Oxyopes amoenus L. Koch, 1878

Baehr, Barbara C., Harms, Danilo, Duperre, Nadine & Raven, Robert, 2017, The Australian Lynx Spiders (Araneae, Oxyopidae, Oxyopes) of the Godeffroy Collection, including the description of a new species, Evolutionary Systematics 1 (1), pp. 11-37 : 15

Oxyopes amoenus L. Koch, 1878 Figs 3 A–E, 4 A–E, 19A, B, 20A

569. Oxyopes amoenus L. Koch, 1878, 1017-1020, Taf. 89, Fig. 4 + 4 a u. 5 + 5 a, Australien, Rockhampton, Gayndah, 3 Syntypen (Mus. GODEFFROY Nr. 16498) (37) ( Rack 1961).

Material examined.

Designated here: MALE LECTOTYPE (ZMH-A0000029), from Queensland, Rockhampton, 23°22'S, 150°30'E, Godeffroy Collection. (ZMH-A0000003) 1 female paralectotype, same as lectotype; (ZMH-A0000004) 1 male paralectotype, Sydney, 33°51'S, 151°12'E, Godeffroy Collection.

Diagnosis.

Males of Oxyopes amoenus are similar to those of Oxyopes punctatus in having a long retrobasal, hooked cymbial process but can be distinguished by the different shape of the tegular apophysis (Figs 3D, 19A). Females of Oxyopes amoenus are similar to Oxyopes molarius but can be separated by the shorter straighter lateral lobes and the 3 coils, which are clearly visible apically of the T-shaped scapus (Figs 4 C–E, 20A).

Description.

Male (Lectotype, ZMH-A0000029). Total length 5.85. Prosoma 2.72 long, 2.15 wide, pl/pw 1.26; sternum 1.10 long, 0.98 wide, sl/sw 1.12; opisthosoma 3.13 long, 1.64 wide. Eight eyes in four rows with six eyes forming a hexagon, AME smallest ALE biggest, others equal in size; AME 0.11; ALE 0.21; PLE 0.18; PME 0.18; ALE–ALE 0.20; ALE–AME 0.07; AME–AME 0.14; ALE–PLE 0.19; PLE–PME 0.25; PME–PME 0.27. Clypeus 0.46 high with a pair of longitudinal broad brown bands. Prosoma pale with broad brown bands laterally and one triangular medially, broadly oval, posteriorly rounded; fovea short, 0.13 of prosoma length. Chelicerae paturon pale with longitudinal broad median dark band and lateral condyle. Endites and sternum pale, labium and lateral part of sternum dark brown; opisthosoma pale with dark brown markings laterally and a median band becoming a series of triangles posteriorly; venter pale with two longitudinal dark brown stripes laterally and a dark brown band medially. Legs pale, scattered with dark brown markings. Body covered with thick pale setae. Male palp (Figs 3 C–E, 19A, B): cymbium broadly oval, with long retrobasal, hooked process, covered with pale setae and 1 prolateral spine in distal third; median tegular apophysis nearly rectangular with distal protuberance in prolatero-distal position, conductor membranous, broad, with hook-like distal part, originating retro-distally; sperm duct u-shaped; embolus semicircular covered partly by mta, with sharp retro-distal tip fitting in down-curved distal tegular apophysis and apex of conductor; tibia with 3 long strong setae and rectangular, ventral tibial apophysis. Female (paralectotype, ZMH–A 0000003). Total length 8.14. Prosoma 3.11 long, 2.27 wide, pl/pw 1.37; sternum 1.22 long, 1.06 wide, sl/sw 1.15; opisthosoma 5.03 long, 3.33 wide. Colour as in male. Opisthosoma pear-shaped; Eyes AME 0.08; ALE 0.19; PLE 0.19; PME 0.19; ALE–ALE 0.25; ALE–AME 0.09; AME–AME 0.12; ALE–PLE 0.19; PLE–PME 0.25; PME–PME 0.32. Clypeus 0.76 high. Female epigyne (Figs 4 C–E, 20A): with broad T-shaped scapus and long lateral lobes, reaching at least the middle of scapus; T arms reaching beyond lateral lobes; copulatory openings in the middle of lateral lobes, copulatory ducts, thin, convoluted with 3 thick coils, ending in egg-shaped lateral spermathecae.

Distribution.

Known originally from Rockhampton in northern Queensland and Sydney in New South Wales. The ALA lists many additional records from central, eastern and Western Australia that need to be checked as part of a taxonomic revision of the Australian oxyopid fauna.

Remarks.

Koch mentioned that Dämel found the specimens he collected on leaf litter. It is likely that all specimens at ZMH were collected by Dämel.