Karaops nyamal, Crews, Sarah C., 2013

Crews, Sarah C., 2013, Thirteen new species of the spider genus Karaops (Araneae: Selenopidae) from Western Australia, Zootaxa 3647 (3), pp. 443-469 : 464-466

Karaops nyamal sp. nov.

( Figs 31–32 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: female, Mount Webber [21˚32’2.4” S 119˚18’34.7” E, Western Australia, Australia], 31 March–7 May 2010, Paul Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, ridge with ESE aspect (WAM T107697). Paratype: 1 female, Mount Webber [21˚31’21” S 119˚18’41.3” E, Western Australia, Australia], 31 March 2010 – 7 May 2010, Paul Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, ridge with NE aspect (WAM T107698).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 female, Mount Webber, 21˚32’2.4” S 119˚18’34.7” E, 31 March–7 May 2010, Paul Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, ridge with ESE aspect (WAM T125602 (ex T107697)); 1 female, Mount Webber, 21˚32’2.4” S 119˚18’34.7” E, 31 March – 7 May 2010, Paul Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, ridge with ESE aspect (WAM T107696); 1 female, Mount Webber, 21˚31’59.6” S 119˚17’33” E, 29 March–7 May 2010, Paul Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, (gully) (WAM T107699).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the Nyamal language that is indigenous to the type locality. This name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Females of K. nyamal sp. nov. are most similar to K. karrawarla and K. martamarta , but can be distinguished by characters of the epigyne. Ventrally, by the absence of distinct lateral lobes, and dorsally, by a second pair of small spermathecae located at the anteriormost curve of the copulatory ducts ( Figs 31–32 ). Males are unknown.

Description. Female (holotype):

Colour. Dorsal shield of prosoma yellow-brown, with slightly darker marks laterally; sternum pale yellow; chelicerae yellow-brown with dark infuscations anteriorly; maxillae pale yellow-brown, lightening distally; labium pale brown, lightening distally; opisthosoma dorsally reddish-brown, with red, dark, and grey setae, greyish horizontal w-shaped marks; ventrally pale yellow-brown; legs with segments clearly annulated, but annulations do not completely encircle femora, legs darkening distally at tibiae; annulations lighter in centres.

Prosoma. 0.89 times longer than broad; clypeus 0.13 high.

Eyes. AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.23; eye diameters, AME 0.18, ALE 0.05, PME 0.25, PLE 0.38; interdistances AME-ALE 0.64, PME-PLE 0.32, ALE-PLE 0.27, AME-PME 0.04; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.48, PME-PME 0.96.

Sternum. 0.92 times longer than broad.

Chelicerae. Promargin with 3 teeth, retromargin with 2 teeth.

Female pedipalp. Claw with ca. 6 teeth.

Epigyne ( Fig. 31 ). Lateral lobes not distinct; medially depressed; m-shaped hood located medially; copulatory openings located beneath hood.

Vulva ( Fig. 32 ). Copulatory ducts long, narrow, directed anteriorly, curving posteriorly; at the top of the curve are a small pair of spermathecae; ducts curve inward medially, coming close but not touching, then curve outward laterally to oval, medium-sized spermathecae; fertilisation ducts directed anterolaterally.

Opisthosoma. Caudal setal tufts present.

Legs. Leg formula unknown (at least one leg missing); tarsal claws without teeth; Leg II, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 0; Ti v 2-2 -2-2-2; Mt v 2-2 -2-2; Leg III, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 0; Ti v 2-2; Mt v 2 -0; IV, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 0-0-1; Ti v 2-2; Mt v 2 -0-0.

Measurements. Total length 5.43. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 2.75, width 3.11. Sternum length 1.41, width 1.54. Opisthosoma length 2.68, width 2.68. Pedipalp: Fm 0.79, Pt 0.54, Ti 0.54, Ta 0.68, (total) 2.55. Leg I: Absent. Leg II: Fm 3.84, Pt 1.32, Ti 2.64, Mt 2.32, Ta 1.13, (total) 11.25. Leg III: Fm 3.90, Pt 1.34, Ti 2.98, Mt 2.54, Ta 1.16, (total) 11.92. Leg IV: Fm 3.54, Pt 1.13, Ti 2.54, Mt 2.68, Ta 1.13, (total) 11.02.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality and immediate vicinity ( Fig. 37 ). Life history and habitat preferences. Unknown.

Remarks. No variation noticed between the copulatory organs or the somatic characters of the different specimens examined. Total body lengths range between 5.43–6.57.

Figures

FIGURE 37. Map of Australia. Inset A showing the Pilbara region of Western Australia with the records of Karaops nyiyaparli sp. nov. (black squares), Karaops banyjima sp. nov. (black hexagon), Karaops nyamal sp. nov. (black triangle), Karaops feedtime sp. nov. (white diamond), Karaops kariyarra sp. nov. (white stars), Karaops nyangumarta sp. nov. (white Xs), Karaops yurlburr sp. nov. (white triangle), Karaops ngarluma sp. nov. (black stars), Karaops yindjibarndi sp. nov. (black diamond), Karaops jaburrara sp. nov. (black X), Karaops forteyi sp. nov. (white rhomboids), Karaops burbidgei (white square), Karaops martamarta (white circles); Inset B showing the records of Karaops umiida sp. nov. (black circles); Inset C showing eastern Western Australia and western Northern Territory with the records of Karaops yumbu sp. nov. (white hexagon).

FIGURES 31 – 36. Karaops nyamal sp. nov. 31 epigyne; 32 vulva. Karaops banyjima sp. nov. 33 epigyne; 34 vulva. Karaops yumbu sp. nov. 35 – 36 left pedipalp (35 ventral, 36 retrolateral view). Scales: 0.50 mm.