Aname rubrochelicera -complex

Figs 1, 3G, 4I, 5G, 12, 83–93

Remarks

See the key to complexes and Figures 3–5 for diagnostic information. In life, rubrochelicera -complex species are quite light in colour, ranging from pallid to tan-brown, although their chelicerae can be much darker in colour, depending on the species (Fig. 12). Their burrow is particularly unusual in its absence of a conspicuous silk lining, and usually also the absence of a secondary wishbone entrance (Fig. 12). However, some specimens have been collected with a secondary entrance, and when present, this consists of a secondary burrow shaft that runs directly adjacent to the main burrow.

Distribution

The rubrochelicera -complex occurs from northern New South Wales, in the Darling Riverine Plains and Brigalow Belt South Bioregions, as far north as the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. They are typically found inland of the Great Dividing Range (Fig. 12).

Composition

The rubrochelicera -complex includes seven described species: Aname fossoria sp. nov., A. fuscochelicera sp. nov., A. inglewood sp. nov., A. nigrochelicera sp. nov., A. nigrotarsa sp. nov., A. rubrochelicera sp. nov., and A. savannensis sp. nov.

Key to species in the Aname rubrochelicera -complex

Note: males are unknown for A. fossoria sp. nov. and A. nigrotarsa sp. nov., and females are unknown for A. inglewood sp. nov.

1. Male ................................................................................................................................................... 2

– Female................................................................................................................................................ 6

Males

2. Tibial spur digitiform; embolus gently tapering and curving to tip (Fig. 92)...................................... ....................................................................................................................... A. savannensis sp. nov.

– Tibial spur triangular; embolus thicker and straighter, with bend before tip (e.g., Figs 84, 86–87). 3

3. Embolus length ~1.4 × bulb length (Fig. 86)..................................................... A. inglewood sp. nov.

– Embolus shorter than bulb (length <1 × bulb length) (Figs 84, 87, 90)............................................ 4

4. Embolus length ~0.94 × bulb length (Fig. 84)............................................ A. fuscochelicera sp. nov.

– Embolus shorter (length <0.8 × bulb length) (Figs 87, 90)............................................................... 5

5. Metatarsus I proximal excavation length ~0.43 × metatarsus I length (Fig. 87) ................................ ................................................................................................................... A. nigrochelicera sp. nov.

– Metatarsus I proximal excavation longer (length ~0.53 × metatarsus I length) (Fig. 90) .................. ................................................................................................................... A. rubrochelicera sp. nov.

Females

6. Medial vesicle undulating (Figs 83, 85, 89) ...................................................................................... 7

– Medial vesicles straight (Figs 88, 91, 93).......................................................................................... 9

7. Chelicerae dark brown (Fig. 85)................................................................. A. fuscochelicera sp. nov.

– Chelicerae lighter coloured................................................................................................................ 8

8. Spermathecae medial vesicle length <5 × width; anterior legs without dark tarsi and distal metatarsi (Fig. 83) ................................................................................................................ A. fossoria sp. nov.

– Spermathecae with longer medial vesicles (length>5 × width); anterior legs with dark tarsi and distal metatarsi (Fig. 89)................................................................................... A. nigrotarsa sp. nov.

9. Spermathecae lateral vesicles with narrow, rounded crowns; chelicerae dark brown (Fig. 88) ..................................................................................................... A. nigrochelicera sp. nov.

– Spermathecae lateral vesicles without narrow, rounded crowns; chelicerae lighter in colour (Figs 91, 93) .................................................................................................................................................... 10

10. Spermathecae medial vesicles with distally-flattened crowns (Fig. 91).... A. rubrochelicera sp. nov.

– Spermathecae medial vesicles with distally-rounded crowns (Fig. 93) ........ A. savannensis sp. nov.