Karaops kariyarra, 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 : 451-452

Karaops kariyarra sp. nov.

( Figs 7–8 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: female, 23 km SE of Wodgina Mine [21˚17’13.6” S 118˚52’1.5” E, Western Australia, Australia], 25 March–6 April 2010, P. Bolton (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap, breakaway (SE aspect) (WAM T105208).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 1 female, 55 km S of Port Hedland, 20˚48’32.2” S 118˚38’36.7” E, 23 March–4 April 2010, P. Bolton (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall, low ridge (WAM T106657).

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

Diagnosis. Females of K. kariyarra sp. nov. are most similar to K. nyiyaparli sp. nov. but can be differentiated using characters of the epigyne. Dorsally, both species have a second pair of small spermathecae emerging from the copulatory ducts, but in K. kariyarra sp. nov., the spermathecae do not extend anteriorly beyond the copulatory openings ( Figs 6, 8 ). Males are unknown.

Description. Female (holotype):

Colour. Dorsal shield of prosoma uniformly yellow-brown; sternum pale yellow; chelicerae yellow-brown with darker infuscations anteriorly and laterally; maxillae pale yellow-brown; labium pale brown, lightening distally; opisthosoma dorsally reddish-brown, with red, dark, and grey setae, with greyish, horizontal w-shaped marks; legs yellow-brown, darkening distally; annulations present on all segments, not entirely encircling femora. Prosoma. 0.82 times longer than broad; clypeus 0.10 high.

Eyes. AER slightly recurved; PER recurved; PME larger than AME, PLE largest, ALE smallest; eye group width 1.59; eye diameters, AME 0.21, ALE 0.18, PME 0.29, PLE 0.43; interdistances AME-ALE 0.41, PME-PLE 0.36, ALE-PLE 0.25, AME-PME 0.04; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.18, PME-PME 0.57.

Sternum. 0.81 times longer than broad.

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

Female pedipalp. Claws with more than 6 teeth.

Epigyne ( Fig. 7 ). Lateral lobes conspicuous, nearly touching posteriorly; heart-shaped medially-depressed area; dark, oval copulatory openings located medially.

Vulva ( Fig. 8 ). Large copulatory ducts located medially, curving posterolaterally, connecting to large, anteriorly-directed spermathecae; a second pair of smaller spermathecae emerge from the copulatory ducts; fertilisation ducts directed posterolaterally; small posterodorsal fold present.

Opisthosoma. Caudal setal tufts present.

Legs. Leg I only slightly shorter than legs III and IV (leg II missing); leg formula unknown (at least one leg missing); 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 III, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 0; Ti v 1-1 -0; Mt 1-0; leg IV, Fm pr 0, d 1-1-1, rl 1-0-0; Ti v 1-1; Mt v 1 -0.

Measurements. Total length 6.44. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 3.21, width 3.90. Sternum length 1.61, width 1.98. Opisthosoma length 3.21, width 2.86. Pedipalp: Fm 0.86, Pt 0.71, Ti 0.80, Ta 1.07, (total) 3.44. Leg I: Fm 4.68, Pt 1.66, Ti 4.00, Mt 3.37, Ta 1.41, (total) 15.12. Leg II: Absent. Leg III: Fm 5.36, Pt 1.69, Ti 4.29, Mt 3.95, Ta 1.59, (total) 16.88. Leg IV: Fm 5.07, Pt 1.43, Ti 3.85, Mt 3.90, Ta 1.52, (total) 15.77.

Distribution. Found in the northwestern region of the Pilbara ( Fig. 37 ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Unknown.

Remarks. Opisthosoma slightly damaged, so measurements may not be exact.

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 1 – 8. Karaops umiida sp. nov. 1 epigyne; 2 vulva; 3 – 4 left pedipalp (1 ventral, 2 retrolateral view). Karaops nyiyaparli sp. nov. 5 epigyne; 6 vulva. Karaops kariyarra sp. nov. 7 epigyne; 8 vulva. Scales: 0.50 mm.