Tetralycosa williamsi, Framenau & Hudson, 2017

Framenau, Volker W. & Hudson, Peter, 2017, Taxonomy, systematics and biology of the Australian halotolerant wolf spider genus Tetralycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae: Artoriinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 335, pp. 1-72 : 59-63

Tetralycosa williamsi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:11336396-ED5B-4EBC-938B-DDDD097D5816

Figs 26 E–H; 28A–E; 29

Diagnosis

The tegular apophysis of the male pedipalp in T. williamsi sp. nov. is most similar to that of T. eyrei ; however, it is not as broadly truncated. Females cannot be separated with certainty from T. adarca sp. nov., T. halophila sp. nov. and T. eyrei (see ‘Diagnosis’ of T. adarca sp. nov.).

Etymology

The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the late W.D. (Bill) Williams, eminent limnologist, champion of salt lake ecology and conservation, and mentor of the junior author (P.H.).

Type material

Holotype

AUSTRALIA: ♂, South Australia, Lake Gilles , 2 km from shore, 32°47′ S, 136°48′ E, on salt lake, 3 Oct. 1995, E.P. Shore leg. ( SAM NN13812 ).

Paratypes

AUSTRALIA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 juvs, South Australia, Lake Gilles, 32°42′00″ S, 136°54′30″ E, 12 Apr. 1980, P. Hudson leg. ( SAM NN17384–5).

Other material examined

AUSTRALIA, South Australia: 1 ♀, Lake Dutton, 31°48′30″ S, 137°10′30″ E ( SAM NN21884); 1 ♂, Lake Finniss, 31°43′ S, 136°50′ E ( SAM NN21885); 1 ♂, Lake Gilles, 33°03′52″ S, 136°40′08″ E ( SAM NN21889); 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 1 ♀ with spiderlings, 2 juvs, Lake Gilles, 32°47′ S, 136°48′ E ( SAM NN13809, NN21694, NN21916–8); 3 ♀♀, 1 ♀ with spiderlings, Lake Gilles, NE part of lake, 32°41′30″ S, 136°54′50″ E ( SAM NN 21700, NN21706, NN21710); 1 ♂, 1 ♀ with egg sac, Lake Hart, 31°13′40″ S, 136°22′45″ E ( SAM NN21749, NN21894); 1 ♂, Lake McFarlane, 31°44′ S, 136°36′ E ( SAM NN21899); 1 ♀, 3 juvs, Lake Torrens, 30°36′ S, 138°03′ E ( MV K8183); 1 ♂, 3 ♀♀, 1 juv. Tregalana Lake, 32°51′00″ S, 137°37′30″ E ( SAM NN21910; NN21919–21); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Wirraminna 2 Lake, 31°29′40″ S, 136°18′25″ E ( SAM NN21780, NN21782, NN21784).

Description

MEASUREMENTS. ♂ holotype, SAM NN 13812 (♀ paratype, SAM NN 17385): TL 16.20 (19.50), CL 8.55 (9.90), CW 6.15 (7.20). Eyes:AME 0.52 (0.52),ALE 0.29 (0.34), PME 1.13 (1.20), PLE 0.98 (1.03). Row of eyes: AE 2.26 (2.52), PME 3.20 (3.32), PLE 4.50 (4.80). Sternum length/width: 4.28/3.15 (4.20/3.60). Labium length/width: 1.40/1.23 (1.49/1.57). AL 7.50 (9.00), AW 6.45 (7.05). Legs: Lengths of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 4.20+4.20+ – +2.85 = 11.25, I 8.25+8.85+8.40+2.70 = 28.20, II 8.55+9.00+9.30+2.85 = 29.70, III 8.10+8.70+9.45+2.70 = 28.95, IV 9.60+10.35+11.63+3.30 = 34.88 (Pedipalp 3.90+4.35+ – +2.70 = 10.95, I 8.40+9.60+7.50+2.55 = 28.05, II 8.70+10.05+8.10+2.70 = 29.55, III 8.10+9.30+7.95+2.55 = 27.90, IV 10.05+11.25+10.80+3.15 = 35.25).

VARIATION. ♂ (♀) (range, mean ± SD): TL 13.20–21.75, 17.93 ± 2.44; CL 7.95–10.20, 9.43 ± 0.73; CW 6.00–7.80, 7.05 ± 0.52; n = 9 (TL 15.45–24.90, 19.95 ± 3.05; CL 8.40–11.25, 9.79 ± 0.92; CW 6.15–8.25, 7.31 ± 0.75; n = 7).

Male (based on holotype, SAM NN13812)

CARAPACE ( Fig. 26E ). Cephalic area highest in lateral view and steep vertical slopes in frontal view; uniformly dark reddish-brown; covered with black setae, white setae towards margins and in cephalic area; brown macrosetae around PE; eight long brown bristles below AE; one long bristle between AME.

EYES. Row of AE shorter than row of PME; row of AE strongly procurved.

CHELICERAE. Dark reddish-brown; covered with white setae and few brown macrosetae; three promarginal teeth with the median largest; three retromarginal teeth of similar size.

STERNUM ( Fig. 26F ). Light brown with darker pigmentation; covered with brown setae and laterally with longer brown macrosetae.

LABIUM. Brown; front end truncate and white.

PEDIPALPS ( Fig. 28 A–C). Tegular apophysis curved with a truncated tip ( Fig. 28A ); embolus straight and thin ( Fig. 28C ).

ABDOMEN. Dorsally yellow-brown, black arrow-shaped heart mark; laterally of heart mark irregular black spots; covered with white setae and fewer macrosetae ( Fig. 26E ). Ventrally very dark olive-grey; yellow transverse band with three posterior tips behind epigastric furrow. Spinnerets brown ( Fig. 26F ).

LEGS. Leg formula IV>II>III>I; brown, distal segments darker (in particular tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi of leg I and II). Femora III and IV with two black annulations ventrally; scopulae on metatarsi and tarsi of leg I and II. Spination of leg I: femur: three (four on right leg) dorsal, four retrolateral, two apicoprolateral; patella: one prolateral, one retrolateral; tibia: one dorsal, three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral, one apicoventral, one apicoprolateral, one apicoretrolateral.

Female (based on paratype, SAM NN17385)

CARAPACE, EYES, CHELICERAE, STERNUM, LABIUM, ABDOMEN ( Fig. 26 G–H). As male.

EPIGYNE. Ventral view ( Fig. 28D ): ovoid median septum with anterior notch. Dorsal view ( Fig. 28E ): small spermathecal heads, convoluted spermathecal stalks attach posteriorly.

LEGS. Leg formula IV>II>I>III. Colour pattern as male but distal segments not darker. Femoral annulations and scopulae as male. Spination of leg I: femur: three dorsal, two apicoprolateral, four retrolateral; patella: one prolateral; tibia: one dorsal, three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral; metatarsus: three ventral pairs, two prolateral, two retrolateral, one apicoventral; one apicoprolateral; one apicoretrolateral.

Life history and habitat preferences

Adult spiders have been found on the surface of salt lakes between September and May (with a peak in December), but not in November and January. Females carrying an egg sac or spiderlings were found between January and March ( PH personal observation).

Distribution

Salt lakes in South Australia ( Fig. 29 ).

Figures

Fig. 26. Tetralycosa Roewer, 1960, microscopic photographs showing dorsal and ventral views. A–B. T. halophila sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAM NN21734). C–D. T. halophila sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SAM NN21733). E–F. T. williamsi sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAM NN13812). G–H. T. williamsi sp. nov., ♀, paratype (SAM NN17385). Scale bars: A–H = 2.00 mm.

Fig. 28. Tetralycosa williamsi sp. nov., ♂, holotype (SAM NN13812) and ♀, paratype (SAM NN17384). A–B. Left male pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view. C. Left male pedipalp, palea section of bulbus, ventral view. D–E. Female epigyne, ventral and dorsal view. Scale bar: A–B = 1.92 mm; C = 1.23 mm; D–E = 1.32.

Fig. 29. Tetralycosa halophila sp. nov. and T. williamsi sp. nov., distribution records in Australia.