Oztira, Milledge, 2011

Milledge, G. A., 2011, A Revision of Storenosoma Hogg and Description of a New Genus, Oztira (Araneae: Amaurobiidae), Records of the Australian Museum 63 (1), pp. 1-32 : 5-6

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.3853/j.0067-1975.63.2011.1579
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03BA8794-FFE4-FA28-956B-F8ABD4153380
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Oztira
status	gen. nov.

Treatment

Genus Oztira View in CoL n.gen.

Type species. Oztira affinis ( Hickman, 1981) View in CoL .

Diagnosis. Oztira can be distinguished from other amaurobiids except Otira , Pakeha and Storenosoma by the possession of single or paired stridulatory spines on the trochanter of the male palp ( Fig. 3c View Fig ) and associated stridulatory field on prolateral face of the coxa of leg 1 ( Fig. 3d View Fig ); from Otira and Pakeha by both eye rows strongly procurved, PLE and to a lesser extent PME enlarged ( Fig. 1a–c View Fig ) and tarsal organ peg-like and situated proximal to trichobothria ( Fig. 6 View Fig ); from Storenosoma by metatarsus on leg 1 of male swollen distally and with ventral scopula ( Fig. 4a–b, d View Fig ).

Description. Small (CL 1.3–2.3 mm), ecribellate, ground dwelling spiders. Cephalothorax, legs and chelicerae golden to orange brown. Cephalothorax often with darker dorsal markings in radial pattern around fovea, region around eyes very dark. Both eye rows strongly procurved, posterior eyes, particularly PLE, enlarged. Chilum absent. Legs with faint to distinct banding and blotches. Chelicera vertical with prominent retrobasal boss, two retromarginal and two promarginal teeth, promargin also with row of minute teeth distal of and slightly posterior to large teeth. Paturon with numerous sensory hairs toward promargin of fang groove and a particularly elongate hair at fang base; single elongate hair at fang base on retromargin. Maxillae slightly longer than wide, lateral margins convex, with strong linear serrula. Labium about as wide as long, with notched apex. Single or paired stridulatory spines on the trochanter of the male palp and associated stridulatory field on prolateral face of coxa of leg 1. Cymbium of male palp ( Fig. 9 View Fig ) with trichobothria and sometimes with retrolateral bulge and associated basal depression. Complex RTA. Moderately stout embolus, membranous conductor and complex MA, TA well developed. Legs 4123. Trochanters of legs 3–4 shallowly notched. Tibia and metatarsi of legs strongly spinose, tarsal organ rod like and situated proximal to trichobothria, trichobothrial hoods longitudinally striated, metatarsus of leg 1 and sometimes leg 2 of male swollen distally and with ventral scopula, preening combs on metatarsi 2–4. Abdomen pale to grey ventrally, dorsally grey brown with pale blotches forming a rough chevron pattern. Epigynum with or without lateral teeth.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of the colloquial Oz meaning Australia with a contraction of Otira and is feminine in gender.

Remarks. The species described by Hickman (1981) and Davies (1986) were included in Otira largely based on the possession of a rod like tarsal organ. However, it appears that this character can be present or absent within members of a single genus e.g., Storenosoma (as described herein), Amauropelma Raven & Stumkat, 2001 ( Raven et al., 2001). Also, the tarsal rod in the Australian species included in this group is proximal to the trichobothria rather than distal as in the New Zealand species. In addition, the form of the eye pattern in Oztira more closely resembles that of Storenosoma than Otira or Pakeha ( Figs 1a–e View Fig ). This suggests that Storenosoma and Oztira are sister groups. The epigyna of many females collected are plugged with a hard, dark resinous substance, making specific identification difficult.