Anomalosa kochi (Simon, 1898)

Figs 1–12

Anomalomma kochi Simon 1898b: 23 . Rainbow 1911: 265; Roewer 1955: 310; Bonnet 1955: 329. Anomalosa kochi (Simon) . Roewer 1960: 974, 977; 1961: 11; McKay 1973: 378; Lehtinen & Hippa 1979: 7 –8, figs 2, 8, 17, 28, 46; McKay 1985: 73; Platnick 1993: 476; 1998: 546.

Type material: Lectotype (designated by Lehtinen & Hippa 1979): male, Cooktown [15°28’S, 145°15’E, Queensland, Australia], St. 95, E. Simon (MHNP A14434). Paralectotypes: 5 females, same data as lectotype (MHNP A14434).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 female, Behana Creek, Gordonvale, 17°11’S, 145°50’E (QM S68951); 2 males, 4 females, 8 juv., Bellenden Ker Range, Cableway Base Station, 17°16’S, 145°54’E (QM S68957­61, S68965); 21 males, 8 female, 1 juv., Boggomoss, Taroom District, 25°27’S, 150°08’E (QM S36259, S36273, S36416, S36727, S36749, S36893, S49349); 10 males, 1 female, Boggomoss No. 12, Nathan Gorge, Taroom District, 25°27’S, 150°08’E (QM S68926, S36936, S68939); 2 females, Boggomoss No. 12/1, Nathan Gorge, Taroom District, 25°27’S, 150°08’E (QM S68924 ­5); 1 female, Boggomoss No. 31, Price Creek, Taroom District, 25°26’S, 150°01’E (QM S36996); 1 male, 1 female, Burnett River, Gayndah, 25°37’S, 151°36’E (QM S49934, S51299); 1 male, 5 females, Cooktown, 15°28’S, 145°15’E (NTMAG AR14434); 1 female, Cooloola, 25°58’S, 153°10’E (QM S68962); 1 female, Davies Creek, 17°13’S, 145°55’E (QM S61231); 11 males, Dawson River, Nathan Gorge, 25°27’08”S, 150°08’12”E (QM S36435; S37020; S37025, S37043); 1 female, Doondi Station, 50km SW St George, 28°15’S, 150°38’E (QM S68964); 1 female, Goldsborough Valley State Forest, 17°07’S, 145°35’E (AM KS44800); 9 males, 1 female, Laidley Creek, 27°31’S, 152°25’E (QM S61248; S61256); 2 females, Little Cooper Creek, near Cape Tribulation, 16°05’S, 145°29’E (AM KS45500); 6 males, 9 females, 3 females with eggsac, 2 juv. Mingo Crossing, Burnett River, 25°24’S, 151°47’E (QM S37377, S68921 ­2, S68923, S68927 ­34, S68947­8, S68950); 1 female, Moggill Creek, near Brisbane River, 27°34’S, 152°53’E (QM S68963); 1 male, Mt Elliott National Park, Cockatoo Creek, 19°30’S, 146°55’E (AM KS44972); 7 males, 1 female, Nathan Gorge, Taroom District, 25°27’S, 150°08’E (QM S36610, S36714, S36733, S36932); 1 female, Palmerston National Park, just W of, 17°37’S, 145°46’E (QM S14131); 1 female, Percy Isles, 21°40’S, 150°18’E (QM S68938); 1 male, Russell River, Bellenden Ker Landing, 17°16’S, 145°57’E (QM S68968); 1 female, Tambo and Springsure, between, 24°53’S, 146°15’E (QM S61255); 1 male, Teviot Brook, 50m from junction Queen Mary Flats and The Head turnoff, 27°51’S, 152°57’E (QM S51764); 3 males, 2 females, The Gap, Fish Creek, Settlement Road, 28°27’S, 153°01’E (QM S68952 ­6); 1 female, Wyandotte Creek, via Mt Garnet, 18°29’S, 144°55’E (QM S68966 ­7).

Diagnosis. Males of A. kochi differ from A. oz sp. nov. in the smaller size of the prolateral tegular lobe and the much smaller tegular apophysis of the pedipalp. Females differ in the epigyne as the spermducts are visible through the integument in A. kochi, but not in A. oz sp. nov. Overall, A. oz sp. nov. is a lighter, brownish species in comparison to A. oz sp. nov., of which the basic colour is black (Figs 1–2 vs Figs 13–14).

Description. Male (from Nathan Gorge, Queensland; QM S36714):

Prosoma, dorsal shield. Dorsal profile straight in lateral view (Fig. 4); brown, centrally somewhat lighter; very indistinct dark radial pattern (Fig. 1); brown setae except around and posterior of eyes; few macrosetae around eyes; one long macroseta below AME.

Eyes (Fig. 5). Row of AE procurved and shorter than row of PME.

Sternum. Orange­brown; dark brown setae which are longer towards margins.

Labium. Brown; front end truncated and white.

Chelicerae. Dark reddish­brown; covered with dark brown setae that are longer medially; three promarginal teeth, the median largest; three retromarginal teeth with the apical largest and the basal smallest.

Pedipalps (Figs 4, 7–9). Prolateral tegular lobe very large, median apophysis heavily reduced, membranous (Fig. 7); tegular apophysis with three lateral tips, embolus long and slender, tip curled (Fig. 9).

Opisthosoma. Dark olive­brown; light median longitudinal band with a cover of white setae; otherwise brown setae (Fig. 1). Venter olive­grey; covered with silver­grey setae. Spinnerets olive­brown.

Legs. Leg formula VI>III>I>II; coxae light yellow­brown, femora brown, femora II–IV with a basal yellow­brown and a central, less distinct annulation; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi brown. Spination of leg I: femur: 2 dorsal; patella: 1 apicodorsal; tibia: 2 dorsal, 2 ventral pairs; 1 prolateral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs.

Female (from Boggomoss, Queensland; QM S36727):

Prosoma, eyes, and labium. As male (Fig. 2).

Sternum. Orange­brown. Setae as male.

Chelicerae. Reddish­brown; setae and dentition as male.

Opisthosoma. Olive­brown, light median band less distinct than in males but enhanced by white setae; otherwise brown setae (Fig. 2). Venter light brown, setae as male. Spinnerets: Dark brown.

Epigyne, ventral view (Fig. 10). Simple sclerotised plate with posterior incision, copulatory ducts visible through integument.

Epigyne, dorsal view (Fig. 11). Spermathecae large, ovoid; copulatory ducts not visible in dorsal view.

Legs. Leg formula IV>I>II>III; colouration as male, but central annulation on femora II–IV more distinct. Spination of leg I: Femur: 3 dorsal, 1 (2 on right leg) apicoprolateral; patella: 1 apicodorsal; tibia: 2 dorsal; 2 ventral pairs; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs.

Measurements. Male, QM S36714 (female, QM S36727): TL 5.94 (4.72), PL 3.05 (2.59), PW 1.83 (1.60). Eyes: AME 0.09 (0.09), ALE 0.08 (0.07), PME 0.20 (0.20), PLE 0.15 (0.17). Row of eyes: AE 0.43 (0.41), PME 0.51 (0.47), PLE 0.70 (0.67). Sternum (length/width) 1.41/1.22 (1.22/1.07). Labium (length/width) 0.35/0.35 (0.28/0.33). OL 2.44 (2.21), OW 1.60 (1.45). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.99 + 0.61 + ­ + 0.88 = 2.48, I 1.98 + 2.55 + 1.52 + 1.07 = 7.12, II 1.98 + 2.06 + 1.527 + 1.07 = 6.63, III 1.87 + 2.13 + 1.75 + 0.916 = 7.23, IV 2.59 + 3.20 + 2.67 + 1.10 = 9.56 (Pedipalp 0.84 + 0.88 + ­ + 0.84 = 2.56, I 1.83 + 2.21 + 1.52 + 1.07 = 6.63, II 1.75 + 1.98 + 1.33 + 0.99 = 6.05, III 1.75 + 1.91 + 1.45 + 0.91 = 6.02, IV 2.29 + 2.74 + 2.36 + 1.14 = 8.53).

Variation. Males (females) (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.32 – 5.80, 4.98 ± 0.45; PL 2.47 – 3.09, 2.65 ± 0.20; PW 1.61 – 1.85, 1.72 ± 0.09; n = 13 (TL 3.95 – 5.80, 4.78 ± 0.69; PL 1.98 – 2.72, 2.43 ± 0.23; PW 1.36– 1.85, 1.62 ± 0.17; n = 10).

Distribution. Queensland, north of the McPherson Ranges (Fig. 12).

Life history and habitat preferences. Most males and females of A. kochi were found in November, but also from August to January. Habitat descriptions include mainly creek banks and the edge of lakes and riverine forests, but also grassy meadows, and open forests and rainforests. There are some reports of spiders being found in sheet webs with a funnel retreat, apparently similar to the webs of Venonia . Web­building behaviour, at least temporary, appears to be supported by morphological evidence, as Anomalosa, similar to Venonia, has elongated posterior spinnerets.

Remarks. Lehtinen & Hippa (1979) designated the single male from the syntype series as lectotype of A. kochi and, erroneously, one female of five syntype females as ‘alloparatype’. With the designation of the lectotype, all other specimens from the syntype series should be considered paralectotypes (see also ICZN 1999, Recommendation 74F).