Leviana cincinnata, Framenau & Kuntner, 2022

Framenau, Volker W. & Kuntner, Matjaz, 2022, The new Australian leaf-curling orb-weaving spider genus Leviana (Araneae, Araneidae), Evolutionary Systematics 6 (2), pp. 103-133 : 103

Leviana cincinnata sp. nov.

Figs 10A-D , 11A-F , 9

Types material.

Holotype: Male, Bellenden Ker Range, North Queensland, Cable Tower 3 (17°16'S, 145°51'E, Queensland, Australia), 25-31 October 1981, sweeping, Earthwatch/Qld Museum (QM S26364).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is an adjective in apposition (cincinnatus Latin - curly) and refers to the leaf-curling behaviour of this species and other species in the genus.

Other material examined.

Australia: Queensland: 2 females, Bartle Frere, W Base, 17°23'S, 145°46'E (QM S47286 ) ; 5 males, 5 females, Bellenden Ker Range, 0.5 km S Cable Tower 7, 17°16'S, 145°51'E (QM S27792 ) ; 5 males, 14 juv., Bellenden Ker, Cable Tower 3, 17°16'S, 145°51'E (QM S26348, S26359 ) ; 1 female, same locality (QM S111931) ; 3 females, Boulder Creek, via Tully , 17°50'S, 145°54'E (QM S111929) ; 4 male, 6 females, 3 juv., Cardwell Range, Upper Broadwater Creek Valley , 18°18'S, 145°56'E (QM S111927-8) ; 1 male, 2 females, Graham Range, 17°17'S, 145°57'E (QM S38010 -11, S38013 ) ; 1 female, 1 juv., same, same locality (QM) ; 1 female, Lambs Head, 10 km W Edmonton , 17°02'S, 145°38'E (QM S41509 ) ; 1 male, Mt Demi summit, 7 km SW Mosman, 16°30'S, 145°19'E (QM S38122 ) ; 1 female, Mt Formatine South , 10 km N Kuranda, 16°43'S, 145°37'E (QM S19764 ) ; 1 female, Mt Spurgeon, 2 km SE, via Mt Carbine , 16°26'S, 145°12'E (QM S16535 ) ; 1 male, Mt Spurgeon , 7 km N, 16°22'S, 145°13'E (QM S111930) ; 6 males, 7 females, North Bell Peak , Malbon Thompson Range, 17°07'S, 145°54'E (QM S22652, S22767, S22879, S22999 ) ; 3 males, 2 females, same locality (QM) ; 1 female, Ravenshoe, 17°37'S, 145°29'E (QM); 4 females, Upper Boulder Creek , 11 km NNW of Tully, 17°50'S, 145°54'E (QM S33868 ) ; 3 females, same locality (QM) ; 2 females, Upper Plath Road , 17°23'S, 145°28'E (QM S46913 ) ; 1 male, Walter Hill Range, 17°47'S, 145°49'E (QM S41125 ) .

Diagnosis.

Leviana cincinnata sp. nov. differs distinctly from all other species in the genus by its uniform olive-grey abdominal colouration with only a white patch antero-centrally. All other species of Leviana gen. nov. have some dark to black abdominal markings. Male genital morphology is most similar to L. dimidiata comb. nov. due to the broadly lobed tip of the median apophysis and the strong spine in the basal arch of the median apophysis, but both species distinctly differ in the strong sclerotization of the conductor in L. dimidiata comb. nov., that is absent in L. cincinnata sp. nov. (Fig. 7C vs Fig. 10C ). The epigyne scape is much broader than in any other species of Leviana comb. nov.

Description.

Male (based on holotype; QM S26364). Total length 3.4. Carapace (Fig. 10A ) 2.1 long, 1.5 wide; uniformly yellow-brown, somewhat lighter in cephalic area; very few white setae mainly in cephalic area; fovea indistinct broad depression. Eyes: AME 0.11, ALE 0.10, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10; row of eyes: AME 0.35, PME 0.29, PLE 0.79. Sternum (Fig. 10B ) 1.0 long, 0.8 wide; uniformly yellow-brown with indistinct grey pigmentation; covered with few light brown setae. Labium 0.35 long, 0.22 wide; light brown. Maxillae light brown. Chelicerae light brown; few light brown setae medially; two retromarginal teeth of equal size, three promarginal teeth with the median largest. Legs: leg formula I> II> IV> III; uniformly yellowish-brown; lengths of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total leg length): pedipalp 0.6 + 0.2 + 0.2 + - + 0.7 = 1.7, I 2.4 + 0.8 + 2.7 + 2.3 + 1.0 = 9.2, II 2.1 + 0.7 + 1.8 +1.6 + 0.8 = 7.0, III 1.5 + 0.6 + 0.8 + 0.6 + 0.5 = 4.0, IV 1.6 + 0.8 + 1.9 + 1.5 + 0.6 = 6.4. Abdomen (Fig. 10A, B ) 2.6 long, 1.9 wide; ovoid; dorsally uniformly dark greenish-grey; white central marking anteriorly and some white speckles laterally and centrally; three pairs of dark brown sigilla centrally with the two anterior pairs largest; few light bristles and white setae; venter greenish grey with two irregular longitudinal lateral white markings, covered with few light brown setae; spinnerets yellow-brown.

Pedipalps (Fig. 10C, D ): median apophysis apically broadly lobed, basally with strong thorn opposing a hooded base; terminal apophysis elongated, fleshy with double-tip; embolus short and sinuous (not visible behind conductor in Fig. 10C ); conductor wider than high in ventral view.

Female (based on QM S111931; epigyne variation NHMD 12202). Total length 5.1. Carapace (Fig. 11A ) 2.6 long, 2.1 wide; light yellowish-grey; few white setae in particular in cephalic area; fovea shallow and poorly demarcated. Eyes: AME 0.20, ALE 0.14, PME 0.14, PLE 0.13; row of eyes: AME 0.40, PME 0.31, PLE 0.77. Sternum (Fig. 11B ) 1.2 long, 1.0 wide, light yellowish-grey; covered with few white setae. Labium 0.31 long, 0.54 wide, colouration as male. Maxillae as male. Chelicerae yellowish-brown; few white setae in basal half, black setae mesally mainly in apical half; three promarginal teeth, with the median smallest; two retromarginal teeth of similar size. Legs: leg formula I> II> IV> III; uniformly yellowish-grey; lengths of segments (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = total length of leg): pedipalp 0.7 + 0.3 + 0.7 + - + 0.8 = 2.5, I 2.3+ 1.0 + 1.7 + 1.9 + 0.9 = 7.8, II 1.9 + 0.9 + 1.3 + 1.6 + 0.7 = 7.8, III 1.2 + 0.6 + 0.9 + 0.9 + 0.6 = 4.2, IV 1.8 + 0.9 + 1.3 + 1.4 + 0.7 = 6.1. Abdomen (Fig. 11A, B ) 2.7 long, 2.5 wide; ovoid, slightly dorsoventrally compressed; dorsal colour pattern and setae largely as male, but lacking lateral and median lighter patches; spinnerets brown.

Epigyne (Fig. 11C-F ) base wider than long; atrium elevated, bulging; central division broadly oval with narrow base; scape broadly lipped but broken off in most specimens; spermathecae irregularly ovoid, fertilization duct slightly curved and attaching laterally at atrium (Fig. 6B ).

Variation.

Male total length 3.3-4.1 (n = 4); females 5.4-7.5 (n = 8). There are additional white speckles on the abdomen and white discontinuous lateral bands on the abdomens of some males and females. The epigyne scape was broken in all females measured here, with the exception of two, including the one illustrated. The colouration of live specimens is not known, but it is possible that this species displays greenish or even reddish shades when alive, which often fade into yellow-brown when preserved in ethanol.

Life history and habitat preferences.

Mature males of L. cincinnata sp. nov. were almost exclusively found between October and December. Mature females were found between October and January, although some were found in April and one in July.

Records of L. cincinnata sp. nov. are almost entirely from rainforests at altitudes above 500 m. The only information on its leaf-curling behaviour was found with one specimen (QM S26348): " spider in folded leaf of Liane with thread to tree, daytime ".

Distribution.

Leviana cincinnata sp. nov. has so far only been reported from northern Queensland between about 16°20'S and 18°03'S Latitude (Fig. 9 ).

Figures

Figure 6. Leviana gen. nov., cleared epigynes, posterior view. A. L. dimidiata comb. nov. (AM KS. 81993); B. L. cincinnata sp. nov. (QM S 111931). Scale bars: 0.05 mm.

Figure 7. Leviana dimidiata comb. nov., male (QM S 111921). A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Habitus, ventral view; C. Left male pedipalp, ventral view; left male pedipalp, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, D). Arrow in (A) points to diagnostic character distinguishing L. dimidiata comb. nov. and L. folium sp. nov.

Figure 9. Distribution records of Leviana dimidiata comb. nov. and L. cincinnata sp. nov.

Figure 10. Leviana cincinnata sp. nov., male holotype (QM S 26364). A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Habitus, ventral view; C. Left male pedipalp, ventral view; left male pedipalp, dorsal view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, D). Arrow in (A) points to diagnostic character between L. dimidiata sp. nov. and L. folium sp. nov.

Figure 11. Leviana cincinnata sp. nov., female (A-E QM S 111931; F NHMD 12202). A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Habitus, ventral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Epigyne, lateral view; E. Epigyne, posterior view; F. Epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: 2 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, D).