Afroneutria

Polotow, Daniele & Jocqué, Rudy, 2016, Description of a new species of the Afrotropical spider genus Afroneutria (Araneae, Ctenidae), Zootaxa 4205 (4), pp. 395-400 : 396

Key to Afroneutria species

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

- Females.............................................................................................7

2. RTA directed forward and reaching cymbium ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 5A)...................................3

- RTA not reaching cymbium, either short or directed sideward ( Fig. 9 )............................................4

3. Embolus tip with anterior prong thin and much longer than posterior one; insertion of RTA near distal margin of tibia ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 5A); tibia with two long pro- and retrolateral spines........................... A. immortalis (Arts)

- Embolus tip with short and broad prongs; insertion of RTA somewhat behind anterior margin of tibia ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 11A); tibia with one long lateral spine........................................... A. hybrida Polotow & Jocqué

4. MA straight; embolus not bifid but with posterior indentation near tip ( Fig. 9 )....................... A. tanga new species

- MA sinuous; embolus bifid at tip ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 7A).............................................5

5. Posterior prong of embolus tip thin, curved and clearly longer than anterior prong; RTA small and narrow ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 7A); venter of the opisthosoma without black area ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 6B)..... A. erythrochelis (Simon)

- Anterior prong of embolus tip the longest or both prongs of the same size; RTA large and broad ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 3A, 9A); venter of the opisthosoma with dark area ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 2B, 8B)............................6

6. Prongs of embolus tip of the same length; RTA with sharp superior and inferior tips ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 3A); venter of the opisthosoma with small black area not surpassing the middle, with two spots ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 2B).................................................................................... A. velox (Blackwall)

- Anterior prong of embolus tip clearly longer than posterior one; RTA with sinuous, serrated distal margin ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 9A); venter of the opisthosoma with large black area surpassing the middle, with four spots ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 8B)........................................................... A. quadrimaculata Polotow & Jocqué

7. Lateral projections sharp and strongly converging in an angle of 45° to the longitudinal axis; median sector fairly narrow, smoothly rounded towards narrow base ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 5D); venter of the opisthosoma entirely black ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 4D)................................................................. A.immortalis (Arts)

- Lateral projections blunt and less strongly converging (± 30°) to the longitudinal axis; median sector different from the described above ( Fig. 10 ; Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 3D, 7C, 9D).............................................8

8. Median sector broad (L/W in the middle = 1.8); copulatory ducts ending in a close spire ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 7C–D); venter pale with a few darker spots ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 6D)............................... A. erythrochelis

- Median sector narrower (L/W in the middle> 2.5); copulatory ducts not ending in close spire ( Figs 10–11 ; Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 3D–E; 9D–E); venter with black area ( Fig. 4 ; Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 2D, 8D)........................9

9. Median sector with strongly tapered anterior and rectangular posterior parts; copulatory ducts without forward running stretch ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 3D–E); black area of abdominal venter not extended beyond the middle ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 2D).................................................................................. A. velox

- Median sector differently shaped; copulatory ducts with distal part running forward before connecting to the spermathecae ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 9D–E); ventral dark area of the opisthosoma venter extended beyond the middle ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 8D).................................................................................10

10. Median sector narrow (L/W in the middle ± 3.5); copulatory ducts running forward and towards the middle before connection to the spermathecae, which are less than half their diameter apart ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: figs 9D–E); ventral black area of the opisthosoma extended beyond the middle ( Polotow & Jocqué 2015: fig. 8D)...... A. quadrimaculata Polotow & Jocqué

- Median sector wider (L/W in the middle ± 2.6); copulatory ducts running forward but not towards the middle before connection to the spermathecae, which are their diameter apart ( Figs 10–11 ); venter of the opisthosoma with black area anterior to the epigastric furrow ( Fig. 4 )............................................................... A. tanga new species

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 11. Afroneutria tanga new species. 9, male palp, ventral view; 10, epigynum, ventral view; 11, epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 1 – 8. Afroneutria tanga new species. 1 – 2, habitus, dorsal view; 1, male; 2, female. 3 – 4, opisthosoma, ventral view; 3, male; 4, female. 5 – 6 male palp; 5, ventral view; 6, retrolateral view. 7 – 8, epigynum; 7, ventral view; 8, dorsal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.