Prostheclina Keyserling, 1882

Prostheclina Keyserling, 1882: 1368 .

Saitis - Simon (part) 1901: 558.

Prostheclina - Davies & Żabka 1989: 238; Richardson & Żabka 2007: 82.

Type species. Prostheclina pallida Keyserling, 1882, by monotypy.

Remarks. This genus was revised by Richardson & Żabka (2007). It includes seven described species. For one species, Prostheclina boreoaitha Richardson and Żabka, 2007, only the male was described. The female is described here and the female key updated to include this species.

Key: Females

1. Insemination duct entrance anterior to spermatheca and insemination duct forms a median loop beside the spermatheca.... 2

– Insemination duct entrance beside spermatheca, and insemination duct with no median loop beside the spermatheca...... 3

2. Copulatory openings sclerotised and separated by less than the width across the spermathecae... P. boreoaitha (Figs 61–67)

– Copulatory openings not sclerotised and separated by more than the width across the spermathecae......... P. basilonessa

3. Left insemination duct (in ventral view) makes a full clockwise spiral coil prior to joining spermatheca................. 4

– Left seminal duct joins directly to spermatheca without following a spiral path................................... 5

4. Spermatheca round with the spiral in the seminal duct visible anterior to the spermatheca (in ventral view)...... P. eungella

– Spermatheca pear-shaped with spiral in the seminal duct hidden under the spermatheca (in ventral view)....... P. amplior

5. Cephalothorax length> 2.1mm, seminal duct relatively long and forming ‘S’ bends before joining spermatheca.. P. bulburin

– Cephalothorax length <2.1mm, seminal duct relative short and directly (no ‘S’ bends) joining spermatheca.............. 6

6. Spermatheca narrow, longitudinal extension of the seminal duct, found from southern Queensland to South Australia ................................................................................................... P. pallida

– Copulatory openings well in advance of the spermathecae, strongly sclerotised and separated by less than the width across the pair of spermathecae....................................................................... P. boreoxantha

Key: Males (Taken from Richardson & Zabka (2007); F=femur, T=tibia, M=metatarsus)

1. Chelicera and clupeus mid- to dark brown coloured.......................................................... 2

– Chelicera and clupeus yellow or orange, occasionally with dark markings........................................ 3

2. M1 and T 1 fringed, F1 with brown and yellow patches, occasionally almost entirely brown, legs, F2–4 yellow/orange... P. amplior

– M1 and T1 not fringed, F1-4 dark brown........................................................ P. boreoaitha

3. Clupeus with orange or white fringe...................................................................... 4

– Clupeus without orange or white fringe................................................................... 5

4. F1 orange with strong double fringe on M1, body length> 4.5mm, central Queensland M1 with sparse or no fringe, T1 yellow, from central Queensland ....................................................................... P. eungella

– F1 yellow with single fringe varying from almost absent to strong, body length 3.5–5, southern Queensland to South Australia ........................................................................................... 5

5. T1 with thick double fringe.................................................................. P. boreoxantha

– T1 with sparse or no fringe............................................................................. 6

6. M1 with double fringe, T1 orange, from King Island and SW Victoria .................................. P. basilonessa

– M1 with sparse or no fringe, T1 yellow, from central Queensland ....................................... P. eungella