Karaops ellenae, Crews, Sarah C. & Harvey, Mark S., 2011

Crews, Sarah C. & Harvey, Mark S., 2011, The spider family Selenopidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Australasia and the Oriental Region, ZooKeys 99, pp. 1-104 : 57-59

Karaops ellenae sp. n. Figs 73-76110Map 6

Type material.

Holotype male (WAM T93/1366): Mount Cooke, 32°25'S, 116°18'E, Western Australia, Australia, 25.II.1992, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock. Paratype: Mount Cooke 32°25'S, 116°18'E, Western Australia, Australia, 1.X.1990, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, 1♀ (WAM T93/1359).

Other material examined.

AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: Beraking Brook Crossing, 32°10'S, 116°25'E, 1.X.1995, J.M. Waldock, under wooden plank, 1♀ (WAM T54987); west of Beraking Brook Crossing, 32°10'S, 116°25'E, 3.X.1994, J.M. Waldock, K. Brimmell, Y. Konishi, under granite rock at base of outcrop, 1♂ (WAM T54986); Canning Dam, Turtle Creek, 32°09'16"S, 116°07'17"E, 26.VIII.2003, V. Framenau, under rock on rocky outcrop, 1♂ (WAM T56032); Darlington, 31°55'S, 116°05'E, 5.IX.1962, E.S. Ross, D. Cavagnaro, 4♀ (CAS 9031586); Darlington, 31°55'S, 116°05'E, 1.I.1966, G.H. Lowe, 1♀ (WAM T93/1351); Darlington, 31°55'S, 116°05'E, 1.I.1972, G.H. Lowe), 1♀ (WAM T93/135); Darlington, 31°55'S, 116°05'E, 19.XI.1979, T. Crawford, 1 immature (WAM T T93/1353); Glenbourne Farm, south of Gracetown, 33°53'S, 115°00'E, 23.XI.1998, J.M. Waldock, 1♂ (WAM T54989); Glen Forrest, 31°55'S, 116°06'E, 3.XII.1973, S.M. Wade, 1♀ (WAM T T93/1354); Gosnells, 32°04'S, 116°00'E, 1.VIII.1969, G. Power, 1♀ (WAM T93/1355); Jarrahdale (Alcoa) Mine area, 32°16'S, 116°06'E, 5.X.1997, K.E.C. Brennan, pitfall, 1♀ (WAM T55033); Jarrahdale (Alcoa) Mine area, near Wungong Dam, junction of Haul and Phillips Roads, 32°14'S, 116°04'E, VIII.1997, K.E.C. Brennan), on side of stump, jarrah forest, unburnt for 8 years, 1♂ (WAM_55032); Mt. Cooke 32°25'S, 116°18'E, Western Australia, Australia, 1.X.1990, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, 1♀ (WAM T93/1359); Mt. Cooke, 32°25'S, 116°18'E, 7.VIII.1990, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, M. Peterson, 2♀, 1♂, 3 immatures (WAM T T93/1360- T93/1365); Mount Cooke, 32°25'S, 116°18'E, 19.IX.1991, M.S. Harvey, J.M. Waldock, under rock, 1♀, 1 immature (WAM T T93/1356, T T93/1357); Mount Cooke, 32°25'S, 116°18'E, 18.IX.1995, J.M. Waldock, A. Sampey, under granite rock, 1♀ (WAM T54990); Mount Dale, quarry site on southeast slope, 32°08'S, 116°08'E, 30.IX.1996, J.M. Waldock, under granite rock, 1♂ (WAM T54991); Mount Dale, southwest slopes, 32°07'S, 116°17'E, 27.IX.1998, J.M. Waldock, under rocks, 1♂ (WAM T76593); Serpentine National Park, Serpentine Falls, 32°22'S, 116°00'E, 9.IX.2006, M. Rix, J. Wojcieszeck, 1♂ (WAM T77333); South edge of Beraking Brook, Smith Road, 6.5 km southeast of Mount Dale, 32°08'S, 116°21'E, 26.IX.1999, J.M. Waldock, A. Sampey, under granite slab, 1♀ (WAM T54988); Waylunga Pool, 31°44'S, 116°04'E, VII.1954, W.H. Butler, 1♀ (WAM T54992).

Etymology.

This species is named in honor of the second author’s (MSH) daughter, Ellen Harvey.

Diagnosis.

Males of this species can be separated from others by the irregular shaped and unsclerotized MA, and the conductor has a pointed projection terminally (Fig. 73). Females of this species can be distinguished from others by the medially located copulatory organs and the widely spaced epigynal pockets (Fig. 75).

Description.

Male (holotype):Color: carapace yellow-brown, with slightly darker marks medially; sternum pale yellow-brown; chelicerae pale yellow with darker infuscations anteriorly and laterally; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale brown; abdomen dorsally yellow-brown with red-brown and grey markings; ventrally pale yellow-brown; legs with segments clearly annulated, annulations do not comple tely encircle femorae, legs darkening distally at tibiae; annulations lighter in centers giving a 'leopard spot’ appearance. Cephalothorax: setae long and thin; 0.88 times longer than broad; fovea longitudinal, broad, very shallow. Eyes:anterior AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.54; eye diameters, AME 0.19, ALE 0.12, PME 0.24, PLE 0.26; interdistances AME-ALE 0.34, PME-PLE 0.25, ALE-PLE 0.17, AME-PME 0.05; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.51, PME-PME 1.2; clypeus 0.1 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; lateral boss present, smooth; promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2 teeth; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum: 0.9 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Pedipalp:femur, spination dorsal 1 –2– 1; retrolateral tibial apophysis with 2 processes, dorsal apophysis long, tapered and pointed at tip, ventral apophysis short, broad, rounded and flattened; retrolateral basal cymbial process present; cymbial scopulae absent, cymbium round to triangular, angled bottom right; conductor large, crescent-shaped, with two terminal processes, the anterior process is slightly curved and pointed, the posterior process is rounded; embolus very long and slender, arising from an ovoid base that tapers abruptly, beginning at 6 o’clock, terminating at 1 o’clock; MA amorphous, slightly sclerotized, with one pointed process (Figs 73-74). Legs:leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 3241; scopulae absent on all legs; tarsus I–IV with strong claw tufts; pr claws with c. 10 teeth, rl claws with none; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti d 0, v 2 –2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2– 2; Ti and Mt I and II with strong spines; leg II, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1; Ti v 2 –2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2– 2; leg III, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0 –1– 1; Ti 0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti 0; Mt 0. Abdomen:terminal setal tufts present. Dimensions: Total length 5.15. Cephalothorax length 2.75, width 3.12. Sternum length 1.47, width 1.63. Abdomen length 2.49, width 2.06. Pedipalp: Fm 0.79, Pt 0.41, Ti 0.38, Ta 0.77, (total) 2.35. Leg I: Fm 3.49, Pt 1.32, Ti 2.89, Mt 2.62, Ta 1.43, (total) 11.75. Leg II: Fm 4.28, Pt 1.28, Ti 3.45, Mt 2.79, Ta 1.63, (total) 13.43. Leg III: Fm 4.22, Pt 1.25, Ti 3.59, Mt 3.09, Ta 1.49, (total) 13.64. Leg IV: Fm 4.11, Pt 1.09, Ti 3.39, Mt 3.22, Ta 1.49, (total) 13.30.

Female (paratype): Color: carapace yellow-brown, with slightly darker marks medially; sternum pale yellow-brown; chelicerae pale yellow with darker infuscations anteriorly and laterally; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale brown; abdomen dorsally yellow-brown with darker markings; ventrally pale yellow-brown; legs with all segments clearly annulated. Cephalothorax:setae long and thin; 0.89 times longer than broad; fovea longitudinal, broad, very shallow. Eyes:AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 2.09; eye diameters, AME 0.22, ALE 0.14, PME 0.25, PLE 0.31; interdistances AME-ALE 0.57, PME-PLE 0.37, ALE-PLE 0.12, AME-PME 0.08; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.66, PME-PME 1.65; clypeus 0.11 high. Mouthparts:chelicerae with a few stout setae medially and anteriorly; lateral boss present, smooth; promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2 teeth; maxillae longer than broad, with tuft of conspicuous setae distally; labium distally rounded. Sternum:0.89 times longer than broad, posteriorly indented. Pedipalp:tarsus slightly swollen, claw present, without teeth. Legs:leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 2341; scopulae absent on all legs; tarsus I–IV with strong claw tufts; pr claws with c. 10 teeth, rl claws with none; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1 –1– 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti d 0, v 2 –2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2– 2; Ti and Mt I and II with strong spines; leg II, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti v 2 –2–2–2– 2; Mt v 2 –2– 2; leg III, Fm pr 0, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti 0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 0 –0– 1, d 1 –1– 1, rl 0; Ti 0; Mt 0. Abdomen:terminal setal tufts present. Epigyne:lateral lobes fused, copulatory openings located in center of plate, large epigynal pockets present; internally, ducts coiling 4-5 times leading to small, oblong, ovoid spermathecae, fertilization ducts located posteriorly, posterodorsal fold absent (Figs 75-76). Dimensions: Total length 10.28. Cephalothorax length 3.74, width 4.21. Sternum length 1.99, width 2.23. Abdomen length 6.39, width 5.14. Pedipalp: Fm 0.89, Pt 0.63, Ti 0.65, Ta 0.85, (total) 3.08. Leg I: Fm 3.83, Pt 1.61, Ti 3.39, Mt 2.37, Ta 1.32, (total) 12.52. Leg II: Fm 4.79, Pt 1.89, Ti 3.82, Mt 2.75, Ta 1.37, (total) 14.62. Leg III: Fm 4.98, Pt 1.69, Ti 3.89, Mt 2.53, Ta 1.35, (total) 14.44. Leg IV: Fm 4.75, Pt 1.42, Ti 3.61, Mt 3.11, Ta 1.38, (total) 14.27.

Natural history.

Collected from beneath bark, rocks and other debris.

Distribution.

Along the west coast of southwest Australia (Map 6).