gland spigots, several large aciniform gland spigots and one tartipore; PLS of female (Fig. 37) with two large cylindrical gland spigots and several aciniform gland spigots, of male (Fig. 40) with only aciniform gland spigots distinguishable. Female epigyne with curved sclerotised epigynal hoods leading to lateral copulatory openings (Figs 41, 43), copulatory ducts curving medially and anteriorly before entering ST II posteriorly (e.g., Fig. 53) or anteriorly (Fig. 70); ST II usually oval, sometimes expanded posterolaterally, connected broadly to kidney-shaped posterior ST I. Male palpal segments without apophyses; cymbium with spines prolaterally and ventrally, two thickened bent modified setae dorsally distally (Fig. 16), and several spatulate (Fig. 16) or straight longer black setae on dorsal surface; embolus finely coiled, ending in sharp tip; width and angle of base, and length and curvature of distal coil variable (Figs 45–51).