Karaops nyiyaparli, 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 : 450-451

Karaops nyiyaparli sp. nov.

( Figs 5–6 , 37 )

Type material. Holotype: female, 113 km NNW of Newman [22˚20’6.69” S 119˚39’11.19” E Western Australia, Australia], 22 March–29 April 2011, Phoenix Environmental Sciences, wet pitfall, (WAM T 111455).

Paratype: 1 female, 5 km NW of Mt. Florance Homestead [21˚45’59.3” S 117˚49’31.2” E Western Australia, Australia], 5 May 2004 – 18 May 2005, SITE PE08, ethylene glycol pitfalls, CALM PILBARA SURVEY (WAM T125601 (ex T79401)).

Other material examined. AUSTRALIA: Western Australia: 2 females, same data as paratype, (WAM T79401); 1 female, Mount Dove, 20˚56’13.5” S 118˚27’39.2” E, 28 March–5 May 2010, P. Bolton, (Outback Ecology), wet pitfall trap (WAM T 103130).

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

Diagnosis. Females of K. nyiyaparli sp. nov. are most similar to K. kariyarra sp. nov. but can be differentiated by characters of the epigyne. Dorsally, both species have two pairs of spermathecae, one pair that emerges from the copulatory ducts and is smaller than the other pair; however, in K. nyiyaparli sp. nov., these smaller spermathecae are only slightly smaller than the other pair of spermathecae and extend anteriorly beyond the copulatory openings. In K. kariyarra sp. nov., these spermathecae are much smaller than the other pair of spermathecae and do not extend 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 pale yellow with darker infuscations anteriorly; maxillae pale yellow-brown, lightening distally; labium pale brown, lightening distally; opisthosoma dorsally yellow-brown, hirsute, without distinguishable markings, likely faded; ventrally pale yellow; legs pale yellow, darkening distally; annulations present on distal segments, femora with dark flecks, no annulations.

Prosoma. 0.86 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 1.39; eye diameters, AME 0.16, ALE 0.07, PME 0.21, PLE 0.86; interdistances AME-ALE 0.29, PME-PLE 0.36, ALE-PLE 0.27, AME-PME 0.05; ocular quadrangle AME-AME 0.48, PME-PME 0.93.

Sternum. 0.86 times longer than broad.

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

Female pedipalp. Claw with ca. 6 teeth.

Epigyne ( Fig. 5 ). Lateral lobes present, nearly touching posteriorly; median field with horizontal, mediallydepressed area; small crescent shaped copulatory openings located in the centre of the medial depression.

Vulva ( Fig. 6 ). Two large copulatory ducts lead laterally to large ovoid spermathecae; second, smaller pair of spermathecae emerging from copulatory ducts; fertilisation ducts located posteriorly, directed posterolaterally; small posterodorsal fold present on each side.

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 1-1-1, 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 0-0-1, d 1-1-1, rl 0; Ti v 2-2 -2-2-2; Mt v 2-2 -2-2; leg III, Fm pr 0-0-1, d 1-1-1, rl 0; Ti 1-0-0; Mt 0; leg IV, Fm pr 0-0-1, d 1-1-1, rl 0-0- 1; Ti v 1-1; Mt 0.

Measurements. Total length 6.49. Dorsal shield of prosoma length 2.93, width 3.39. Sternum length 1.41, width 1.64. Opisthosoma length 3.56, width 3.21. Pedipalp: Fm 0.80, Pt 0.52, Ti 0.63, Ta 0.73, (total) 2.68. Leg I: Fm 2.71, Pt 1.16, Ti 2.36, Mt 1.96, Ta 1.05, (total) 9.24. Leg II: Fm 3.39, Pt 1.25, Ti 2.71, Mt 2.25, Ta 1.04, (total) 10.64. Leg III: Fm 3.76, Pt 1.23, Ti 2.68, Mt 2.57, Ta 1.13, (total) 11.37. Leg IV: Fm 3.46, Pt 0.98, Ti 2.54, Mt 2.36, Ta 1.18, (total) 10.52.

Distribution. Found in the western Pilbara. These specimens were collected 100–200 km apart, indicating that this species is somewhat widespread, and it also overlaps with other species ( Fig. 37 ).

Life history and habitat preferences. Unknown.

Remarks. There is some variation in the size of the smaller pair of spermathecae, although they are all larger than the second pair found in K. kariyarra sp. nov. The markings and colouration 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 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.