Poltys jujorum, Smith, 2006

Smith, H. M., 2006, A Revision of the Genus Poltys in Australasia (Araneae: Araneidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58, pp. 43-96 : 63-64

Poltys jujorum n.sp.

Figs 73–79, 84–88, 95–99, 104–109, 116–118, 121–124.

Etymology. Named in honour of Judy Thompson and John Olive, whose generous hospitality has greatly facilitated several trips to northern Queensland.

Type material. AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: HOLOTYPE ♀ S66574 (ex KS58080 ), Goldsborough Valley SF, side track to quarry, 17°12'S 145°44'E, 22 May 2000, M&S, webs on dead twigs at night, open woodland . PARATYPES Ƌ KS58074 , ♀ KS58078 , data as holotype; Ƌ KS58064 , lane W of Capt. Cook H’way, c. 2.5 km W of Trinity Beach, 16°47'S 145°40'E, 14 May 2000, M&S, beating ; ♀ KS84328 , Ƌ S66575 , Abergowrie SF, Broadwater Creek camping area, 18°25'S 145°56'E, 24 May 2000, M&S (♀ night coll., Ƌ beating) ; ♀ S42574 , Scraggy Point , Hinchinbrook Is., 18°17'S 146°06'E, 5 Jan. 1986, P. Myroniul?[sic], dune and swale system .

Other material. AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: ♀♀ KS58066 (2), KS58067–9 , ƋƋ KS58070–1 , Abergowrie SF, 18°25'S 145°56'E, 24 May 2000 ; ♀♀ KS58065 , 2.5 km W of Trinity Beach , 16°47'S 145°40'E, 14 May 2000 ; ♀♀ KS33931 , KS33941 , Edmonton, 17°01'S 145°45'E, 29 May 1973, 1 Apr. 1973 ; Ƌ KS58073 , ♀♀ KS58075–77 , KS58079 , KS58080 (3), Goldsborough Valley SF, 17°12'S 145°44'E, 22 May 2000 ; ♀ KS33849 , Kuranda, 16°49'S 145°38'E, 15 Aug. 1971 ; ♀ KS33940 , Mareeba, 17°00'S 145°26'E, 8 Sep. 1974 ; ♀ KS58063 , Tam O’Shanter SF, 0.9 km W Limbo Ck, Tully –Mission Beach Rd , 17°55'S 146°04'E, 23 May 2000 ; Ƌ S42559 , Black Mountain , NEQ, summer 1971–2 ; ♀ S42619 , Iron Range, 12°39'S 143°17'E, 30 Jun. 1976 ; subadult ♀ S42504 , Lockerbie Scrub, 10°48'S 142°28'E, 18 Apr. 1973 ; ♀ S42579 , Shiptons Flat, 15°48'S 145°15'E, 22 Apr. 1982 .

Remarks. There are no definite records for this species outside Australia. A subadult female from Kinabalu NP, N. Borneo (RMNH ex coll. CLD) that is comparable in eye tubercle proportions and general appearance, might indicate a wider distribution.

Diagnosis. Females. From other species groups: carapace profile relatively high and narrow ( Fig. 76), extended and pointed eye tubercle ( Fig. 84), front femora relatively short and distinctly broadened ( Fig. 73), epigyne much wider than long ( Fig. 104). From P. milledgei : eye tubercle larger and more elongate and ALE well separated from AME ( Fig. 85); copulatory ducts are short so spermathecae are directly basal to the foveae in posterior view ( Fig. 105). Males. From other species groups by extended and pointed eye tubercle ( Fig. 98), short embolus and reduced conductor ( Fig. 107– 108). From P. milledgei : eye tubercle massive ( Fig. 98), flattened leg macrosetae are usually short and rounded ( Fig. 99), the conductor wraps further prolaterally and is adpressed to the embolus so that it may be difficult to distinguish in ventral view. In lateral view, an open space is usually present between the MA and the other sclerites (compare Figs 107 and 113, 118 and 120).

Description. Female. Carapace length range 2.94–3.67. Drawn specimens Figures: 73–77, 84–85, KS58077 (male from Fig. 95); 78–79, KS58067; 86–87, 106, S66574 (holotype); 88, KS58080; 104–105, KS58078.

Holotype. Prosoma. Carapace: length 4.00, width 2.69, height 1.10; long and narrow ( Figs 73, 76); eye tubercle well developed, strongly elevated ( Fig. 85); produced into a rounded protuberance between PME; eye tubercle sagittate in dorsal view due to tufts of flattened setae that arise on the tip of the eye tubercle and posterior to the PME ( Figs 121–122). Chelicerae: paturon with 4 promarginal teeth ( Fig. 77). Labium: length 0.39, width 0.65. Sternum ( Fig. 75): length 1.37, width 1.43; sternal extensions at bases of legs III–IV. Eyes. ( Figs 76, 85). AME=PME>PLE> ALE ; ALE > 2× its own diameter from AME, almost half way towards PLE position; ventral margin of ALE is more ventral than AME; both pairs of anterior eyes are set looking ventrally on eye tubercle ( Fig. 85). Legs. P+TL I: 4.78, II: 4.33, III: 2.90, IV: 3.47; front femora distinctly broadened with greatest diameter c. 3 ⁄ 5 way to apex ( Fig. 73); some patellal and tibial macrosetae on all legs flattened, distal patellal macrosetae usually elongate ( Fig. 88), but often broken at weak point ( Fig. 123, arrowed). Abdomen. Length 10.83, width 2.75; broadest just anterior to main apodemes; on dorsal surface just anterior to spinnerets there are two rows of shiny, black maculae, 6 on a posteriorly pointing fold, 4 immediately anterior, and two anterior lateral pairs ( Figs 86–87). Epigyne. Much broader than long, most of the anterior surface is covered by a broad “lip” ( Figs 104, 106); posterior plates short; median posterior plate not reduced but fused or closely adjacent to lateral plates over much of their lengths, then narrows to a bridge between pocket-like distal foveae ( Fig. 105); copulatory ducts exit foveae laterally, ducts usually shorter than P. milledgei ; spermathecae separated by about a spermatheca width. Colour in alcohol. Carapace yellow, caput fuscous brown with darker patches anterior to PLE, stripes of pale yellow lead onto orange-brown eye tubercle; dark brown ventral to main eyes. Chelicerae brown, paler V distally. Labium, maxillae and sternum yellow-brown. Pedipalps creamy-yellow, sparsely mottled with brown. Femora I and II with a small amount of black basally, then all yellow except for a broad black terminal band; femur III pale yellow, mottled with black, to black distally; femur IV mostly dark; all dark areas with blue shine; distal legs mottled with yellow and brown. Abdomen ventrally dark grey around pedicel and posteriorly to spinnerets except paler book lung covers; white flanks then laterally and anteriorly to dorsal colour pattern of black and brown over some white.

Male. Carapace length range 1.04–1.12. Drawn specimen Figs 95–99, 107–109, KS58074.

Male KS58074. Prosoma. Carapace: length 1.14, width 0.71, height 0.33 (at fovea); lightbulb-shape in dorsal view ( Fig. 98); highest at eye tubercle, latter massive and elevated ( Fig. 95); eye tubercle anterior a blunt point; in dorsal view eye tubercle sagittate as in female. Clypeus>1× AME. Labium: length 0.09, width 0.19. Sternum: length 0.42, width 0.42. Eyes. ( Figs 95, 97) AME≥PME>PLE≥ ALE ; ALE >1× its own diameter from AME; ventral margin of ALE is ventral to that of AME. Legs. ( Fig. 95). P+TL I: 1.04, II: 0.98, III: 0.57, IV: 0.73; all patellae and some tibiae with some macrosetae flattened into a leaf-shape ( Fig. 99). Abdomen. ( Figs 95–96). Length 1.57, width 0.88; a tall, rather lumpy ellipsoid, with slightly extended rounded apex, widest at mid-height; small tufts of setae arise from bumps; apodemes visible. Palp. ( Figs 107–109, 117–118). Tegulum rather angular ( Fig. 108); conductor wispy and adpressed to proventral embolus ( Figs 107, 117–118); MA filiform, broad basally ( Figs 107, 118); small PM possibly present (see P. milledgei , Fig. 27) but if so, normally hidden by MA; radix–stipes joint dorsal, totally hidden by cymbium ( Fig. 109); TA a broad membranous flap ( Figs 108, 117– 118); embolus short and stout ( Figs 108, 118). Colour in alcohol. Lateral carapace light olive, caput darkens slightly to eye tubercle, latter orange dorsally, carapace and caput with black median markings; dark brown on ventral eye tubercle, around AME and ALE and under PLE ( Fig. 97). Chelicerae, labium, maxillae and sternum fuscous olive; chelicerae, with yellow distally. Femora I and II pale creamyolive darkening distally; femur III olive-white basally, with spots and terminal band; femur IV olive with white patch retrolaterally; distal legs I and II with dark olive rings and marks to mid metatarsus, then white with black marks; legs III and IV olive-white dorsally and black maculation ventrally. Palpal cymbium dark brown, contrasts with white tibia, patella and femur, tibia and patella with black tips. Abdominal book lung covers and epigastric area pale, otherwise ventrally dark grey; dorsum mostly grey–white with black speckling and a pair of black scroll-like lines.

Variation. In some females the eye tubercle is higher than the main carapace. Female abdominal shape is less variable than in other species groups, all are elongate to a greater or lesser extent and none has been seen with humeral tubercles ( Figs 73–74, 78–79, also as in P. milledgei , 80–83 and 91– 92). Abdominal “eye spots” are rather variable in size and number. Epigynes are rather variable and often difficult to distinguish from P. milledgei .

Biology. The spiders make a typical fine web at night on dead twigs; tropical woodland appears to be the main habitat of the species. The egg sac is a fluffy white sac overlaid with cream and strands of brown or grey, laid on the underside of a dead twig (similar to that of P. milledgei , Fig. 14). Chloropid flies emerged from the field-collected egg sac from Goldsborough Valley SF.

Distribution. Coastal far northeast Queensland and possibly further northwards ( Fig. 116).