Austrotengella plimeri, Raven, Robert J, 2012

Raven, Robert J, 2012, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders. V. A new lycosoid genus from eastern Australia (Araneae: Tengellidae), Zootaxa 3305, pp. 28-52 : 46-51

Austrotengella plimeri , sp. nov.

( Figs 3, 11 a–d)

Material examined: Holotype: male, Tweed Range (T2-14), 28°28'S 153°00'E, NSW, 17 Feb 1989, H. Smith, Hines, Pugh, Webb, AM KS 48914.

Paratype: allotype, female, QMS30401, 1 fem., Brindle Creek, Wiangaree, 28°28'S 153°03'E, NSW, rainforest, pitfall, 17 Nov–27 Dec 1974, G. and S. Monteith.

Diagnosis: the male is similar to those of A. toddae from which they differ by the relatively smaller median apophysis and distal embolus, which are not or hardly overlapping in longitudinal extents and the chelate RTA. Ventral groove of embolus open for its entire length.

Etymology: In honour of Professor Ian Plimer, geologist, for his provocative contributions to issues of climate change.

Description (Holotype male AM KS 48914)

Carapace 4.45 long, 3.44 wide. Abdomen damaged.

Palp. RTA distal, distally chelate with each "claw" of similar size. Ventral tibia with small triangular apophysis. Basodorsal cymbium rounded, not posteriorly projected ( Fig. 11 b); median apophysis small, origin basal on tegulum; slightly longer than bluntly-tipped embolus, longitudinal extents only very slightly overlapping, if at all. Ventral groove of embolus clearly open for its entire length.

Spines. Leg I missing. Tibia II: v.2.2.2.2.2; me v2.2.2. Otherwise like A. toddae male.

Claws. Paired claws long, slender curved with 2–4 small teeth in basal fifth of claw. Third claw long, curved bare.

Leg measurements of Austrotengella plimeri , holotype male

Description (Allotype female QMS 30401)

Carapace 2.41 long, 2.03 wide. Abdomen 2.53, 2.03 wide.

Colour in alcohol. Carapace yellow brown with subcentral darker band extending forward to lateral of eyes; dark spindle-shaped mark anterior to fovea. Abdomen pallid, pattern faded.

Eyes. From above, AME on tubercle that slightly overhangs clypeus.

Spines. None on pedal patellae. Femur I with proventral two strong spines distally plus p1d3r3. Femur II p3d3r4; ti also with p2. Tibiae I, II with 5 pairs of long spines and one small distal pair; metatarsi I, II with 3 strong pairs ventrally. III: fe p5d4r3; ti p2d2r 2v. 2.2.2; me p1.2.1r1.1.1v2.2.3. IV: fe p3d3r2; ti p2d2r 2v 2.2.2; me p1.1r1.1.2v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d1.2; pa p1; ti d2p3; ta p3d1r1 plus small distoventral pair.

Epigyne. Rectanguloid plate with broad septum anteriorly; posterolaterally with transverse tooth on each side, teeth distal, posterior of median plate on line of epigastric groove; teeth short, directed diagonally medially. Posterior margin of septum with deeply U-shaped subdistal invagination.

Distribution: Known only from Tweed Range, northeastern New South Wales.

Austrotengella wrighti , sp. nov. ( Figs 3, 12 a, b, 13a–d)

Material examined: Holotype: male, Mt French, via Boonah, SE.Q., 28°00'S 152°36'E, rainforest, pitfall, G. and S. Monteith, 25 Aug–10 Oct 1976, S28845 .

Paratypes: Queensland: Mt French, via Boonah, 28°00'S 152°36'E, rainforest, pitfall: 2 males, taken with holotype, ex S28845 ; 2 males, 8 May–25 Aug 1976, G. and S. Monteith (QM S28836 ); 2 females, 22 Feb–8 May 1976, G. and S. Monteith (QM S28842 ); 1 male, 5 Oct 1975 – 22 Feb 1976, G. and S. Monteith (QM S28843 ); 3 males, 3 females, 5 Oct 1975 – 22 Feb 1976, G. and S. Monteith (QM S28844 ). New South Wales. 13 males, Top end of Tucker Box Road, Beaury State Forest, NSW 28°28'S 152°24'E, 740m, M. Gray, G. Cassis, 4 Feb–3 Apr 1993, AMKS 36272.

Etymology: In honour of Mr Jeff Wright, Queensland Museum, whose consummate skills in the photography of small terrestrial invertebrates are honored.

Diagnosis: Females differ from those of A. toddae by the broader epigynal plate without posterior deep invagination; males of the two species are best separated by the clearly dissimilar lobes of the RTA. Males differ from those of A. monteithi in the broad retroventral cymbial flange and the apex of the embolus is arrowhead-like. Males with conical extension of cymbium basally over tibia; epigyne with broad anterior septum and posteriorly set lateral teeth.

Description (Holotype male QM S28845 )

Carapace 3.94 long, 3.25 wide. Abdomen 3.88 long, 2.31 wide.

Carapace, legs, spines and chelicerae as in A. toddae .

Leg measurements of Austrotengella wrighti , holotype male

Palp: tibia with large subdistal retrodorsal apophysis with two blunt apices. Tibia distally with 2 apophyses: ventrally a process forms notch in which complementary lobe on retrobasal cymbium interlocks; prolateral of that process a concave invagination prodorsally bounded by low ridge, which fits into a groove on prodorsal cymbium basally. Cymbium dorsally forms cone extending basally over distal tibia; dorsal scopula absent; retrolateral groove absent; retroventral flange of cymbium distinctly widened. In resting position, cymbium twisted so that normal ventral face diagonally faces ectally. Tegulum conical with large median apophysis and slightly smaller embolus; longitudinal extents of which overlap by 30–50%. Ventral groove of large embolus widely open for its length and tip arrowhead-like.

Description (Allotype Female QM S28842 )

Carapace 3.60 long, 3.80 wide. Abdomen 3.88 long, 2.60 long.

Colour. As for A. toddae but coxae dorsally yellow brown with broad light shadow stripe.

Epigyne. Broad, ventrally flat or slightly concave, broadly pear-shaped with broad anterior septum, widest point in posterior fifth, posteriorly slightly concave; lateral teeth set posterior of widest point, short conical directed medially and posteriorly. Genital opening plugged with more than just embolus.

Spinnerets. Expanded, two lines, each of 4, of largest spigots on spinnerets on PMS dorsally and, as with ALS and PLS apically with ring of smaller but long spigots; PMS as long as PLS, conical.

Distribution and Habitat: Known only from rainforest at Mt French, southeastern Queensland and in northern New South Wales at Beaury State Forest.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Austrotengella plimeri, sp. nov., male, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb: ventral view (a) and retrolateral view (b). Scale line = 0.5 mm. Allotype, female QMS 30401 c, d. epigyne, external (c) and internal (d) views.

FIGURE 12. Austrotengella wrighti, sp. nov., holotype male QMS 28845, habitus (a), sternum, maxillae, labium and chelicerae (b).