Austrotengella hackerae, 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 : 38-41

Austrotengella hackerae sp. nov.

( Figs 1 a–3, 4, 5a–e, 6a, b)

Material examined: Holotype: Queensland: Tungi Creek, via Jimna, 26°39'S 152°27'E, rainforest, pitfall, 1 male, 9 Mar–15 May 1997, G. Monteith (QM S51224)

Paratypes: Tungi Creek, 26°39'S 152°27'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 male, 10 Nov–29 Dec 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30198 ); 2 males, 20 Jan – 9 Mar 1997, G. Monteith (QM S60896 ). Booloumba Creek, Conondale Range (low), 26°38'S 152°38'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 female, 26 Oct–29 Nov 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S33218 ); 1 female, 26 Oct–29 Nov 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S33212 ).

Other Material

Queensland: southeastern: Boombana National Park (“ BCC 1”), 27°24'S 152°47'E, rainforest: 1 female, 30 Oct–1 Dec 2003, QM party (QM S54869 ); 5 males, 31 Mar–30 Apr 2004, QM party (QM S54899 ); 3 males, 2 females, 1–31 Mar 2004, QM party (QM S54868); 1 female, 21 Apr 2004, C. Burwell, S. Wright, O. Seeman (QM S64144 ). Brookfield, Gold Creek Reservoir, 27°29'S 152°55'E, closed forest, pitfall: 1 male, 3–18 Mar 1981, R. Raven, V. Davies (QM S72302); 1 female, 13 May–2 Jun 1981, R. Raven, V. Davies (QM S72301). Bunya Mountains National Park, 26°54'S 151°33'E, 1 female, 13 Jan 1978, A. Rozefelds (QM S51181 ). Dingo Creek, via Traveston, 26°20'S 151°52'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 female, 27 Mar–18 Aug 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S14177 ).

Little Yabba Creek, 26°37'S 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 male, 27 Mar–16 Jun 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S14178 ). Mt Cotton, Michaelsen’s Farm, Site 1, 27°37'S 153°13'E, rainforest, pitfall, 1 female, 4 Sep–9 Oct 1983, J. Gallon (QM S51979 ). Mt Glorious–Mt Tenison-Woods, 27°20'S 152°46'E, rainforest: 1 female, 29 May 1992, G. Monteith, H. Janetzki, G. Thompson, A. Hiller (QM S19605 ); 1 female, 26 Jul 1985, R.J. Raven (QM S53634 ); 1 male, 20 Jan–26 Jun 1978, G. and S. Monteith (QM S72303); 1 male, 22 Jan–8 Apr 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30404 ). Mt Kandanga, 26°27'S 152°34'E, wet sclerophyll, pitfall, 1 male, 15 Jan–27 May 2002, G. Monteith (QM S72296 ). Mt Mee, 27°04'S 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 male, 3 Mar–12 Apr 1992, D.J. Cook (QM S72309 ); 1 female, 28 Oct 1977 – 20 Jan 1978, G. and S. Monteith (QM S72308 ); 3 females 31 Oct 1978 – 13 Feb 1979, G. and S. Monteith (QM S14187 ). Mt Tamborine, Palm Grove, 27°55'S 153°11'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 male, 1 female, 26 Oct–14 Dec 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30466 ); 1 female, 26 Oct–14 Dec 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30440 ); 1 male, 14 Dec 1974 – 22 Mar 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30380 ). Ravensbourne National Park, 27°21'S 152°11'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 female, 10 Nov 1974 – 12 Jan 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30186 ); 2 males, 3 females, 30 Mar–1 Jun 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30385 ); 1 female, 10 Nov 1974 – 12 Jan 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30465 ). Rochedale State Forest, 27°37'S 153°08'E, ironbark woodland: 1 male, 30 Aug 1979, R. Raven, V. Davies (QM S33120 ); 1 male, 7 Oct 1980, R. Raven, V. Davies (QM S33118 ). Upper Brookfield, 27°29'S 152°55'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 male, 27 Feb–20 May 1976, G. and S. Monteith (QM S28834 ); 1 male, 18 Mar–23 Apr 1981, V. Davies, R. Raven (QM S72297 ). Upper East Kilcoy Creek, 26°45'S 152°38'E, rainforest, pitfall: 10 males, 1 female, 9 Mar–15 May 1997, G. Monteith (QM S72300); 1 male, 1 female, 9 Mar–15 May 1997, G. Monteith (QM S39665 ). Wrattens Camp, via Widgee, 26°14'S 152°22'E, rainforest, pitfall: 1 female, 11 Aug–10 Nov 1974, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30384 ); 2 females, 28 Mar–16 Jun 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30415 ); 1 female, 16 Jun–23 Aug 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30390 ); 1 male, 29 Dec 1974 – 28 Mar 1975, G. and S. Monteith (QM S30193 ). 1 male, Bellthorpe, 26°50'S 152°41'E, rainforest, pitfall, 9 Mar–15 May, G. and S. Monteith, QM S51227 ; female, Buhot Creek, Burbank, 27°35.5'S 153°10.3'E, 50m, riparian forest, QM Party.

Diagnosis: Males differ from those of A. monteithi in the longer, more slender median apophysis and the ventral groove on the embolus is open for its length and from A. wrighti in the small retroventral flange on the cymbium and the simple tapering embolic tip. Females diifer from those of all other species in the less anteriorly narrowed anterior "neck" of the median epigynal scape and its overall narrowness.

Etymology: In honour of Penelope Hacker, a much admired animal carer, and in whose backyard at Mt Glorious the species continues to thrive.

Description (Holotype male QM S51224)

Caparace 2.93 long, 2.15 wide. Abdomen 2.70 long, 1.56 wide.

Colour in alcohol. Pattern on carapace and abdomen faded.

Legs. Tibia to tarsi of all legs with long recurved hairs for length on all faces. Spines: Tibiae I, II: 5 strong pairs ventrally plus pair of small on distal edge; metatarsi I, II with 3 strong pairs ventrally. Claws: paired claws dentate, not noticeably long.

Palp. Distal cymbium with noticeably denser brush of hair; cymbium viewed retrolaterally with distinct basodorsal conical mound; retroventral flange small. Tibial apophysis subdistal with pair of dissimilar apices; ventral tibia-cymbial interlocking process small but distinct; median apophysis long, slender, apically folded, origin subcentral on tegulum, shorter in overall length than apically pointed embolus, median apophysis lies within longitudinal extent of embolus. Ventral groove in embolus a distinctly open groove for length.

Leg measurements of Austrotengella hackerae , holotype male

Description (Allotype female QM S33212 )

Caparace 4.03 long, 3.13 wide. Abdomen 4.41 long, 2.54 wide.

Colour. Pattern on abdomen faded but more evident than in male.

Legs. Spines, tibiae and metatarsi I, II as in male. Paired claws noticeably elongate, especially on IV.

Epigyne. An almost parallel-sided median plate, slightly widened at posterior third, at which point medially is a short recurved ridge over the posterior invagination from the otherwise distinct posterior margin; bases of short concial lateral teeth arise just posterior of the line of recurved ridge, teeth directed diagnoally posteriad and line of apices lies just posterior to line of posterior margin. Genital opening plugged for two-thirds its length from proximad by lamellate portion of male palp.

Leg measurements of Austrotengella hackerae , allotype female

Distribution and Habitat. This most widespread species occurs from Wrattens Camp in the north and as far south along the Conondale Ranges to Mt Tamborine, one range north of Lamington National Park. It occurs coastally in a retreating rainforest (Buhot) in south-eastern Brisbane west to the Great Dividing Range at Ravensbourne. All areas are rainforest or at least closed forest.

Remarks: One female (QM S19605 ) was taken in a Myrmecia nest.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Austrotengella hackerae, sp. nov., carapace (a), eyes, dorsal view (b), spinnerets (c).