Copuetta maputa

Maputaland tree lycosiform sac spider
Conservation status
Least Concern (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Corinnidae
Genus:	Copuetta
Species:	C. maputa
Binomial name
Copuetta maputa Haddad, 2013

Copuetta maputa is a species of spider in the family Corinnidae.¹ It occurs in Mozambique and South Africa and is commonly known as the Maputaland tree lycosiform sac spider.²

The species is named after Maputaland, the coastal plain region where it occurs.²

Copuetta maputa is found in Mozambique and South Africa.¹² In South Africa, it has been recorded from several areas in KwaZulu-Natal at elevations lower than 100 m above sea level.² Throughout its range, it has only been collected along the Maputaland coastal plain at altitudes ranging from 6 to 96 m above sea level.²

The species is conserved in two protected areas, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ndumo Game Reserve.²

Copuetta maputa has been collected in various strata of forest and woodland habitats, including shrubs, tree bark, tree canopies, and leaf litter.² The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Savanna biomes and has also been collected from the walls of houses.²

Copuetta maputa is known from both sexes.² Like other members of its genus, it is a medium to large spider with a smooth carapace featuring black feathery setae forming different markings.²

Copuetta maputa is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.² The species faces no significant threats and has been recorded from several protected areas.²

The species was described by Charles R. Haddad in 2013 from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa.² It is the type species of the genus Copuetta.¹