Karaops banyjima, 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 : 466

Karaops banyjima sp. nov.

( Figs 33–34 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: female, Area C, 87.3 km NW of Newman [22˚53’43” S 119˚02’42” E, Western Australia, Australia], 17 February 2010, M. Greenham, Biota, in soil (WAM T 101159).

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

Diagnosis. Females of K. banyjima sp. nov. are most similar to K. burbidgei but can be distinguished by the absence of a distinct m-shaped hood over the copulatory openings. Instead, they have a small, posteriorly-located depression with an anterior m-shaped margin. Additionally, the copulatory ducts are highly sclerotised and very dark and are easily observed in ventral view ( Figs 33–34 ). Males are unknown.

Description. Female (holotype):

Colour. Dorsal shield of prosoma yellow-brown, with slightly darker marks laterally and medially; sternum pale yellow; chelicerae yellow-brown with darker infuscations anteriorly and laterally; maxillae pale yellowbrown; labium pale brown, lightening distally; opisthosoma dorsally yellow-brown with reddish-brown and dark setae, black horizontal w-shaped marks medially, black flecks laterally; 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. 0.91 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 1.20; eye diameters, AME 0.18, ALE 0.13, PME 0.23, PLE 0.32; interdistances AME-ALE 0.38, PME-PLE 0.23, ALE-PLE 0.07, AME-PME 0.04; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.46, PME-PME 0.89.

Sternum. 0.82 times longer than broad.

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

Female pedipalp. Claw with ca. 6 teeth.

Epigyne ( Fig. 33 ). Lateral lobes come into contact posteriorly; small depression, located posteriorly, with mshaped anterior margin; copulatory openings located anterolaterally in depression.

Vulva ( Fig. 34 ). Copulatory ducts short, leading to large lateral and anterolateral spermathecae; spermathecae very dark and highly sclerotised; fertilisation ducts located posteriorly, directed anterolaterally; very small posterodorsal fold present.

Opisthosoma. Without caudal setal tufts.

Legs. Leg I only slightly shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 3241; leg III longest; tarsal claws without teeth; 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 -2-2; 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 0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 0-0- 1; Ti 0; Mt 0.

Measurements. Total length 6.00. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 2.79, width 3.07. Sternum length 1.34, width 1.63. Opisthosoma length 3.21, width 2.93. Pedipalp: Fm 0.71, Pt 0.68, Ti 0.57, Ta 0.77, (total) 2.73. Leg I: Fm 2.86, Pt 1.16, Ti 2.61, Mt 2.21, Ta 1.05, (total) 9.89. Leg II: Fm 3.61, Pt 1.25, Ti 2.93, Mt 2.64, Ta 1.14, (total) 11.57. Leg III: Fm 3.95, Pt 1.25, Ti 3.11, Mt 2.71, Ta 1.25, (total) 12.27. Leg IV: Fm 3.53, Pt 1.07, Ti 2.68, Mt 2.64, Ta 1.16, (total) 11.08.

Distribution. This species is known only from the type locality ( Fig. 37 ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Unknown.

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.