Coronarachne, Haddad & Lyle, 2024

Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2024, Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 5399 (5), pp. 451-504 : 461-462

Key to the genus Coronarachne gen. nov.

1 Males.............................................................................................. 2

− Females............................................................................................. 6

2 Palp in retrolateral view with two distinct RTAs, with the dorsal RTA with several denticles along its distal margin (e.g. Fig. 75 )................................................................................................. 3

− Palp in retrolateral view without a dorsal RTA, but several isolated denticles on the dorsal surface of the palpal tibia ( Fig. 82 )................................................................................... C. penicillus sp. nov.

3 Base of dorsal RTA close to middle of dorsal length of tibia; embolus not visible basally, fully enclosed in conductor, with tips of both structures fine and hair-like ( Figs 79, 80 )............................................ C. neethlingi sp. nov.

− Dorsal RTA originating terminally, at distal end of tibia (e.g. Fig. 75 ); embolus and conductor clearly separated, broader and not hair-like............................................................................................. 4

4 Ventral side of cymbium with cluster of distinct flattened setae at end of cymbial excavation; tegulum with distinct prolateral tegular apophysis distally; embolus somewhat S-shaped or looping, with the tip directed distally ( Figs 86 , 90 )............ 5

− Ventral side of cymbium without cluster of distinct flattened setae at end of cymbial excavation; tegulum without a prolateral apophysis; embolus forming an almost transverse broad coil, with the tip directed retrodistally ( Fig. 74 )................................................................................................... C. denticulata sp. nov.

5 Tegulum with large subtriangular apophysis prolaterally, distal end close to tip of embolus; embolus somewhat S-shaped, basal coil about ⅓ the width of tegulum ( Fig. 86 ).................................................... C. setosa sp. nov.

− Tegular apophysis smaller, subrectangular, protruding only slightly beyond distal tegular margin, distal end distant from embolus tip; conductor strongly developed, broader than embolus, with spur-like tip ( Fig. 90 ).......... C. unigena sp. nov.

6 ST I consisting of a single oval lobe; copulatory openings oblique, slit-like, close to middle of epigynal plate ( Fig. 83 )......................................................................................... C. penicillus sp. nov.

− ST I clearly bilobed, visible through integument ( Figs 76 , 88 , 92 )............................................... 7

7 ST I clearly separated from the copulatory openings and copulatory ducts, by approximately double the length of the ST I ( Fig. 88 ).................................................................................... C. setosa sp. nov.

− ST I situated close to copulatory openings and copulatory ducts, separated by less than their length ( Figs 76 , 92 ).......... 8

8 Copulatory openings small, situated close to anterior of epigyne; copulatory ducts consisting of three tight coils, leading to small oval anterior ST II ( Fig. 76 )....................................................... C. denticulata sp. nov.

− Copulatory openings hook-shaped, situated close to centre of epigyne; copulatory ducts short, leading to bilobed ST II ( Fig. 92 ).................................................................................. C. unigena sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 74–78. Coronarachne denticulata sp. nov. male (74, 75) and female (76–78). 74. Left palp, ventral view; 75. Same, retrolateral view; 76. Epigyne, ventral view; 77. Same, detail of spermathecae; 78. Epigyne, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 79–84. Coronarachne neethlingi sp. nov. male (79, 80) and C. penicillus sp. nov. male (81, 82) and female (83, 84). 79, 81. Left palp, ventral view; 80, 82. Same, retrolateral view; 83. Epigyne, ventral view; 84. Epigyne, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm

FIGURES 86–89. Coronarachne setosa sp. nov. male (86, 87) and female (88, 89). 86. Left palp, ventral view; 87. Same, retrolateral view; 88. Epigyne, ventral view; 89. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 90–93. Coronarachne unigena sp. nov. male (90, 91) and female (92, 93). 90. Left palp, ventral view; 91. Same, retrolateral view; 92. Epigyne, ventral view; 93. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.