Artoria corowa, Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018

Framenau, Volker W. & Baehr, Barbara C., 2018, The wolf spider genus Artoria in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae, Artoriinae), Evolutionary Systematics 2 (2), pp. 169-241 : 169

Artoria corowa sp. n. Figs 14 A–H, 15, 47G Corowa Forest Runner

Material examined.

Holotype male, 14.5 km NW of Corowa, roadside (35°54 ’33”S,146°16’11”, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), November 2000, D. Freudenberger, pitfall trap (AM KS128079). Paratypes: 2 males, data as holotype (AM KS109666); 1 female, northern side of Oxley Highway, just at the bridge over Marthaguy Creek, equivalent to NPWS site NWB0654 (31°40 ’44” S, 148°31 ’07” E, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA), 21 November - 11 December 1999, E. camaldulensis patch, pitfall trap, L. Wilkie, R. Harris, T.M. Moulds (AM KS76583).

Other material examined.

7 males and 22 females in 16 records (all NSW). AUSTRALIA: New South Wales: 1 female, 50 m E of Boonal Road, 4.4 km N from site DRRP026, travelling stock route adjacent to ‘Mooreland’ station, 28°50 ’26” S, 149°42 ’07” E (AM KS76578); 1 male, 14.5 km NW of Corowa, roadside, 35°54 ’33”S,146°16’11” (AM KS109665); 1 female, 3.0 km along Carlton-Brewarrina Road from ‘Murrawombie’ turnoff, E side of road, 31°06 ’38” S, 147°11 ’29” E (AM KS76577); 2 males, 1 female, 3.0 km along Carlton-Brewarrina Road from ‘Murrawombie’ turnoff, E side of road, equivalent to NPWS site NWB0616, 31°06 ’38” S, 147°11 ’29” E (AM KS76703); 1 male, 12 km NNW of Mulwala, 'Namron Park’ farm, 35°53 ’01”S,145°57’40” (AM KS109667); 1 male, 26 km NNW of Mulwala, 35°46 ’22”S,146°05’52” (AM KS84351); 1 male, 1 female, Booti Booti National Park, south of Forster - northern end of dirt track to Jane’s Corner, 32°14 ’28” S, 152°32 ’50” E (AM KS63920); 1 female, ‘Kilyana’ Station, 21.5 km SE of Berrigan, 35°48 ’00” S, 145°58 ’9” E (AM KS84992); 12 females, ‘Llanver’ Station, 1.4 km W on Papworth Lane from junction with Backwater Road, 32°17 ’00” S, 147°53 ’07” E (AM KS76576); 3 females, same locality (AM KS76579-81); 1 female, E side of Nyngan-Canonba Road, 2.9 km S of ‘Fairview’ Station junction, 31°26 ’46” S, 147°15 ’10” E (AM KS76582); 1 male, Tambua Station, Cobar, 31°26 ’S,145°15’ (AM KS86354).

Etymology.

The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the type locality, NW of Corowa.

Diagnosis.

Males of A. corowa sp. n. share with A. booderee sp. n., A. munmorah sp. n. and A. equipalus sp. n. a distinctly bi-lobed tegular apophysis. They differ from these by the tegular apophysis not protruding past the cymbium edge in ventral view and the presence of a disto-ventral cluster of macrosetae. The epigyne of female A. corowa sp. n. is incised posteriorly and therefore most similar to that of A. booderee sp. n., but lacking the distinct semi-circular anterior edge of the epigyne of A. booderee sp. n.

Description.

Male (based on holotype, AM KS128079).

Total length 3.6.

Prosoma. Length 1.9, width 1.4; carapace dark grey; with no lighter marginal band and broad central band, constricted between eye region and fovea (Fig. 14 A); sternum shiny medium-brown, dusted with grey (Fig. 14B).

Eyes. Diameter of AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.24; PLE: 0.18.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, evenly spaced.

Chelicerae. Medium brown darker apically.

Labium. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 14B).

Pedipalp coxae. Dark brown, with lighter anterior rim (Fig. 14B).

Legs. Yellow-brown, with darker annulations; tibiae and metatarsi I darker, less annulated (Fig. 14A).

Opisthosoma. Length 1.7, width 1.2; dark grey with light yellow-brown anterior cardiac mark and lighter irregular markings (Fig. 14A). Venter grey with slightly lighter pattern (Fig. 14B); spinnerets dark grey.

Pedipalps. Tibia globular, as long as broad; Cymbium tip with cluster of macrosetae distal-ventrally (Fig. 14E, F); dorsal scopula patch present; tegular apophysis distally with two semicircular appendices, bent, basally narrowed to ½ width, retrolateral tip just reaching margin of cymbium (Fig. 14E, F); palea about 1 ½ times as long as wide, basoembolic apophysis large, triangular; embolus straight, reaching only half the width of palea; terminal apophysis indistinct (Fig. 47G).

Female (based on paratype AM KS76583).

Total length 4.9.

Prosoma. Length 2.6, width 1.8; carapace and sternum colouration as male (Fig. 14C, D).

Eyes. Diameter of AME 0.09, ALE 0.08, PME 0.28, PLE 0.23.

Anterior eye row. Strongly procurved, evenly spaced.

Opisthosoma. Length 2.6, width 2.1; opisthosoma similar colour as male but cardiac mark less distinct (Fig. 14C, D).

Epigyne: slightly wider than long, strongly sclerotized lateral posterior tips, atrium shaped like an inverted love-heart with posterior incision (Fig. 14G); spermathecal heads globular and around their diameter apart, spermathecal stalks attached laterally and strongly S-shaped (Fig. 14H).

Life history and habitat preferences.

There was little but varied habitat data available with the specimens, including ‘roadside’, ' Eucalyptus largiflorens patch’, ' Eucalyptus camaldulensis patch’, Casuarina cristata patch’ and 'native grassland’, are insufficient to form a clear account of the habitat preferences of A. corowa sp. n. remain unclear. All specimens were collected between November and December, suggesting the species is largely summer mature. The single coastal record of the species, a mature male and female, is from May (autumn).

Distribution.

Artoria corowa sp. n. is known from locations in central NSW from the Cobar Peneplain (COB), Darling River Plains (DRP) and Riverina (RIV) IBRA regions, with one isolated coastal record from the NSW North Coast (NNC) IBRA region (Fig. 15).