Mitzoruga marmorea ( Hogg, 1896 ) Hogg, 1896

Raven, Robert J., 2009, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: IV. The spider subfamily Diaprograptinae subfam. nov. (Araneomorphae: Miturgidae), Zootaxa 2035, pp. 1-40 : 29-31

Mitzoruga marmorea ( Hogg, 1896) , comb. nov.

( Figs 19 a–c, 20a, b, 25a)

Zora marmorea Hogg, 1896: 326 .

Uliodon marmoreus: Rainbow 1911: 247 .

Material examined. Syntypes. 2 females, Palm Creek, McDonnell Ranges, 24°04'S 132°40'E, Northern Territory,1896, Horn Expedition, 1896 ( NMV K936, 937); 2 males, 1 female, same data (AMS KS52055, ex. K1959); 1 female, same data ( BMNH 1897.1.1.18.7).

Other material. Australia: Northern Territory: male, Glen Helen, 23°25'S 132°14'E, 20 July 1933 ( NMV K4472); 3 females, Illamurta Springs (vibration), 24°18'30"S 132°41'10"E, 24 March 1993, D. Hirst ( SAMA NN 6234–6); 1 female [3 penultimate males], same locality as previous, 23 March 1993 ( SAMA NN 6233); 1 female, same locality as previous, 25–26 March 1993 ( SAMA NN 6237); 1 female, 16km W of Ruby Gap National Park entrance, 23°30'S 134°49'E, 22 March 1993, D. Hirst ( SAMA NN 6238). South Australia: 1 female, 8.7km WSW Johnson Bore, 29°33'30"S 136°08'21"E, 6 October 1995, D.E.L.M. Stony Desert Biological Survey ( SAMA NN 6197); 2 males, 2 females [11j], North Mt Woodroffe, 26°16'S 131°45'E, 21 October 1994, ex mallee, Pitjantjatara Lands Survey ( SAMA NN 6198–201); 1 female, 7km Mt Woodroffe, 26°17'S 131°48'E, 16 October 1994, Pitjantjatara Lands Survey ( SAM NN 6202); 1 female, Christmas Ck, Mt Crispe, 26°24'S 135°23'E, ANZSES Expedition, 27 August 1992 ( NMV K4471).

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of M. insularis in the relatively longer male palpal tibia ( Fig. 19 a), RTA ( Fig. 19 c) and cymbium and the broader median apophysis ( Fig. 19 b), and from M. elapines in the simple undivided median apophysis. Distodorsal ridge of recurved setae on cymbium poorly defined and no thicker setae posterolateral of that ( Fig. 19 a). Females differ from those of M. insularis , sp. nov. in the broader epigynal septum ( Fig. 20 a) and smaller trianguloid shape formed by the dissimilarly wide spermathecae ( Fig. 20 b).

Description. Male (NMV K4472)

Carapace 3.83 long, 2.77 wide. Abdomen 3.77 long, 2.00 wide. Colour. Carapace, including eye region, fawn, without darker marking. Otherwise like M. elapines sp. nov.. Carapace. Uniform cover of long fawn hairs. 5–8 long thick bristles project forward from clypeus. Eyes. AME clearly smallest. Both rows clearly recurved, posterior row more so. Chelicerae. Small, vertical; dentition, 3P, 2R. Sternum cordate; uniform cover of thick, erect, hardly tapering bristles, also present but shorter on ventral coxae including maxillae. Spines. Very long spines basally on dorsal femora. I: fe pv1p1d3r2; pa0; ti p2r 2v 4.2.2; me p1r 1v 2.2. II: fe pv1p2d3r2; pa0; ti p2r 2v 3.2.2; me p1r 1v 2.2. III: fe pv1p3d3r3; pa 0; ti p2d2r 2v 3.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.2.1v2.2.1. IV: fe p4d3r2; pa0; ti p2d2.1r 2v 3.2.2; me p1.2.1r2.2.1 v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d1.1.2; pa p1; ti p3. Legs. RCH a pinhole. Coxal bases with slight triangular projections posteriorly. I: 3.25, 1.67, 2.58, 2.83, 1.83, 12.17. II: 3.17, 1.67, 2.83, 2.58, 1.58, 11.83. III: 2.67, 1.33, 1.75, 2.75, 1.83, 10.33. IV: 3.92, 1.67, 3.50, 3.83, 1.33, 14.25. Palp: 1.75, 1.00, 0.83, –, 1.33, 4.92. Scopula . Tarsi (rubbed) I–II present; hairs dense, obscuring cuticle; IV with line of emergent setae. Metatarsi I–II strong, in 2 lateral bands for distal two-thirds and also ventral for distal quarter; in weak distal quarter on III, IV and tibiae. Claw tufts strong, as high as claws. Palp ( Figs 19 a–c). Tibia ca. twice as long as wide with long curved triangular prong on prolateral corner; RTA laterally resembles two long narrow curved beaks with unsclerotised areas at each base; retroventral collar of tibia sclerotised with distinct erect cone and narrow notch beside base of tibia apophysis. Subtegulum prolateral and roughly triangular rounded ridge distally with long, wide, sclerotised, collariform conductor. Median apophysis ( Fig. 19 b) central, slightly scooped, shield-like, with small bifid apex distally. Embolus origin small, basal; embolus tapers quickly runs clockwise arising retrodistally. Cymbium asymmetrical with short rounded apex and distinct wide sclerotised groove retrolaterally and with strong comb of curved setae ectally; deep retrolateral groove for ca. half length; apically a narrow but poorly defined ridge of thick, recurved setae.

Female SAMA NN6237. Like male but: Colour. Carapace orange brown with narrow brown edge on lateral margin and pair of irregular brown patches postero-lateral of fovea. Abdomen like male. Legs. I: 2.44, 1.34, 1.97, 1.69, 1.03, 8.47. II: 2.25, 1.25, 1.91, 1.59, 0.94, 7.94. III: 2.13, 1.13, 1.69, 1.50, 1.03, 7.33. IV: 2.81, 1.25, 2.44, 2.72, 1.03, 10.25. Palp: 0.97, 0.56, 0.72, –, 0.94. Spines. None on patellae I–IV. I: fe p2d2; ti v1.2.1; me v2. II: fe p4d2; ti v1.2.1; me v2. III: fe p4d3r3; ti p3d2r 2v 1.2.2; me p1.2.1r1.2.1v2.1. IV: fe p2d3r1; ti p3d2.1r 2v 1.2.2; me p1.2.2r2.2.2v2.1.1.1. Palp: fe p1d1.2; pa p1 d1 apical; ti p3r2; ta p2r 2v 2.

Scopula . Absent on tibiae; full on metatarsi I, II and tarsi I–III, distal half of metatarsi III, weak on tarsi IV, absent on metatarsi IV. Epigyne ( Figs 15 a, b). A wide median septum anteriorly interlocking with wide L- or J-shaped fossae.

Distribution ( Fig. 25 a). Known only from MacDonnell Ranges in southern Northern Territory and nearby Glen Helen and northern and central South Australia.

Remarks. Although the material from South Australia was taken quite remote from other material, the epigyne both internally and externally are consistent with the material from the Northern Terittory. The syntypes were all in poor condition.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Mitzoruga elapines sp. nov., palpal tibia and cymbium, scanning electron micrographs: a, bulb, ventral view; b, cymbium and tibia, retrolateral view; c, RTA, retrolateral view; d, median apophysis, ventral view.

FIGURE 19. Mitzoruga marmorea (Hogg), male, palp tibia and cymbium, scanning electron micrographs: a, ventral view; b, median apophysis, ventral view; c, RTA and cymbial edge, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 20. Mitzoruga marmorea (Hogg), female: a, b. epigyne, external (a) and internal (b) views.

FIGURE 25. Distribution records of Miturgidae in Australia: a, Diaprograpta, Eupograpta, Mitzoruga and Nuliodon; b, all records of Miturgidae for Australia.