Nuliodon fishburni, Raven, Robert J., 2009

Raven, Robert J., 2009, Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: IV. The spider subfamily Diaprograptinae subfam. nov. (Araneomorphae: Miturgidae), Zootaxa 2035, pp. 1-40 : 32-37

Nuliodon fishburni sp. nov.

( Figs 21 a–d, 22a–g, 23a, b, 24a–c, 25a, 26b)

Material examined. Holotype. male, Fraser Island: Orchid Beach, Fishburn property, 24°57'S 153°17'E, southeastern Queensland, 19 August–16 September 1997, pitfall, R. Raven, P. Lawless, eucalypt forest (QM S31483 ).

Paratypes. Allotype female, North Stradbroke Island, Enterprise Mine, Mallee #3, 27°35'S 153°26'E, southeastern Queensland, 11 January 2002, QM party (QM S72691 ).

Other material examined. Australia: Queensland: Southeastern Queensland: 5 males, 3 females, same data as holotype (QM S31485 ); 4 females, Bellbird Grove, Brisbane Forest Park, 27°28'S 153°00'E, 9 January 1997, R. J. Raven (QM S31336 ); 1 male, Belmont Hills Bushlands, 27°30'S 153°07'E, 1–30 October 2003, QM party (QM S63963 ); 1 male, same data but 30 October–1 December 2003 (QM S63964 ); 1 female, same data but 1 November 2003 (QM S63967); 1 female, same data but 30 January–1 March 2004 (QM S63973); 1 male, Binjour Plateau, Redvale Rd, 25°32'S 151°27'E, 23 September–21 December 1997, intercept flight trap, G. Monteith, D. Cook, open forest (QM S44526 ); 1 female, Binjour Plateau, 25°28'S 151°22'E, 17 November 2000, R. Raven, B. Baehr (QM S60166 ); 1 male, 2 females, Binjour Plateau, "dump" S of Highway, 2528'S 151°22'E, 16 November 2000 – 13 January 2001, pitfall trap, R. Raven, rainforest (QM S58608 ); 1 female, Braemar SF, 27°12'S 150°50'E, 4–8 February 1980, R. Raven and Qld Museum, cypress and brigalow, litter (QM S39141 ); 1 female, same data but 15–19 October 1979 (QM S39140 ); 1 male, 1 female, Buhot Creek, Burbank, 27°35'S 153°10'E, 30 June–28 July 2003, pitfall trap, S. Wright, E. Volschenk, woodland/riparian (QM S62858 ); 2 males, same data but 6 November 2003, QM party (QM S68911 ); 2 males, Camira, 27°37'S 152°55'E, 20 October 1996, R. J. Raven (QM S31329 , S31353 ); 1 male, Doolandella, Paradise Rd, 27°36'S 153°01'E, 1–15 February 2002, pitfall trap, C. Burwell, open forest (QM S62981 ); 1 female, Drewvale, Illaweena St, 27°38'S 153°03'E, 17 February 2004, QM party (QM S68915 ); 1 female, Enoggera Reservoir, 27°26'S 152°54'E, 27 January–15 March 2000, pitfall trap, G. Monteith, J. Holt, open forest (QM S70396); 1 male, Fraser Island, Orchid Beach, Marloo Ave, 24°57'S 153°18'E, 7 July –3 December 1998, R. Raven, P. Lawless (QM S51875 ); 2 males, Fraser Is, Orchid Beach, 24°57'S 153°18'E, 20 August–7 December 1997, pitfall trap, R. Raven, P. Lawless, heathland (QM S41755 ); 1 male, Gold Creek Reservoir, 27°27'S 152°52'E, 1–30 October 2003, pitfall trap, QM party, spotted gum, open forest (QM S63965); 1 female, same data but 31 March –30 April 2004 (QM S63966); 1 female, same data but 23 February 2004 (QM S63968); 2 males, 1 female, same data but 30 October–1 December 2003 (QM S63969); 1 male, same data but 1 December 2003 – 2 January 2004 (QM S63970); 1 male, same data but 2–30 January 2004, QM S63971); 1 male, same data but, 30 January–1 March 2004 (QM S63972); 1 male, 1 female, same data but 4 November 2003 (QM S63974); 1 male, Griffith University, Nathan, Brisbane, 27°28'S 153°02'E, 11 December 1975, berlesate, G. Oliver, scribbly gum, heath (QM S39147 ); 1 male, as above but 2–30 January 2004 (QM S68912 ); 1 male, Ipswich: Kholo, Coal Ck, 27°34'S 152°44'E, 13 January–16 May 1999, G. Monteith, open forest (QM S49997 ); 1 male, 1 female, Karawatha Forest, 27°37'S 153°05'E, 1994, D. Stewart (QM S39183 ); 1 male, 1 female, Karawatha Forest, site 6, 27°37'S 153°05'E, 2–31 October 2003, QM party, eucalypt woodland (QM S54970 ); 1 male, 5 November 2003 (QM S54978 ); 1 female, Kroombit Tops, Site 16, 24°22'S 151°02'E, 14 December 1983, G. Monteith, V. Davies, J. Gallon, G. Thompson, open forest, sieved litter (QM S39139 ); 1 female, Lake Broadwater (Site 2), 27°20'S 151°05'E, 3 January –25 February 1986, QLD Museum and M. Bennie (QM S39530 ); 1 male, same data but, 17 May–24 November 1985 (QM S39531); 1 male, Moreton Is, 27°11'S 153°24'E, 29 November 1978, V. Davies T. Tebble, beach, litter (QM S31084 ); 1 male, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane, 27°29'S 152°57'E, 17 December 1996, R. J. Raven, open forest (QM S41182 ); 1 male, same data but, March – August 1992, Brian Heterick (QM S41271 ); 1 male, 1 female, Mt Deongwar, 3km S (site 1), 27°13'S 152°14'E, 14 October –30 December 1998, G. Monteith, D. Cook, wet sclerophyll (QM S50103 , S50104 ); 2 males, same data but 30 December 1998 – 26 March 1999, G. Monteith (QM S50039 ); 16 females, 8 males, North Stradbroke Is, Enterprise Mine, Blackbutt site 1, 27°33'S 153°27'E, 8–9 January 2002, QM party (QM S55469; S55502 , S56511 , S55766); 1 male, same data but Blackbutt #2, 8–22 January 2002, QM party (QM S55508 ); 1 male, 3 females, same data but 27°34'S 153°27'E, 9 January 2002 (QM S55445), Blackbutt #3; 4 females, same data but Mallee #1, 27°34'S 153°26'E, 11 January 2002, mallee (QM S55430 , S55436); 3 females, [2j], same data but Mallee #2, 27°35'S 153°26'E (QM S55442 ); 1 female, same data but 10 January 2002, C. J. Burwell (QM S55527); 2 males, 6 females, same data but Mallee #3, 11 January 2002, QM party (QM S55433 ); 2 females, [1j], same data but 7 January 2002 (QM S55765); 1 female, same data but Scribbly Gum #1, 27°36'S 153°26'E, 9–10 January 2002, D. J. Cook, scrubby gully (QM S55591 ); 1 male, 6 females, same data but Scribbly Gum #2, 10 January 2002, QM party (QM S56343 ); 1 male, 6 females [10j], same data but Scribbly Gum #3, 27°36'S 153°26'E, 8–22 January 2002 (QM S55566 ); 1 female, same data but 10 January 2002 (QM S55772); 1 female, North Stradbroke Is: "Gordon" (Gc), 27°38'S 153°24'E, March 1997, U. Nolte, open forest (QM S40989 ); 1 female [1j], North Stradbroke Is., "Gordon" (GE), 27°40'S 153°24'E, September 1997, U. Nolte, open forest (QM S41014 ); 1 male, 2 females, Nipping Gully (Site 1), 25°40'S 151°25'E, 18 December 1998 – 26 January 1999, pitfall trap, G. Monteith, C. Gough, rainforest (QM S50394); 2 males, Orchid Beach, Fraser Is, 24°57'S 153°19'E, 7 March–1 October 1996, pitfall trap, R. J. Raven, heathland (QM S31291 ); 1 male, 1 female, Pine Mt EP, 27°32'S 152°41'E, 13 January–16 May 1999, pitfall trap, G. Monteith, open forest (QM S49992 ); 2 males, 3 females, [2 penultimate males], Ransome Reserve, 27°29'S 153°11'E, 10 November 2003, QM party, Casuarina woodland (QM S68914 ); 1 male, same data but 1 December 2003 – 2 January 2004 (QM S68917 ); 1 male, same data but, 2–29 January 2004 (QM S68916 ); 1 male, same data but, 30 October –1 December 2003 (QM S68913 ); 1 female, Rochedale SF, 27°37'S 153°08'E, 5 March 1985, R. J. Raven (QM S39145 ); 1 male, same data but 20 December 1979, R. Raven, V. Davies (QM S39146 ); 1 male, 2 females, same data but 23 November 1979 (QM S39143 ); 1 male, 1 female, same data but 31 January 1980 (QM S39144 ); 2 females, Springfield, Brisbane, 152°55'E 27°40'S, 19 September 1998, K. Walker, G. Robinson (QM S42750 , S42755 ); 1 male, Taroom District, Boggomoss (No.19), 25°25'S 150°00'E, 11 November 1996 – January 1997, G. Monteith, D. Cook (QM S36208 ); 1 male, The Bluff, Keysland, 26°13'S 151°41'E trap, 24 November 1995 – 3 February 1996, flight intercept trap, G. Monteith, open forest (QM S37635 ). Mideastern Queensland. 2 females, Blackdown Tableland, 23°50'S 149°02'E, 1–6 February 1981, R. J. Raven (QM S39142 ); 1 male, Mt Archer, Rockhampton, 23°20'S 150°35'E, 19 July–22 October 1990, pitfall trap, D. Wallace, R. Raven, K. Williams, semi-evergreen vine thicket (QM S19594 ); 1 male, Mt Chalmers (Hollins ppty), 23°18'S 150°38'E, D. Wallace (QM S22180 ); 1 male, Mt Gavial, 3km SSE, 23°37'S 150°28'E, 18 December 1998 – 14 March 1999, pitfall trap, D. J. Cook, open forest (QM S49989 ); 1 male, Olsen's Caverns (DW8), 23°10'S 150°27'E, 21 March 1991, pitfall trap, D. Wallace, R. Raven, K. Williams, open forest (QM S19834 ); 1 female, The Caves (DW 7), 23°11'S 150°27'E, 18 July –23 October 1990, pitfall trap, D. Wallace, R. Raven, K. Williams, open forest (QM S41287 ); 2 females, 2 males, Yeppoon, Bangalee Beach, 23°06'S 150°44'E, 1 December 1992 – March 1993, pitfall and intercept traps, A. Walford, (QM S27485 , S27488 ).

Diagnosis: As for genus.

Etymology: For Paul Fishburn, Queensland wildlife (EPA) ranger and naturalist, Fraser Island, in appreciation of his diverse knowledge, excellent observations and sound field advice.

Description. Male (holotype, QM S31483 )

Carapace 2.25 long, 1.75 wide. Abdomen 2.65 long, 1.31 wide. Colour. Carapace mottled dark brown with lighter band centrally and submarginally; chelicerae and legs concolorous except for metatarsi orange brown with brown medial and distal rings, tarsi light orange-brown; sternum, maxillae, labium and coxae light orange-brown. Abdomen dorsally greyish-fawn with black flecks becoming larger and more dominant laterally but almost absent ventrally. Carapace. Light cover of short grey, fine bristles; band of ca. 12 long bristles project forward from clypeal edge. Chelicerae. Long bristles on inner edge. Legs. Coxae and trochanters dorsally with prolateral line of ca. 6 long bristles projecting forward with distinct gap to similar group on retrolateral face. I: 1.56, 0.97, 1.41, 1.13, 0.78, 5.84. II: 1.34, 0.97, 1.22, 0.97, 0.72, 5.22. III: 1.41, 0.78, 1.06, 1.16, 0.72, 5.13. IV: 2.03, 0.94, 1.69, 1.78, 0.69, 7.13. Palp: 0.66, 0.41, 0.41, –, 0.71, 2.19. Spines. I: fe pv1p1d2; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. II: fe pv1p1d2; ti p 1v 2.2.2; me p1r 1v 2.2. III: fe pv1p2d3r3; ti p3d1.2r 2v 2.2.2; me p1.2.2r2.2.2v2.2.3. IV: fe pv1p2d3r1; ti p3d2r 3v 3.2.2; me p2.2.1r2.2.2v2.2.3. Palp: fe p1d1.1.1.2; pa 0; ti p1. Palp ( Fig. 21 ). RTA includes two processes, flat outer and larger process pointing dorsally and spike on ventral corner; deep sclerotised saddle across to low ridge beside tibia; unsclerotised crescent in saddle between two. Bulb. Subtegulum flat, rounded on probasal corner; tegulum roughly Cshaped from mid-prolateral edge distally across to mid-retrolateral edge. Median apophysis a large apically bifid hooked process distocentrally; embolus origin large triangular, from median apophysis base swings across to prolateral edge at ca. half of bulb passing behind median apophysis to rest in small conductor on retrodistal corner.

Female (allotype, QM S72601 )

Carapace 2.18 long, 1.63 wide. Abdomen 2.81 long, 1.75 wide. Total length 6.13. As for genus but: Colour. Carapace, legs and ventral abdomen like male, pattern on dorsal abdomen faded. Legs. RCH small, high on face. I: 1.31, 0.91, 1.13, 0.81, 0.63, 4.78. II: 1.16, 0.84, 1.00, 0.72, 0.53, 4.25. III: 1.09, 0.72, 0.84, 0.72, 0.53, 3.91. IV: 1.78, 0.84, 1.38, 1.59, 0.63, 6.22. Palp: 0.69, 0.34, 0.38, –, 0.59, 2.00. Spines. I, II: fe p1d2; pa 0; ti v4 bristles; me v2 basal. III: fe pv1p2d3r1; pa 0; ti p2r 2v 2.2.2; me p2r 2v 2.1.1. IV: fe p1d2r1; ti p2d3r 2v 2.2.2; me p2.2.2.r2.2.2v2.2.1. Palp: fe p1d2; pa p1; ti p3r 1v 0; tarsus p3d1r2, v2 predistal. Scopula . Weak but entire on tarsi I, II; weak in distal quarter of metatarsi I, II; weak on tarsi III, none on IV. Epigyne ( Figs 22 c, e, 23a, b). Broadly ovoid with funnels forming diagonal ridges anteriorly. Spinnerets. Colulus absent. ALS slightly coniform; PMS cylindrical, almost as long as ALS but about 0.5 diameter; PLS coniform, smaller than ALS, apical segment coniform; no enlarged spigots evident on any articles.

Distribution and habitat ( Fig 25 a). The spiders are found commonly in leaf litter formed in eucalypt forest (e.g., Fig. 26 b) on sandy soil along the coats to about 120km inland from about Rockhampton to southern Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Nuliodon fishburni sp. nov., male: a, palpal tibia, cymbium and bulb, ventral view; b, median apophysis, ventral view; c, d, RTA, ventral (c) and retrolateral view (d).

FIGURE 22. Nuliodon fishburni sp. nov., female: a, habitus; b, carapace, dorsal view; c, epigyne, external view; d, coxae IV, ventral view; e, carapace, abdomen and legs, dorsal view; f, sternum, maxillae and labium, ventral view; g, abdomen, ventral view. Scale lines: 5 mm for a, e; 1 mm for b, f; d, f, g to same scale; 0.2 mm for c.

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

FIGURE 26. Habitats of miturgid species: a, Diaprograpta peterandrewsi sp. nov., Ayrshire Hills, near Winton, Western Queensland (Photo: Andrew Amey); b, Diaprograpta abrahamsae sp. nov. and Nuliodon fishburni sp. nov., Chelsea bushland, near Brisbane (Photo: R. Raven).