Hoggicosa, ROEWER, 1960

Langlands, Peter R. & Framenau, Volker W., 2010, Systematic revision of Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960, the Australian ‘ bicolor’ group of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 158 (1), pp. 83-123 : 90

GENUS HOGGICOSA ROEWER, 1960

Hoggicosa Roewer, 1955: 247 (nomen nudum) – Roewer, 1960: 772.

Type species: Lycosa errans Hogg, 1905 (by original designation). Gender feminine.

Diagnosis: Hoggicosa differs from other Lycosinae by a combination of genitalic and somatic characters. A putative synapomorphy is proposed based on the female epigyne, with the distance between the anterior pockets greater than the width of the posterior transverse part ( Figs 8C , 11C ). An undescribed genus from Brazil shares this trait; however, the anterior pockets extend along the anterior margin of the epigyne and join in a groove, forming somewhat of an ‘m’ shape (see Álvares, 2006: figs 127–150). A second synapomorphy is a patch of ten to 30 dorsally curved macrosetae on the tip of the cymbium in males ( Fig. 1I ). In lateral view, the shield of the prosoma is highest in the cephalic region sloping gently towards posterior end ( Fig. 3A ). The prosoma is uniform in colour or with indistinct radial pattern; median or lateral bands are absent. Females of several species show striking contrast in the colouration of the legs and opisthosoma (similarly coloured as penultimate males, Fig. 1A, D, F ).

Most similar to Hoggicosa are the monotypic genus Knoelle and an undescribed Australian genus represented by the ‘Grey Wolf Spider’ (see Framenau & Baehr, 2007). Knoelle also possess backwards bent macrosetae on the cymbium tip, but in a much larger patch than in Hoggicosa (see Framenau, 2006b, fig. 2). Specimens of the currently undescribed genus including the ‘Grey Wolf Spider’ [ Hickman, 1967: misidentified as Dingosa simsoni ( Simon, 1898) ] are of similar size and shape as Hoggicosa species and build burrows with trapdoors, but they differ by the synapomorphies of Hoggicosa .

Description: Large and robust wolf spiders, TL 11.6– 21.6 in males and 14.4–25.6 in females. Prosoma longer than wide, length 6.4–11.4 in males and 6.9– 10.7 in females. Dorsal shield of prosoma highest in cephalic region, sloping gently towards posterior end ( Fig. 3A ). Dorsal shield of prosoma uniform in colour or with faint radial pattern (sometimes artificially pronounced when preserved in ethanol), without median or marginal bands. AE row strongly procurved. PME greater than PLE and PME narrower than PLE row. Labium as long as wide or slightly longer than wide. Chelicerae with three promarginal teeth, the middle largest, and three retromarginal teeth of equal size. Male leg colouration uniform, females of some species with alternating light and dark pattern on legs. Leg lengths IV> I> II> III. Legs I and II with scopulae on tarsus and metatarsus, also part of tibia in females. Legs III and IV with scopulae on tarsus and half of metatarsus, all of the metatarsus in females.

Natural history: Hoggicosa are predominately found through semi-arid and arid regions of Australia. All species build burrows and many construct doors from sand, with H. snelli using pebbles or debris as a door ( McKay, 1975). As the patch of macrosetae on the male cymbium is found only in adults, it is possible that these are used for courtship behaviour. We have made one observation of an attempted mating between a male and female of H. alfi . When approaching the female, the male used his palps to stroke the ground rapidly towards his body. This was carried out in repeated short bursts of less than a second, and created small ‘dugouts’ in the soft sand.

Hoggicosa are easily kept in the laboratory but can be difficult to rear past the penultimate stage. Our observations suggest that moulting can be triggered by hot and humid weather conditions.

Distribution: Australia.

Figures

Figure 1. Hoggicosa species, habitus photos (A–H) and male diagnostic character (I). A, Hoggicosa bicolor (Hogg) penultimate ♂ from Western Australia (WA), not registered. B, H. bicolor (Hogg) adult ♂ from Lorna Glen Station, WA, WAM T70329. C, Hoggicosa forresti (McKay, 1973) adult male from Lorna Glen Station, WA, WAM T65610. D, Hoggicosa storri (McKay) penultimate ♂ from WA, not registered. E, H. storri (McKay) adult ♂ from Lorna Glen Station, WA, WAM T70277. F, Hoggicosa natashae sp. nov. holotype ♀ from Lake Gilles, SA, SAM NN14785, Photo courtesy of D. Hirst. G, Hoggicosa alfi sp. nov. ♂ from type locality, Lorna Glen Station, WA, not registered. H, H. alfi sp. nov. ♀ from type locality, WAM T70334. I, Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg) lateral view of male cymbium tip with diagnostic macrosetae bent dorsally, from Gluepot Station, SA, SAM NN19314. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Figure 3. Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg) carapace. A, lateral view. B, frontal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Figure 8. Hoggicosa castanea (Hogg). A–B, palp, ♂ from Gluepot Station, South Australia (SA), SAM NN19314. A, ventral; B, palea. C–D, epigynum, ♀ from Fisherman Point, Lincoln National Park, SA, SAM NN15185. C, ventral; D, dorsal. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figure 11. Hoggicosa alfi sp. nov. A–B, palp, ♂ paratype from Lorna Glen Station, Western Australia (WA), WAM T53919. A, ventral; B, palea. C–D, epigynum, ♀ paratype, from Lorna Glen Station, WA, WAM T77406. C, ventral; D, dorsal. E, epigynum, dorsal, ♀ variation from Nanga Station, WA, WAM T62772. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.