Karaops ngarluma, 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 : 459-461

Karaops ngarluma sp. nov.

( Figs 23–24 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: male, 8 km SW of Roebourne, SITE DRC 09 [20˚48’28.7” S 117˚4’21” E, Western Australia, Australia], 9 May 2004 – 23 May 2005, CALM PILBARA SURVEY, ethylene glycol pitfalls (WAM T79396).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 males, 9 km NW of Lake Poongkaliyarra, SITE DRC 05, 20˚56’23.8” S 117˚2’5.3” E, 3 July 2003 – 3 October 2004, CALM PILBARA SURVEY, ethylene glycol pitfalls (WAM T79393); 1 male, 5 km N of Lake Poongkaliyarra, SITE DRC 07, 20˚56’4.4” S 117˚6’54.3” E, 4 July 2003 – 3 October 2004 CALM PILBARA SURVEY, ethylene glycol pitfalls (WAM T79394).

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

Diagnosis. Males of K. ngarluma sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other species by the dorsal apophysis of the RTA, which is much longer than the ventral apophysis, the tegular lobe has a large indentation, and the tip of the embolus is completely covered by the conductor curving over it anteriorly and posteriorly ( Figs 23–24 ). Females are unknown.

Description. Male (holotype):

Colour. Dorsal shield of prosoma uniformly yellow-brown; sternum pale yellow; chelicerae yellow-brown with dark infuscations anteriorly; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale brown, lightening distally; opisthosoma dorsally yellow-brown with pairs of spots running down 4/5 of opisthosoma, with two horizontal undulate lines posteriorly, cardiac area darker, and some other darker spots, but faded; ventrally pale yellow; legs yellow-brown, annulations not visible, likely faded.

Prosoma. 0.88 times longer than broad; clypeus 0.09 high.

Eyes. AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.27; eye diameters, AME 0.21, ALE 0.16, PME 0.25, PLE 0.36; interdistances AME-ALE 0.30, PME-PLE 0.30, ALE-PLE 0.29, AME-PME 0.04; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.11, PME-PME 0.48.

Sternum. 0.83 times longer than broad.

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

Pedipalp ( Figs 23–24 ). Fm spination d 0–1–2; RTA with 2 apophyses, dorsal apophysis longer than ventral apophysis, narrow, curving ventrally, pointed at tip, ventral apophysis quadrate to ovate, rounded; cymbium ovate to triangular; conductor large, undulate along anterior margin, with a small trough for the embolus, the tip of which is completely surrounded by top and bottom part of conductor curving over it, tip of conductor directed retrolaterally, pointed and sclerotised at tip; embolus long and slender, arising from large tegular lobe with deep indentation, tapering abruptly, beginning at 7 o'clock, terminating at 1 o'clock; MA with single pointed process, with wide base, tapering abruptly, directed anteriorly, curving retrolaterally, tip pointed, curved under so it appears truncate in ventral view, directed distally.

Opisthosoma. Unclear if caudal setal tufts are present because the opisthosoma is damaged.

Legs. Leg I much shorter than legs II, III and IV; leg formula 2341; leg II longest; tarsal claws without teeth; spination: leg I, Fm pr 1-1-1, d 1-1-1, rl 1-1-1; Ti d 0, v 2-2 -2-2-2; Mt v 2-2 -2-2; leg II, Fm pr 1-0-1, d 1-1-1, rl 1- 1-1; Ti v 2-2 -2-2-2; Mt v 2-2 -2-2; leg III, Fm pr 1-0-1, d 1-1-1, rl 0-1-1; Ti 2-2; Mt v1-1; leg IV, Fm pr 1-1-1, d 1- 1-1, rl 0-1-1; Ti v 2-2; Mt 1-1.

Measurements. Total length 6.43. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 3.00, width 3.41. Sternum length 1.43, width 1.71. Opisthosoma length 3.43, width 3.25. Pedipalp: femur 0.80, patella 0.39, tibia 0.36, tarsus 0.93, (total) 2.48. Leg I: femur 3.80, patella 1.43, tibia 3.50, metatarsus 3.18, tarsus 1.50, (total) 13.41. Leg II: femur 4.63, patella 1.55, tibia 4.24, metatarsus 4.10, tarsus 1.70, (total) 16.22. Leg III: femur 5.00, patella 1.43, tibia 4.05, metatarsus 4.05, tarsus 1.63, (total) 16.16. Leg IV: femur 4.93, patella 1.25, tibia 3.61, metatarsus 4.10, tarsus 1.68, (total) 15.57.

Distribution. Known only from the vicinity of the type locality, in the northwestern Pilbara ( Fig. 37 ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Unknown.

Remarks. Colours and patterns of the preserved material may not correspond to live specimens because of collection in ethylene glycol.

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 23 – 30. Karaops ngarluma sp. nov. 23 – 24 left pedipalp (23 ventral, 24 retrolateral view). Karaops nyangumarta sp. nov. 25 epigyne; 26 vulva; 27 – 28 left pedipalp (27 ventral, 28 retrolateral view). K. martamarta 29 – 30 left pedipalp (29 ventral, 30 retrolateral view). Scales: 0.50 mm.