Kochosa confusa, Framenau & Castanheira & Yoo, 2023

Framenau, Volker W., Castanheira, Pedro De S. & Yoo, Jung-Sun, 2023, The artoriine wolf spiders of Australia: the new genus Kochosa and a key to genera (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zootaxa 5239 (3), pp. 301-357 : 321-323

Kochosa confusa sp. nov.

( Figs 6 , 10A–E , 11A–D )

Holotype. Male, Isla Gorge Lookout, 3.2 km NE (25º11′S 150º00′E, Queensland, AUSTRALIA), D. J. Cook, 22 September–15 December 1997, pitfall trap, open forest, 300 m altitude, 5044 ( QM S44298 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a Latin adjective in apposition meaning confused. It refers to the fact that we initially included the specimens of this species in K. australia sp. nov. due to their similar male genital morphology.

Other material examined (18 males, 4 females). AUSTRALIA: Queensland: 1 male, Brigalow Research Station, Theodore, 24º48'10''S 149º45'57''E (QM S71585 ) ; 4 males, 1 female, Expedition Range National Park , Oil Bore Road, 25º12'S 149º11'E ( QM S44361 ) ; 3 males, Isla Gorge Lookout , 3.2 km NE, 25º11'S 150º00'E ( QM S44382 ) ; 3 males, Isla Gorge National Park , NE corner, 25º10'10''S, 150º00'35''E ( QM S60144 ) ; 2 males, same locality ( QM S44329 ) ; 1 male, Isla Gorge , lookout turnoff, 25º12'S 149º48'E ( QM S44372 ) ; 1 male, 1 female, same locality ( QM S44432 ) ; 1 female, Mt Gavial , 3 km SSE, 23º37'10''S 150º29'23''E ( QM S71584 ) , 3 males, Taroom , 6 km N on highway, 25º36'S 149º46'E ( QM S44481 ) ; 1 female, Taroom , 9 km N, 25º35'S 149º46'E ( QM S36626 ) .

Diagnosis. Males of K. confusa sp. nov. are most similar to K. australia sp. nov., K. erratum sp. nov. and K. mendum sp. nov. due to the arching base of the embolus ( Figs 4D , 10C , 12C , 15C ). Kochosa confusa sp. nov. can be differentiated from K. australia sp. nov. and K. mendum sp. nov. by the shape of the sperm duct visible through the tegulum, which forms a closed loop in K. confusa sp. nov. ( Fig. 10C ) (and K. erratum sp. nov., Fig. 12C ), but an open arch in the latter two ( Figs 4D , 15C ). Male K. confusa sp. nov. differ from K. erratum sp. nov. by details in the embolic division of the pedipalp bulb, specifically the less curved embolus and the lack of a sclerotised retrolateral edge ( Fig. 10E vs 12E). Females of K. confusa sp. nov. are most similar to those of K. nigra sp. nov., based on the shape of the median septum of the epigyne forming a raised triangle; however, this triangle is medially closed in K. confusa sp. nov. ( Fig. 11C ), but not so in K. nigra sp. nov. ( Fig. 17C ).

Description.

Male ( based on holotype, QM S44298 ) .

Cephalothorax. Dorsally dark brown ( Fig. 10A ); lateral flanks marked by indistinct broad patches of white setae ( Fig. 10A ). Sternum dark brown, slightly mottled light brown ( Fig. 10B ).

Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive-grey, cardiac mark separated into two small pale spots ( Fig. 10A ); venter light brown ( Fig. 10B ).

Pedipalps ( Fig. 10C–E ). Basoembolic apophysis forms broad edge; tegular apophysis broad, transparent; embolus basally arched, then long and thin, slightly curved along its whole length ( Fig. 10E ).

Legs: brown, apical segments lighter; spination of leg I: femur: 2 dorsal, 1 apicoprolateral; tibia: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral; metatarsus: 3 ventral pairs, 1 apicoventral.

Measurements: TL 4.12, CL 2.12, CW 1.26. Eyes: AME 0.05, ALE 0.07, PME 0.20, PLE 0.16. Row of eyes: AE 0.45, PME 0.59, PLE 0.68. Sternum (length/width) 0.35/0.28. Labium (length/width) 0.23/0.31. AL 2.00, AW 1.20. Legs: Length of segments (femur + patella/tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length): Pedipalp 0.72+0.52+- +0.68=1.92, I 1.28+1.52+1.04+0.72=4.56, II 1.21+1.52+1.00+0.52=4.25, III 1.12+1.24+1.16+0.60=4.12, IV 1.64 +2.04+1.88+0.90=6.46.

Variation: Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 3.70–4.15, 3.98 ± 0.16; CL 1.92–2.221, 2.10 ± 0.10; CW 1.12–1.32, 1.23 ± 0.07, n = 10. There is little colour variation in K. confusa sp. nov. males. The lateral light flanks of the carapace are often more distinct through more dense white setae than in the holotype illustrated.

Female (based on QM S44432 ).

Carapace. Dorsally brown; medially somewhat lighter, but irregular light discolorations likely preservation artefacts ( Fig. 11A ). Sternum: dark brown ( Fig. 11B ).

Abdomen. Dorsally dark olive grey with small pale spots; pale brown cardiac mark entire ( Fig. 11A ). Venter light yellow brown ( Fig. 11B ).

Legs. Brown, femora darker.

Epigyne. Ventral view: median septum present, tapering posteriorly ( Fig. 11C ); dorsal view: spermathecal heads oval with short anterior branch, spermathecal stalks short; vulval chamber ovoid ( Fig. 11D ).

Measurements: TL 4.72, CL 2.10, CW 1.22. Eyes: AME 0.07, ALE 0.05, PME 0.23, PLE 0.20. Row of eyes: AE 0.46, PME 0.70, PLE 0.90. Sternum (length/width) 1.00/0.83. Labium (length/width) 0.32/0.27. AL 2.01, AW 1.48. Legs: Length of segments: Pedipalp 0.68+0.75+-+0.45=1.88, I 1.16+1.37+0.75+0.52=3.79, II 1.20+1.38+0.9 0+0.71=4.19, III 1.15+1.18+0.86+0.61=3.79, IV 1.70+1.92+1.76+0.75=6.12.

Variation. Size (range, mean ± s.d.): TL 4.03–5.00, 4.57 ± 0.41; CL 2.05–2.35, 2.15 ± 0.13; CW 1.22–1.40, 1.28 ± 0.08, n = 4. No noticeable colour or genitalic variation was evident in the four females examined.

Life history and habitat preferences. Mature males and females of K. confusa sp. nov. have been found between September and March; the species is therefore spring and summer-mature. The species appears to prefer open forests and woodlands; habitat descriptions include “open forest’, “Belah/Brigalow”, “semi-evergreen vine thicket”.

Distribution. Kochosa confusa sp. nov. has only been found in central east Queensland ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

FIGURE 4A–F. Kochosa australia sp. nov., male holotype, SAM NN13439 (A–E) and male (MV K9268) (F). A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, male, frontal view; D, E, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; F, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, 0.5 mm; D, E, 0.2 mm; F, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 6. Distribution records of Kochosa australia sp. nov., K. aero sp. nov., K. asterix sp. nov. and K. confusa sp. nov.

FIGURE 10A–E. Kochosa confusa sp. nov., male holotype, QM S44298. A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 11A–D. Kochosa confusa sp. nov., female, QM S44432. A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 m; C, D 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 12A–E. Kochosa erratum sp. nov., male holotype, QM S57812. A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 15A–E. Kochosa mendum sp. nov., male holotype, AM KS.82810 (A–B) and male (QM S44255) (C–E). A, B, male habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, D, male, left pedipalp, ventral and retrolateral view; E, male, left pedipalp, apical section. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, D, 0.2 mm; E, 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 17A–C. Kochosa nigra sp. nov., female holotype, QM S71611. A, B, female habitus, dorsal and ventral view; C, epigyne, epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: A, B, 1.0 mm; C, 0.1 mm.